Does My Child Have Retained Reflexes?
From clumsiness and poor posture to attention challenges and sensory sensitivities, Dr. Shane Rainey shares common signs of retained primitive reflexes and what parents should know.
As parents, we often celebrate major milestones like rolling, crawling, walking, and talking. What many people don't realize is that before these milestones can develop, babies rely on a series of automatic movements called primitive reflexes (Healthline).
These reflexes are present from birth and help infants survive, grow, and build important neurological connections. As a child's brain matures, these reflexes should gradually disappear, allowing more purposeful and coordinated movement to take over.
When a reflex remains active beyond the age it typically should, it may be referred to as a retained primitive reflex.
What Are Primitive Reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are involuntary movement patterns controlled by the brainstem. They are normal and necessary during infancy, helping with feeding, protection, posture, and early motor development.
As higher brain centers mature, these reflexes become "integrated," meaning the child gains voluntary control over movement instead.
Think of primitive reflexes as the training wheels of early development. They're helpful at first, but eventually children need to outgrow them to develop more advanced motor and cognitive skills.
Common Primitive Reflexes and When They Typically Disappear
As a child's nervous system matures, primitive reflexes gradually fade away and are replaced by more purposeful, voluntary movement. Most primitive reflexes should no longer be present after the ages listed below.
Why Do Reflexes Become Retained?
In many children, reflex integration happens naturally with normal development. However, some factors may contribute to reflexes remaining active longer than expected.
Possible contributing factors include:
Premature birth
Birth trauma or difficult deliveries
Limited tummy time during infancy
Delays in gross motor development
Neurological differences
Lack of opportunities for varied movement experiences during infancy
Certain developmental disorders or neurological conditions
In many cases, there is no single identifiable cause of retained primitive reflexes. Some children may have contributing factors such as prematurity, limited early movement experiences, or developmental delays, but many children with retained reflexes do not have any clear risk factors at all.
It is also important for parents to know that this is not something they caused. Even in cases where contributing factors are NOT present, development is complex, and these patterns can simply occur as part of how a child’s nervous system matures.
How Can Retained Reflexes Show Up in Children?
Retained reflexes don't always present in obvious ways. Instead, parents may notice challenges in areas such as movement, coordination, attention, posture, or learning.
Retained Moro Reflex
Easily startled
Sensitivity to noise, light, or movement
Difficulty with emotional regulation
Anxiety or heightened stress responses
Retained ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)
Difficulty crossing midline
Awkward pencil grip
Challenges with reading and tracking across a page
Poor hand-eye coordination
Retained STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)
Slouched posture
Difficulty sitting still
Challenges with crawling history
Poor coordination during sports or playground activities
Retained Galant Reflex
Sensitivity to clothing, waistbands, or seams along the lower back
Constant fidgeting or difficulty sitting still in a chair
Tendency to squirm, shift, or move when sitting for schoolwork or meals
Difficulty maintaining upright posture while seated
In some cases, bedwetting or nighttime restlessness
General Signs
Clumsiness
Balance difficulties
Delayed motor milestones
Motion sensitivity
Difficulty with coordination tasks such as catching, throwing, or bike riding
Research has found associations between persistent primitive reflexes and challenges with motor skills, posture, coordination, and some aspects of learning and attention, although the strength of these relationships is still being studied.
An Important Note About the Research
The topic of retained reflexes has received significant attention in recent years. While studies have found associations between persistent reflexes and developmental challenges, experts continue to debate how much retained reflexes directly cause these difficulties. Current evidence suggests that retained reflexes may be one contributing factor rather than the sole explanation for attention, learning, or behavioral concerns.
For this reason, a comprehensive developmental evaluation is often more helpful than focusing on reflexes alone.
What Can Parents Do?
My biggest recommendation if you suspect your child may have retained reflexes is not to panic that something is wrong with your child. Instead, simply get them moving. Movement is one of the primary ways children develop and strengthen the neurological pathways that support coordination, balance, body awareness, and motor control.
Encourage Active Play & Purposeful Movement
Children learn through movement, and some simple exercises can help support body awareness, coordination, balance, and motor control.
Try incorporating activities such as:
Wall push-ups to build upper body strength, shoulder stability, and body awareness.
Snow angels on the floor to encourage coordination between the right and left sides of the body.
Cross-body marching (marching while touching the opposite hand to the opposite knee) to support crossing midline and coordination.
Marching with arms extended while turning the head side to side and maintaining a straight walking path.
Bear crawls across the room.
Crab walks for core and shoulder strength.
Army crawling on the stomach.
Bird-dog exercises (on hands and knees, extending the opposite arm and leg while maintaining balance).
Wheelbarrow walks with a parent holding the child's legs.
Balance beam walking using a line on the floor, curb, or balance beam.
Hopping on one foot and alternating sides.
Jumping jacks to promote coordination and body awareness.
Monkey bars and climbing structures to strengthen core muscles and coordination.
Obstacle courses that incorporate crawling, climbing, balancing, jumping, and crossing midline.
Yoga poses such as Tree Pose, Downward Dog, and Bird Dog that challenge balance and body control.
One of my general recommendations is simply encouraging activities that naturally incorporate crawling, climbing, balancing, crossing midline, and coordinating both sides of the body together. These movement patterns help build the foundation for more advanced motor skills, attention, and body awareness.
Don't Underestimate Play
Many of the best "activities" don't feel like activities at all. Time at the playground, riding bikes, swimming, gymnastics, martial arts, dance, hiking, and active outdoor play can all provide valuable movement experiences that support healthy neurological development.
Prioritize Outdoor Play
Outdoor environments naturally challenge a child's balance, coordination, strength, and spatial awareness. Running, hiking, exploring uneven terrain, and climbing all provide valuable opportunities for the nervous system to develop and mature.
Don't Skip the Basics
Many of the activities that support healthy development are surprisingly simple:
Limiting excessive screen time
Encouraging active free play
Participating in sports and recreational activities
Building core strength through climbing and crawling
Spending time outdoors
These everyday movement experiences can have a powerful impact on a child's overall development.
When Additional Support May Be Helpful
If you've noticed your child is struggling and movement-based play and at-home activities aren't leading to improvement, or if a teacher, pediatrician, or other third-party recommends exploring additional support, several therapies may be beneficial.
The options I most commonly recommend include occupational therapy, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and, in some cases, a developmental vision evaluation. The best choice depends on your child's specific challenges and developmental needs.
Occupational Therapy
A pediatric occupational therapist can evaluate:
Motor coordination
Sensory processing
Fine motor skills
Visual-motor integration
Handwriting and school-related skills
Occupational therapists often incorporate movement-based activities designed to support motor development and reflex integration.
Chiropractic Care
Many of our families choose to work with a pediatric chiropractor who has experience evaluating nervous system function and movement patterns in children. Some children may benefit from an approach that focuses on posture, movement, and overall nervous system support.
Physical Therapy
For children with gross motor delays, balance concerns, muscle weakness, or coordination challenges, physical therapy can help improve strength, stability, movement patterns, and overall function.
Vision Evaluation
Because some retained reflexes may influence visual tracking and eye coordination, a developmental vision evaluation can be helpful for children experiencing challenges with reading, eye tracking, or visual-motor skills.
When Should Parents Be Concerned?
Parents should consider discussing concerns with their pediatrician if they notice:
Persistent coordination difficulties
Delayed motor milestones
Frequent falls
Difficulty with handwriting not improving with age
Poor posture
Significant sensory sensitivities (clothing, etc)
Challenges with attention that affect school performance
Most importantly, concerns should be evaluated within the context of the child's overall development rather than focusing on any single reflex alone.
Concerned Your Child May Have Retained Reflexes?
If you've noticed challenges with coordination, balance, posture, attention, sensory sensitivities, or other developmental concerns, don't hesitate to bring them up with your pediatrician.
Many retained reflexes can be screened through simple movement-based assessments performed during an office visit. These evaluations help us determine whether retained reflexes may be contributing to your child's challenges and whether additional support could be beneficial.
While primitive reflexes are covered in pediatric training, more advanced assessment of retained reflexes and their potential impact on development often requires additional education and clinical experience. At Restore + Revive, we can help evaluate your child, provide guidance, and connect your family with trusted specialists when appropriate.
Most importantly, if you have concerns about your child's development, trust your instincts. Early evaluation and support can make a meaningful difference.
Contact
We would love the opportunity to meet your child, answer your questions, and help determine the best next steps for your family.
Contact our office at 817-720-6220 ext. 2 to schedule an appointment.