As chiropractors, one of the things we regularly assess in babies and children is the presence and development of primitive reflexes. Recently, we have noticed an increasing number of children presenting with retained primitive reflexes in the practice, and many parents are surprised to learn how much these early neurological patterns can influence a child’s development.

Understanding primitive reflexes can provide valuable insight into your child’s nervous system and may help explain challenges with movement, coordination, focus, learning, emotional regulation, and more.

What Are Primitive Reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are automatic movements that develop in the womb and are present at birth. They are controlled by the lower parts of the nervous system and play a vital role in survival, movement, feeding, and early neurological development.

Examples include:

The Moro (startle) reflex

Rooting reflex

Palmar grasp reflex

Plantar grasp reflex

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

As a baby’s brain and nervous system mature, these reflexes should gradually integrate, allowing more advanced movement patterns, balance, coordination, and cognitive skills to develop.

What Happens When Reflexes Are Retained?

Sometimes primitive reflexes do not fully integrate as expected. When this happens, the nervous system may continue to rely on these early movement patterns, which can affect a child’s ability to develop more mature motor and sensory skills.

Every child is different, but retained reflexes are commonly associated with challenges such as:

Poor balance and coordination

Frequent tripping or clumsiness

Difficulty sitting still

Poor posture

Delayed motor milestones

Difficulty concentrating or maintaining attention

Sensory sensitivities

Emotional reactivity

Motion sickness

Challenges with handwriting

Difficulty crossing the midline

Poor body awareness

Learning difficulties

Having one or more of these challenges does not automatically mean a child has retained primitive reflexes, but it may indicate that a neurological assessment could be beneficial.

Why Do We Assess Primitive Reflexes?

At our clinic, we believe that a healthy, adaptable nervous system provides the foundation for healthy growth and development.

Primitive reflex testing gives us valuable information about how a child’s nervous system is functioning and maturing. By assessing reflexes alongside posture, movement, coordination, balance, and other neurological indicators, we can build a more complete picture of your child’s development.

Our goal is not simply to identify challenges but to understand how we can best support your child’s nervous system so they can thrive.

How Do We Support Reflex Integration?

Every child is unique, which is why we begin with a thorough assessment to understand their individual needs.

Based on the findings, we may recommend a personalised program that can include:

Specific reflex integration exercises

Balance and coordination activities

Sensory stimulation exercises

Movement-based neurological rehabilitation

Chiropractic care where appropriate

Home exercises for parents to perform with their child

These activities are designed to provide the nervous system with the appropriate sensory and motor input needed to support continued development and maturation.

The nervous system has an incredible capacity to adapt and change, particularly during childhood. By providing the right stimulation at the right time, we can help support healthy neurological development and build strong foundations for future learning, movement, and wellbeing.

Giving Your Child the Best Start

Children’s brains and nervous systems are developing rapidly. Supporting healthy neurological development during these important years can have a lasting impact on confidence, movement, learning, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing.

Whether your child is meeting all of their milestones or you’re noticing challenges with coordination, focus, posture, behaviour, or development, an assessment can provide valuable insights and peace of mind.

If you would like to learn more about primitive reflexes or find out whether an assessment may be helpful for your child, we would love to help.

Speak with Chanelle or Emma about what an assessment for your child involves, what we look for during the examination, and whether now is the right time to book.

A healthy, adaptable nervous system gives children the foundation they need to learn, grow, move, and thrive. By identifying and supporting retained primitive reflexes early, we can help provide your child with the best possible start in life.

Book Your Child’s Assessment today and take the first step towards supporting their neurological development and future potential.