What are retained primitive reflexes? A parent-friendly guide to nine reflexes, when they usually integrate, and the signs that one may still be active.

In this article:

• What are Primitive Reflexes?

• Moro reflex

• Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

• Spinal Galant reflex

• Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

• Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

• Palmar reflex

• Sucking reflex

• Rooting reflex

• Babinski (plantar) reflex

• How neuro - developmental therapy can help

• Support in Oxfordshire

What are Primitive Reflexes?

If your child is struggling at school, with focus, coordination or behaviour, it can be hard to know where to look for answers. One possibility worth knowing about is retained primitive reflexes.

Every baby is born with early automatic movements called primitive reflexes. As a child grows, these are meant to settle down, a process known as primitive reflex integration. When they don't, they may go on affecting a child's development, sometimes into adulthood. Signs can include poor balance and coordination, difficulty with fine motor skills, trouble with attention and memory, anxiety, sleep problems and travel sickness.

Here are nine of these reflexes: what each does in a baby, when it usually integrates, and what may show up if it hasn't.

1. Moro reflex

This is a survival response that begins in the womb. It helps a newborn take that very first breath and alerts them to things like hunger, cold or pain. It usually integrates between 4 and 6 months.

If it stays active, a child may have behavioural, sensory or learning difficulties, and their nervous system can seem stuck in a fight-or-flight state. Frequent infections have also been linked to it.

2. Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

The ATNR starts developing in the womb at around 18 weeks. When a baby turns their head to one side, the arm and leg on that side stretch out. It's the reason for the kicking and elbowing a mother feels during pregnancy. It normally integrates by about 6 months after birth.

If it lingers, you may see coordination and balance difficulties in children, trouble with reading and writing, and unclear dominance of the hands, eyes or ears.

3. Spinal Galant reflex

This reflex appears in the womb at around 20 weeks. Touch along the lower back sets it off, and it helps a baby move through birth and explains the wriggling of newborns. It usually integrates between 3 and 9 months after birth.

If it stays active, a child may be bothered by clothing or touch on the lower back, find it hard to settle (a child who can't sit still at school, for example, may fidget and struggle to concentrate), and may have bedwetting or sleep problems.

4. Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

The TLR starts in the womb and responds to the position of the head, through the inner ear. It influences muscle tone and helps a baby work against gravity, like lifting their head or rolling over. It usually integrates by around the age of 3.

If it hasn't, a child may have poor posture and balance, muscle tone that is too low or too high, difficulty judging space and distance, and get tired easily.

5. Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

The STNR appears between 6 and 9 months, as the TLR begins to fade. It links head movement with arm and leg movement, which helps a baby get up onto their hands and knees to crawl. It should integrate naturally once crawling is well established.

If it stays active, you may notice an unusual way of crawling, or crawling being skipped altogether. Other signs can include poor depth perception, difficulty following text when reading and writing, and low stamina.

6. Palmar reflex

The Palmar reflex begins in the womb at around 11 weeks. A light touch on the palm makes the fingers curl shut, which helps a baby grip and supports early feeding. It usually integrates around 2 to 3 months after birth, and a pincer grip takes over at around 8 to 9 months.

If it lingers, a child may struggle with pencil grip and handwriting, have poor dexterity, find buttons and cutlery tricky, and have speech difficulties, which are connected to the Babkin response.

7. Sucking reflex

The Sucking reflex is fully active at birth. Touching the upper lip or the roof of the mouth starts the sucking action, which supports feeding, digestion and the development of the tongue. It usually integrates at around 3 to 4 months.

If it stays active, signs may include speech and articulation problems, feeding and appetite difficulties, thumb sucking, dribbling and reflux.

8. Rooting reflex

The Rooting reflex is at its strongest at birth. A touch near the mouth makes a baby turn towards it and stick out their tongue, which helps them find the breast and latch on. It works together with the Sucking reflex and usually integrates at around 3 to 4 months.

If it lingers, a child may have speech and language difficulties, problems with chewing and swallowing, fussy eating, a weak jaw and a lot of dribbling.

9. Babinski (plantar) reflex

The Babinski reflex is present from birth. Stroking the sole of the foot makes the toes spread apart. Once it has integrated, the toes curl downwards instead, which supports standing and walking. It usually integrates at around 2 years.

If it stays active, you may see balance and coordination problems, weaker running, jumping and climbing, and difficulty feeling grounded through the feet.

How neuro - developmental therapy can help

Neuro - developmental therapy (NDD therapy) supports the integration of retained primitive reflexes. It uses gentle touch on the skin and repeated movements, and takes just a few minutes a day. Reflex integration therapy for children is designed to fit around everyday life.

Support in Oxfordshire

Thrive Neuro Studio is based in Freeland, near Witney in Oxfordshire, with sessions also available online. If you'd like to talk things through, you're welcome to book a free 15-minute call. You can find out more at thriveneurostudio.com.