Retained Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are essential for a babies growth in the womb, successful childbirth and to survive in the world in their first few months of life. They are so crucial that they are tested for at birth by the specialist paediatricians. However, if these primitive reflexes are retained beyond 12 to 18 months of age they can cause a neurological developmental delay and for some children this could be detrimental to their development and lead to many undesirable symptoms in later life.

If you notice that your child has any of these symptoms please do get in touch to arrange a free 15 minute call to discuss how the therapy could help your child thrive.

Moro Reflex

What is the Moro Reflex?

The Moro reflex is your baby's built-in survival instinct. It develops in the womb and is responsible for triggering their first breath and alerting them to potential threats like; hunger; cold; or pain in those early months of life. It typically integrates ("switches off") naturally between four and six months of age.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the Moro reflex stays active beyond six months, your child's nervous system can remain stuck in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Everyday things like noise, bright lights, movement, or change can feel genuinely threatening to them. Signs to look out for include:

Behaviour: Appearing loud, "out of control," or needing to control their environment
Sensitivity: Overreacting to sounds, lights, smells, touch, or tastes (including being a very 'fussy' eater)
Health: Frequent colds, ear, nose, and throat infections
Learning: Poor concentration, difficulty with memory, and struggling in a classroom setting

Why does this happen?

A retained Moro reflex floods the body with stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol), which affect the immune system, memory, and ability to focus. Your child isn't being difficult, their world genuinely feels loud, chaotic, and overwhelming.

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED MORO REFLEX

BEHAVIOURAL & EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

Behavioural and social difficulties (ASD/ADD/ADHD/Aspergers

Sensitive to sensory stimuli

Will avoid certain places or situations

Excessively daydreams or distracted

Struggles to relax

Easily frustrated and overwhelmed

Poor short term memory/forgetful

Visual, auditory,sensory processing or sequencing difficulties

Poor balance and coordination

Motion sickness

Sugar cravings

Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Fussy eater

Anxiety and fear (fear of the fear)

Panic attacks

Lack of confidence and low self-esteem

Dislikes changes or surprises

Withdrawn, quiet, shy

Separation anxiety

Difficulty showing and accepting affection

Mood swings

Depressed behaviours

Defiance

OCD

Impulsivity

Emotionally immature

Inappropriate or immature behaviours

Controlling behaviour

Physical and verbal aggressive outbursts

Meltdowns and tantrums

Hyperactive

PHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

Allergies or intolerances - asthma, eczema, foods

Frequent illness or infections due to lowered immune system

Problems with digestive system

Neck and shoulder pain/tension

A reduced or increased appetite

Adverse reactions to medicines

Fluctuating blood sugar levels

High blood pressure

Racing heart

Trouble sleeping

Headaches

Complaining of stomach aches

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

What is the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)?

The ATNR develops in the womb at eighteen weeks and should naturally integrate ("switch off") by around six months after birth. You may have already felt it because it's what causes your baby to kick and elbow you during your pregnancy!

When your baby turns their head to one side, the arm and leg on that side automatically extend while the opposite side bends, helping them shift position in the womb for comfort and playing a vital role in the birthing process.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the ATNR remains active beyond six months, it can interfere with key developmental milestones.

Reading and writing: Difficulty tracking across a page or coordinating hand and eye together
Coordination: Challenges with tasks that require both sides of the body working together
Dominance: No clear preferred hand, eye, or ear, which can affect learning

Why does this matter?

When the ATNR switches off naturally, it unlocks a huge leap in brain development and both sides of the body begin working as a team. This is what allows your child to crawl, read, write, and establish whether they are left or right handed. It also means the visual, auditory, and balance systems have learned to work together effectively.

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED ATNR

Affected balance and coordination when turning head to one side

Difficulty executing cross pattern movements e.g. running, walking, marching and skipping

Difficulty in reading and comprehension

Difficulty expressing ideas in the written form

Specific learning difficulties (Dyslexia, Dyscaulia, Dysgraphia)

Poor concentration, focus and distractibility

Struggles with learning to ride a bike

Struggle with coordinating movement such as cartwheels

Discrepancy between oral and written performance

Visual perceptual difficulties - letter and number reversals

Struggles with ‘left’ and ‘rights’ when giving or receiving directions

Mixed laterality - not establishing a dominant side

Poor hand-eye coordination (catching or throwing a ball)

Exhaustion during or after school and/or completing homework

Spinal Galant Reflex

What is the Spinal Galant Reflex?

The Spinal Galant reflex emerges in the womb at twenty weeks and should integrate ("switch off") somewhere between three and nine months after birth. Interestingly, it is the journey through the birth canal that helps integrate this reflex as the baby travels down, the lower back is stimulated, triggering a small hip rotation that helps them move through. Before birth, it is actually sound vibrations travelling through the amniotic fluid that activate it and your baby quite literally feels sound in the womb!

You may even spot it in action at home becasue it's the reason newborns seem to "squirm" when lying on their back. These movements are important, as they stimulate the muscles of the lower back and help build the balance and body awareness systems in the brain.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the Spinal Galant remains active beyond nine months, everyday sensations, particularly around the lower back, can feel irritating or overwhelming.

Sensitivity to touch: Discomfort with waistbands, tight clothing, or anything touching the lower back
Fidgeting: An inability to sit still, particularly in a chair or at a desk
Bladder control: Possible difficulties with bedwetting, as the reflex can stimulate bladder function
Concentration: Restlessness making it hard to focus in a classroom setting

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED SPINAL GALANT REFLEX

Irritation physically and emotionally

Discomfort from labels, waistbands, belts and chair backs

Difficulty in sitting still and constantly wanting to move

Poor concentration, focus and distractibility

Auditory processing challenges

Speech and language difficulties

Enuresis (toileting difficulties)

Difficulty sleeping or disturbed sleep

Poor short term memory

Posture and gate can be affected

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

What is the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)?

The TLR emerges in the womb and should naturally integrate ("switch off") by around three years of age. It is triggered by the inner ear and influenced by head position, causing changes in muscle tone - particularly in the neck. Its most important job is helping your newborn transition from the curled-up position in the womb to moving freely in a world dominated by gravity.

Every time your baby lifts their head, rolls over, or pushes against gravity, they are actively working to integrate this reflex. This process is fundamental to developing head control, muscle tone, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness and are the building blocks for all movement that follows.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the TLR remains active beyond three years of age, your child's sense of balance and spatial awareness can be constantly disrupted.

Balance and coordination: Difficulty with everyday movement, posture, and physical activities
Muscle tone: Either too floppy or too rigid, affecting how your child holds themselves
Crawling and movement: Struggles with crawling, which can interfere with other important reflex development
Visual perception: Challenges with how the eyes and balance system work together, affecting spatial awareness
Classroom difficulties: Poor posture when sitting at a desk, tiredness, and difficulty concentrating

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED TONIC LABYRINTHINE REFLEX

Poor posture

Leaning forwards

Muscle tension

Fog walk (the upper limbs mimic the lower limbs)

Weak muscle tone (hypotomos)

Pot belly - lack of tone

Vestibular related problems (poor sense of balance, travel sickness)

Dislikes sport

‘Not built to move’ - gets tired easily

Ocular motor issues

Visual perception difficulty

Spacial problems

Can’t judge where they are (via visual system)

Proprioception affected (concept of where they are in space)

Poor sequencing skills

Telling time is a challenge

Difficulties phonetically spelling

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

What is the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)?

The STNR emerges between six and nine months after birth, as the TLR begins to integrate ("switch off"). It is a short-lived, transitional reflex with one important job of helping your baby defy gravity and move from lying on their tummy to getting up on their hands and knees, ready to crawl. It works by dividing the body in two: when your baby's head moves down, the legs push up; when the head lifts, the legs bend and the arms straighten. This reflex should integrate naturally once crawling is established.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the STNR remains active, your child's head position continues to dictate their limb movements, making coordinated movement difficult. The most common early sign is difficulty crawling.

Crawling differently: Bum shuffling, pulling themselves straight up to walk, or crawling in an unsynchronised pattern
Skipping crawling altogether: Which can have a knock-on effect on later development
Balance and spatial awareness: Difficulty with depth perception and navigating their physical environment
Reading and writing: Losing their place on a page, or struggling to track their hand whilst writing
Stamina: Low physical resilience and tiring easily during physical activities.
Crawling is a crucial developmental milestone, so if you have any concerns about your child's crawling pattern it is always worth investigating both the TLR and STNR.

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED TONIC LABYRINTHINE REFLEX

Poor posture

Physical resilience

Poor stamina

Likes spinning

Difficulty catching or tracking a ball

Poor balance and depth perception

Finds swimming challenging

Poor hand-eye coordination

Messy when eating

Finds adjusting focus from near to far challenging

Poor visual tracking

Finds problem solving & conceptual understanding difficult (maths)

Diffuculty with the concept of time (and telling the time)

Finds social cues difficult to read

Characteristics of ADHD/ADD

Sit in the ‘W’ position on the floor

Will anchor their feet/wrap feet behind the chair legs when sitting

Palmer Reflex

What is the Palmer Reflex?

The Palmer reflex emerges in the womb at eleven weeks and should naturally switch off by around two to three months after birth. It is your baby's primitive instinct to grasp and a light touch on the palm triggers the fingers to curl and close automatically. You will have notice the paediatricians testing for this reflex after birth. This reflex exists to help your baby hold on to their mother for safety and to support early feeding.

You may also notice your baby kneading their hands while feeding. This is completely normal and is called the Babkin Response, a direct link between the hands and the sucking reflex.

As your baby grows, the Palmer reflex drives them to grip and hold objects and that fun (if a little repetitive!) game of dropping things for you to pick up is actually an important developmental milestone, teaching them how to let go.

What happens when it switches off?

By around eight to nine months, the Palmer grasp is naturally replaced by a pincer grip. This is a precise thumb and forefinger movement that you'll notice when your baby starts picking up small objects. It is a key stepping stone towards fine motor skills like writing, drawing, and self-feeding.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the Palmer reflex remains active beyond three months, it can interfere with fine motor development.

Handwriting: Difficulty with pencil grip, pressure, and control
Speech: A persistent link between hand and mouth movements can affect speech development
Fine motor skills: Struggling with tasks requiring precision, such as doing up buttons or using cutlery

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED PALMER REFLEX

Difficulty holding a pencil to write

Poor dexterity

Independent thumb and finger movement

Lack of pincer grip

Tend to use infant print rather than cursive script

Difficulty doing up buttons, laces and ties

Difficulty using a knife and fork

Struggles using scissors

Tactile sensitivity

Mouth movements when writing, drawing or using scissors

Talking expressively with hands when talking

Speech and articulation difficulties due to Babkin response

Sucking Reflex

What is the Sucking Reflex?

The Sucking reflex should be fully active at birth and naturally switch off by around three to four months of age. It is triggered by stimulation to the upper lip or roof of the mouth, and plays a vital role in feeding, digestion, and tongue development. In fact, your baby's early relationship with food depends heavily on how well this reflex has matured and a poorly developed Sucking reflex can contribute to a weak appetite or difficulties feeding.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the Sucking reflex remains active beyond three to four months, it can affect facial development in ways that show up later in life.

Speech: Difficulty articulating certain words, sounds, or letters clearly
Eating: A poor appetite or fussiness around food and textures
Digestion: Challenges preparing and processing food effectively from the very first stage of eating

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED SUCKING REFLEX

Speech delay and difficulties with language

Challenges around feeding

Thumb sucking

Sucking lips

Dribbling

Delayed dentition (not losing teeth)

Lisps

Difficulty articulating

Chewing sleeves and clothes

Orally fixated

Reflux - as the body isn’t ready to be in the world and accept food

Rooting Reflex

What is the Rooting Reflex?

The Rooting reflex is fully developed and at its strongest at birth, and should naturally switch off by around three to four months of age. It is your baby's instinct to search for food and a light touch around the mouth triggers the tongue to extend and the head to turn towards the source, ready to latch on and feed. It works hand in hand with the Sucking reflex to ensure your newborn can both locate and latch on to the breast for milk in those crucial early days.

Together, the Rooting and Sucking reflexes do far more than just support feeding as they also help your baby coordinate breathing and swallowing, develop the mouth muscles needed for speech, and regulate saliva production. A strong, well-used Rooting reflex from birth helps keep it healthy, so early feeding experiences really do matter.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the Rooting reflex remains active beyond three to four months, or was not fully stimulated at birth, it can affect a range of functions.

Speech and language: Difficulty with tongue articulation, clarity of speech, and language development
Eating: Challenges with chewing, sucking, swallowing, and moving food around the mouth
Jaw development: Weakness in the jaw muscles affecting feeding and speech
Dribbling: Excessive dribbling due to poor tongue positioning and saliva control

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF A RETAINED ROOTING REFLEX

Hypersensitivity around the lips and mouth

Oral fixations, nail biting, thumb sucking and the need to chew things

Difficulty chewing and fussy eating

Fearful of certain foods

Messy eaters

Need for orthodontic intervention

Poor manual dexterity due to Babkin response

Can impact tongue positioning

Speech and language problems/baby talk

Slow at learning to talk or speech impediment

Excessive dribbling

Babinski Reflex

What is the Babinski (Plantar) Reflex?

The Babinski reflex, also known as the Plantar reflex, is naturally active from birth until around two years of age. It is found in the sole of the foot — a gentle stroke along the bottom of the foot causes the toes to splay outward. Once integrated, the toes naturally curl downward into the floor when your child is standing and walking, providing stability and balance.

What if it doesn't switch off?

If the Babinski reflex remains active beyond two years of age, the toes may continue to splay rather than grip the ground, which can affect how your child moves.

Balance: Poor stability when standing or moving
Coordination: Decreased gross motor skills such as running, jumping, and climbing
Fine motor skills: Knock-on difficulties with smaller, more precise movements
Posture: Difficulty grounding through the feet, affecting overall body stability

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