Retained Primitive Reflexes in Children: What Parents Need to Know
If you've ever been told that your child has "retained primitive reflexes" — or if you've been searching for answers about why your child is clumsy, struggling to concentrate, finding reading or writing difficult, or just seeming a little behind their peers in ways that are hard to pin down — this post is for you.
Retained primitive reflexes is one of those areas where the information online can feel either overwhelming or oversimplified. I want to give you a clear, practical explanation of what these reflexes are, how they can affect children, and what can actually be done to help.
What are primitive reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements that all babies are born with. They're controlled by the brainstem — the most primitive part of the brain — and they serve important purposes in early development: helping a baby feed, protecting them from danger, and supporting the very first stages of movement and coordination.
Some of the most well-known include:
The Moro reflex — the startle response, where a baby flings their arms outward in response to a sudden movement or sound. This is the primitive equivalent of a fight-or-flight reaction.
The ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) — when a baby's head turns to one side, the arm and leg on that side extend while the opposite side flexes. This is thought to help with birth and later with developing hand-eye coordination.
The Spinal Galant reflex — stroking the skin alongside a baby's spine causes them to curve towards that side. This helps with movement through the birth canal.
The TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex) — linked to the vestibular system, helping the baby develop a sense of balance and spatial orientation.
These reflexes are essential in early infancy. But here's the key point: they're designed to be temporary. As the brain matures — usually within the first year of life — these reflexes should be inhibited (or "integrated") and replaced by more sophisticated, voluntary movement patterns. When that integration happens properly, the child develops good posture, coordination, balance, and the ability to learn.
What happens when they're retained?
If a primitive reflex isn't properly integrated, it can continue to influence a child's movement and behaviour in ways that interfere with their development. The reflex essentially keeps "firing" when it shouldn't, creating a kind of neurological static that the child has to work around.
This can show up in a very wide range of ways, which is one of the reasons it often goes unrecognised for so long. Common signs that retained primitive reflexes may be a factor include:
Poor balance and coordination — tripping, bumping into things, difficulty with sport
Difficulty with handwriting — poor pencil grip, messy or slow writing, hand fatigue
Trouble crossing the midline — difficulty with tasks that require both sides of the body to work together, such as catching a ball or reading across a page
Sensitivity to light, sound, or touch — easily overwhelmed by sensory input
Concentration and attention difficulties — easily distracted, struggles to sit still
Reading and writing difficulties — poor tracking of text, letter reversals
Emotional dysregulation — anxiety, meltdowns, difficulty managing emotions that seem disproportionate to the situation
Bedwetting beyond the age when it would typically resolve
None of these signs on their own confirms retained reflexes — many have other possible explanations — but a pattern of several together, particularly alongside a history of a difficult birth or early developmental concerns, is worth investigating properly.
How does osteopathy fit in?
This is where I can help. As an osteopath with a particular interest in paediatric care, I approach retained primitive reflexes from a musculoskeletal and neurological perspective — looking at how the body is moving and functioning, and whether physical restrictions might be interfering with the normal integration process.
Birth trauma — whether from a long labour, an assisted delivery, or a caesarean — can leave tension in the neck, skull, and upper spine that affects how the brainstem functions and how reflexes integrate. Osteopathic treatment can address these physical restrictions gently, creating better conditions for the nervous system to mature.
Alongside hands-on treatment, I can assess which reflexes are still active and advise on specific movement-based exercises that help the brain integrate them. These exercises are simple, often done daily at home, and work by gently re-patterning the movement sequences the brain should have laid down in early infancy.
What age can children be assessed?
Children can be assessed at any age — reflexes don't suddenly disappear without intervention, and many adults are walking around with retained reflexes they've been compensating for their whole lives. That said, earlier intervention tends to produce faster results, and the period before secondary school is often a particularly good time to address things if school-based difficulties are starting to emerge.
For babies and very young children, early osteopathic treatment is one of the most effective ways to support healthy reflex integration before difficulties develop.
What to do if you're concerned
If your child is showing any of the signs above and you're looking for answers, I'd encourage you to get in touch. An initial appointment will involve a thorough case history — including birth history, developmental milestones, and what you're noticing now — followed by a gentle physical assessment. I'll tell you honestly what I find and what I think is likely to help.
You can read more about osteopathy for babies and children or book an appointment directly. As always, I'm happy to have a quick chat on the phone first if you'd like to talk things through before booking.
— Sally