Primitive reflexes are the brain’s first building blocks.
When these reflexes don’t integrate, kids may struggle with focus, emotions, or sensory processing — but with the right support, they can thrive.
Primitive Reflexes: An Overview
What Are Primitive Reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are automatic movements babies are born with. These reflexes are controlled by lower parts of the brain and spinal cord, and they serve as survival tools in the early months of life. For example, they help with birth, breathing, feeding, and early movement.
Why Do They “Disappear”?
As children grow, they begin to build higher-level brain pathways. These pathways are more efficient, requiring less energy than relying on primitive reflexes. Because the brain naturally chooses the easier path, the old reflexes become unnecessary and integrate. To an observer, it looks like the reflexes have “disappeared,” but really, the brain has chosen better options.
Why Does Integration Matter?
If primitive reflexes don’t integrate when they should, a child may continue relying on those lower-level patterns. This can create challenges with:
- Attention and learning
- Posture and balance
- Emotional regulation
- Sensory processing
- Motor skills like crawling, writing, or catching a ball
These challenges can sometimes look like clumsiness, hyperactivity, difficulty sitting still, or struggles with reading and writing.
The Good News
With the right support, retained reflexes can be addressed. Movement-based activities, sensory play, and occupational therapy strategies can help children integrate these reflexes and free up their brains for higher-level learning and calm, coordinated movement.
Explore Six Primitive Reflexes
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Continue diving deeper into each reflex below:
Moro Reflex
The Moro reflex is one of the earliest primitive reflexes. It’s often called the startle reflex because it shows up when babies react to sudden changes in movement, light, or sound. While it serves an important purpose in infancy, it should integrate early in development.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| When It Appears | Around 28 weeks gestation |
| When It Should Integrate | By 5–6 months of age |
| What It Looks Like | Startle response: eyes widen, head tilts back, arms and legs splay outward, then curl in |
| Purpose in Infancy | – First breath at birth – Protects organs – Alerts caregiver to potential danger |
| Signs if Retained | – Hypersensitivity to sound, light, touch, or movement – Anxiety and emotional outbursts – Frequent fight-or-flight responses – Digestive issues – Trouble focusing and learning |
| Connection to Sensory Processing | The Moro reflex affects all sensory systems. If not integrated, the body stays on “high alert,” leading to sensory overload and difficulty calming down. |
| Ways to Help Integration | – “Starfish” exercise – Deep breathing and calming strategies – Sensory input (weighted blanket, rocking, rhythmic play) – OT/PT support with individualized plan |
If your child shows many signs of a retained Moro reflex, it may be worth seeking an occupational therapy evaluation. Supporting integration can bring more calm, focus, and emotional balance.
ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)
The ATNR is often called the fencer’s pose reflex. It helps babies during birth and is an early building block for eye-hand coordination.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| When It Appears | Around 13 weeks gestation |
| When It Should Integrate | By 5–7 months of age |
| What It Looks Like | “Fencer’s pose”: when the head turns, the arm and leg on that side extend, while the opposite side bends |
| Purpose in Infancy | – Helps baby through birth canal – Builds foundation for hand-eye coordination |
| Signs if Retained | – Trouble feeding as infant – Difficulty with visual tracking and crossing midline – Poor handwriting and coordination – Dyslexia-like reading struggles |
| Connection to Sensory Processing | Can limit development of motor and sensory skills, impacting reading, writing, and coordinated movement. |
| Ways to Help Integration | – Ball games (catch, rolling) – “Lizard” or crawling exercises – Cross-body activities – OT/PT guidance |
Because ATNR is linked to learning and coordination, retained reflexes here can look like reading or handwriting struggles. With playful movement and the right support, kids can strengthen the skills they need.
STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)
The STNR is sometimes called the crawling reflex. It develops later than most primitive reflexes and helps babies prepare to move independently.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| When It Appears | Around 6–9 months |
| When It Should Integrate | By 9–11 months of age |
| What It Looks Like | Head up → arms straighten, legs bend Head down → arms bend, legs straighten |
| Purpose in Infancy | – Prepares baby for crawling – Helps separate upper and lower body movement |
| Signs if Retained | – Poor posture and slouching – W-sitting – Trouble with balance and coordination – Messy eating – Learning and attention difficulties |
| Connection to Sensory Processing | Impacts coordination, posture, and sustained attention, which may affect learning and physical activity. |
| Ways to Help Integration | – Cat/Cow yoga movements – Crawling games and obstacle courses – Animal walks (bear, crab, etc.) – OT/PT plan |
Because STNR plays such a big role in posture and attention, helping a child integrate it can lead to improvements in classroom focus, handwriting, and body control.
TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex)
The TLR is all about gravity and balance. It helps babies develop head control and later supports body awareness in space.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| When It Appears | In utero |
| When It Should Integrate | Around 4 months of age |
| What It Looks Like | Head forward → body flexes/curls inward Head back → body extends/splays outward |
| Purpose in Infancy | – Early response to gravity – Supports head control |
| Signs if Retained | – Poor posture – Weak muscle tone – Trouble crawling – Spatial and visual challenges – Dyslexia/dysgraphia-like difficulties |
| Connection to Sensory Processing | Strongly affects vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual systems, making it harder to orient the body in space. |
| Ways to Help Integration | – Tummy time and side-lying play – Animal crawls – Balance activities – OT/PT support |
When TLR lingers past infancy, kids may seem clumsy, uncoordinated, or struggle with reading and writing. Movement-based activities can gently help this reflex integrate.
Spinal Galant Reflex
Introduction
The Spinal Galant reflex runs along the spine and helps babies wiggle through the birth canal. It later supports crawling and walking patterns.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| When It Appears | Around 20 weeks gestation |
| When It Should Integrate | By 9 months of age |
| What It Looks Like | Stroke along one side of spine → hip moves toward that side |
| Purpose in Infancy | – Aids the birth process – Helps with crawling and walking |
| Signs if Retained | – Constant fidgeting (can’t sit still) – Bedwetting beyond typical age – Tactile sensitivity – Possible scoliosis – ADHD-like symptoms |
| Connection to Sensory Processing | Involves tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, and visual systems — can cause restlessness and distractibility. |
| Ways to Help Integration | – Rolling games – Snow angels on floor or bed – Snug clothing/weighted blanket – Sensory play – OT/PT plan |
Because the Spinal Galant is so tied to movement and attention, children with a retained reflex may seem restless or “wiggly.” The good news is — simple, playful exercises can make a big difference.
Palmar Grasp Reflex
The Palmar Grasp reflex is what makes newborns wrap their tiny fingers around yours. It’s a sweet bonding reflex, but it should give way to voluntary grasping.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| When It Appears | Around 16 weeks gestation |
| When It Should Integrate | By 6 months of age |
| What It Looks Like | Touch palm → hand closes tightly |
| Purpose in Infancy | – Helps with bonding (gripping caregiver’s finger) – Prepares for voluntary grasp and release |
| Signs if Retained | – Poor fine motor skills – Fatigue when writing – Struggles with buttons, zippers, or utensils – Speech articulation challenges |
| Connection to Sensory Processing | Impacts tactile, proprioceptive, and visual systems — can interfere with fine motor and speech development. |
| Ways to Help Integration | – Sensory bins (rice, beans, sand) – Fine-motor play (beading, Legos, cutting) – Adapted writing tools – OT/PT plan |
If retained, this reflex can make fine motor and speech tasks harder. Fun hand-based play and practice can help children gain the control they need for independence.