The rooting reflex is one of the earliest reflexes babies use to feed. When you gently stroke a newborn’s cheek, they turn toward the touch and open their mouth. This is normal in infancy and helps them find the breast or bottle. As the brain matures, this reflex should fade so higher motor and speech systems can take over. When the rooting reflex stays active beyond infancy, it can create challenges because the head and mouth are still being pulled into that early feeding pattern. This limits h

Primitive reflexes live in the brainstem. As the brain matures, the cerebellum and frontal lobes team up to regulate that brainstem and switch those reflexes off, making room for complex, coordinated movement 🧠⚙️ When the cerebellum or frontal cortex are underdeveloped, the brain can’t inhibit those patterns, so the reflexes linger and get in the way of smooth motor control, attention, and learning. Think rooting and palmar grasp. As babies, these automatic patterns help us survive and build ea

What are primitive reflexes—and why do they matter beyond infancy?...

Primitive reflex integration exercises play a crucial role in supporting children with autism and other special needs. These exercises help integrate retained primitive reflexes, which can improve sensory processing, motor skills, and overall development. By incorporating specific movements and activities, we can enhance neural organization, reduce anxiety and stress, and promote better focus and regulation. This can lead to improved behavior, learning, and social interactions, empowering childr

30K views · 1.5K reactions | Primitive reflex work is a powerful...

Checking primitive reflexes in a one year old is one of the hardest stages to assess. They never stop moving, they want off the table, and you cannot get them into the classic positions like hands and knees for ATNR or STNR. It feels a little like trying to examine a cat that wants to escape every two seconds. This is why checking reflexes at this age takes a higher skill set. The same is true for kids with significant sensory needs or profound autism who are constantly moving. You need to know