Beyond Tummy Time: Understanding Your Baby's Primitive Reflexes
December 2025
If you've been diligent about tummy time and are starting to see those precious head lifts and little push-up attempts, you're witnessing something far more profound than simple muscle strengthening. You're watching your baby's nervous system orchestrate one of the most remarkable transformations in human development—the integration of primitive reflexes.
Most parents have never heard of primitive reflexes, yet these automatic responses are quietly shaping every aspect of their child's future development. Understanding what's happening beneath the surface of those early movements can transform how you support your baby's growth and give you incredible insight into their developing brain.
Think of primitive reflexes as your baby's first "software programs"—automatic responses hardwired into their nervous system to ensure survival and kickstart development. These aren't random movements; they're sophisticated neurological patterns that emerge in utero and become active at birth.
Dr. Robert Melillo, a leading researcher in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, describes primitive reflexes as "automatic, stereotyped movements directed from the brain stem and executed without cortical involvement." In simpler terms, these are your baby's instinctive responses that don't require thinking—they just happen.
Every time your newborn startles with arms flung wide (the Moro reflex), turns their head toward a touch on their cheek (rooting reflex), or grasps your finger with surprising strength (palmar grasp reflex), their nervous system is running these essential programs. These reflexes serve immediate survival needs—helping with feeding, protection, and basic movement—while simultaneously laying the groundwork for more complex brain development.
Here's what many parents don't realize: these reflexes are meant to have a limited lifespan. As your baby's brain matures and develops higher-level control centres, these primitive patterns should gradually integrate or become inhibited. This isn't about the reflexes disappearing completely—they're still there if needed in emergencies—but they should no longer dominate your child's movement patterns.
The integration timeline varies for different reflexes, but most should be well on their way to integration by 4-6 months, with the process largely complete by 12 months. Research shows that this integration process is directly related to the development of higher brain centres, particularly the frontal cortex.
Primitive reflexes are strong and easily elicited—this is normal and necessary.
You should start noticing more purposeful, voluntary movements mixed with reflexive ones. Your baby might still startle easily but also reaches deliberately for toys.
Reflexes should be noticeably weaker. Your baby demonstrates more controlled movement patterns and better head control.
Most primitive reflexes should be integrated. Your baby shows coordinated rolling, sitting, and eventually crawling patterns.
Dr. Kyle Daigle, author of "Cracking the Autism Code," emphasizes that this integration process is crucial for proper sensory processing and communication development. His clinical experience with children on the autism spectrum has shown him how disrupted reflex integration can impact everything from speech development to social interaction.
When reflexes integrate properly, you'll notice your baby becoming more coordinated and purposeful in their movements. Instead of the jerky, all-or-nothing responses of early reflexes, you'll see smooth, controlled actions. They can hold their head steady while looking around, reach for objects without their whole body stiffening, and move one part of their body independently of another.
This integration creates space for what researchers call "postural reflexes"—more sophisticated movement patterns that support balance, coordination, and complex motor skills. These are the building blocks for everything from learning to crawl to eventually developing fine motor skills for writing.
Sometimes, despite a parent's best efforts, primitive reflexes don't integrate on schedule. This retention can create challenges that may not become apparent until later in childhood. Dr. Melillo's research has shown that retained primitive reflexes can act like "brakes on the development of the frontal lobes," potentially impacting learning, behaviour, and social development.
Research by Melillo et al. (2020) demonstrated that a 12-week program designed to integrate retained reflexes significantly improved performance on both motor and cognitive testing measures in children with ADHD. This suggests that addressing these foundational patterns can have far-reaching effects on a child's development.
While every baby develops at their own pace, there are some patterns that might suggest reflex integration isn't proceeding typically:
Dr. Daigle's work has shown that these early signs often reflect underlying neurological patterns that, when addressed early, can significantly improve a child's developmental trajectory.
Understanding primitive reflexes helps explain why those early months of movement and sensory experiences are so crucial. Every time your baby experiences tummy time, reaches for a toy, or even gets upset and moves their whole body in response, they're providing their nervous system with the input needed for proper integration.
Research has consistently shown that children with well-integrated primitive reflexes demonstrate better academic performance, improved social skills, and enhanced emotional regulation. This isn't coincidental—it reflects the deep connection between early motor development and brain maturation.
Dr. Melillo describes this as "functional disconnection syndrome" when integration doesn't occur properly. The brain's hemispheres fail to communicate effectively, leading to the uneven development patterns seen in many neurodevelopmental disorders.
The good news is that there's a lot you can do to support healthy reflex integration, building on the foundation you've already established with tummy time:
Don't just stick to traditional tummy time. Carry your baby in different positions, let them experience different textures and surfaces, and provide plenty of opportunities for free movement on the floor.
If your baby consistently favours one side, always turns their head in one direction, or seems uncomfortable in certain positions, these could be signs that reflex integration needs support.
While car seats, bouncy seats, and other baby gear have their place, too much time in these devices can limit the movement experiences your baby needs for healthy integration.
Gentle brushing of the skin, different textures for your baby to touch, varied visual experiences, and exposure to different sounds all support the sensory integration that accompanies reflex maturation.
If you notice persistent patterns that concern you, don't wait to seek guidance. Paediatric chiropractors or osteopath or occupational therapists trained in reflex integration, and developmental specialists can assess whether your baby's reflexes are integrating appropriately.
Early intervention can make a profound difference. Research consistently shows that addressing reflex integration challenges early, rather than waiting for problems to become entrenched, leads to better long-term outcomes.
Dr. Daigle emphasizes that many children who later receive diagnoses like autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities show early signs of retained primitive reflexes. Addressing these patterns early can dramatically improve a child's developmental trajectory.
Understanding primitive reflexes isn't about creating anxiety or giving you another thing to worry about. It's about appreciating the incredible sophistication of your baby's developing nervous system and recognizing how the seemingly simple activities you're already doing—tummy time, carrying, playing—are actually supporting complex neurological development.
Every interaction, every movement experience, every sensory encounter is contributing to your baby's brain architecture. Those primitive reflexes that seem so automatic are actually the building blocks for everything from your child's future ability to ride a bike to their capacity for learning and social connection.
As you continue supporting your baby's development, remember that you're not just strengthening muscles or hitting milestones—you're nurturing the neurological foundations that will serve your child throughout their entire life. The time and attention you invest in understanding and supporting these early patterns truly do create lifelong benefits.
Research from leaders like Dr. Melillo and Dr. Daigle shows us that what happens in these early months sets the stage for everything that follows. By understanding primitive reflexes and supporting their healthy integration, you're giving your child the neurological foundation they need to thrive.
The journey from reflexive responses to purposeful movement is one of the most remarkable transformations in human development. As you witness your baby's growing coordination and control, you're seeing the integration process unfold in real time—a testament to the incredible plasticity and potential of the developing brain.
This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. If you have concerns about your child's development, consult with your paediatrician or a qualified paediatric healthcare provider.
Every child deserves the opportunity to develop optimally. If you're curious about how spinal care might benefit your child's development, we're here to provide evidence-informed answers and gentle, age-appropriate care.