What are Primitive Reflexes?
As parents, we are always amazed by how quickly our children grow and develop. From those first tiny movements in the womb to their independent steps, it is a fascinating journey. A big part of this early development involves something called primitive reflexes.
Imagine your baby as a little superhero, born with some amazing built-in instincts. Primitive reflexes are the automatic, involuntary movements that babies make. They are like little helper programmes built into their brains and bodies from before birth.
Why are they so important?
These reflexes are absolutely crucial for early survival and development. They serve four key purposes in the early stages of life:
Some reflexes help guide your baby through the birth canal, playing a vital role in the birthing process itself.
Think about a newborn instinctively rooting for the breast, or sucking when something touches the roof of their mouth. These are essential for feeding and survival.
They help your baby gain head control, develop muscle tone, and begin to understand their body in space.
Primitive reflexes lay the neurological groundwork that makes all later voluntary movement and learning possible.
When do they switch off?
In a typically developing child, these primitive reflexes do their job and then gradually switch off, or inhibit, as your child grows. This usually happens by the time they are around 18 months old.
As these primitive reflexes fade away, more mature, voluntary movements and skills can develop. It is like building the foundations of a house. Once the foundations are solid, you can start building the walls and the roof.
When primitive reflexes integrate at the right time, they pave the way for the postural reflexes that support the central nervous system and sensory systems throughout life. This natural progression is the basis of healthy neurological development.
What happens if they do not switch off?
Sometimes, for various reasons, these primitive reflexes do not fully inhibit and remain active beyond that first year. When this happens, they can get in the way of your child's natural development. It is like trying to build those walls and the roof while the foundations are still shifting.
If these reflexes stay active, they can lead to a range of challenges, which might show up as:
Behavioural difficulties
Perhaps your child is easily overwhelmed, struggles with impulse control, or has frequent meltdowns. Poor impulse control, anger, difficulty with change, OCD or ODD behaviours, and over-reactive emotional responses can all have roots in retained primitive reflexes.
Emotional struggles
You might notice increased anxiety, difficulty managing feelings, low self-esteem, dependency issues, or a tendency to withdraw. These are not simply personality traits but can reflect an immature central nervous system.
Learning challenges
This could include difficulties with concentration, reading, writing, or simply sitting still in class. Processing difficulties, poor working memory, struggles with organisation and sequencing, and oral and written abilities that do not match each other are all common signs.
Physical issues
Things like poor balance, clumsiness, awkward movements, tactile sensitivity, poor hand-eye coordination, or difficulties with bedwetting can sometimes be directly linked to uninhibited reflexes. These are physical symptoms of a neurological pattern, not carelessness or laziness.
How can we help?
The good news is that we can often help these reflexes to integrate. At Think Thrive, we work with children using gentle, non-invasive, and drug-free approaches. We use specific, easy-to-do physical exercises that your child can often carry out at home on a daily basis.
These movements are carefully designed to help those unintegrated primitive reflexes finally inhibit. By doing so, we are essentially helping the central nervous system to get back on track with its natural development, giving your child's brain a fresh opportunity to flourish and reach its full potential.
The INPP method has over 45 years of scientific research behind it, and uses a personalised programme of daily movements tailored to each individual child's profile.
We also work with the Tomatis® approach, which supports auditory processing and listening, addressing another important dimension of neurological development that affects learning, language, and emotional regulation.
What changes might you see?
In our experience, supporting the integration of primitive reflexes can lead to meaningful changes across many areas of a child's life. Every child is different, but families commonly report improvements such as:
- Feeling calmer and less anxious day to day
- Finding learning easier and more enjoyable
- Better emotional control and self-regulation
- More age-appropriate social behaviour and friendships
- Improved movement, coordination, and balance
- Greater confidence and independence
- Reduced physical symptoms such as bedwetting or clumsiness
- Improved ability to focus and sustain attention
If any of this sounds familiar, or you are curious to learn more, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are here to help your child thrive.
How Might They Present?
Watch these short videos to find out how each primitive reflex might present in your child. New videos are added regularly as our library grows.
Ready to find out if this could help your child?
Take the free screening questionnaire or get in touch to ask any questions.Questions? Rebecca is happy to have an informal chat before you book.