Primitive reflexes are an important and in-depth topic in pediatric occupational therapy. Follow along this reflex series where I will be posting a series of 4 informative blogs discussing these crucial reflexes.
So lets get started!
What is a reflex? 
- An action that is performed as a response to a stimulus and occurs without conscious thought
What are primitive reflexes?
- Primitive reflexes are the brain’s way of teaching the body different motor patterns
- Primitive reflexes are present at or just after birth and are typically integrated throughout the first year of life
- If these reflexes are not integrated properly, a child will experience learning, motor, and sensory difficulties
Now let’s discuss some important primitive reflexes during the first few months of life!
Rooting Reflex (Survival Reflex) 
- Onset: 28 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 3 months
- Stroking the side of the child’s cheek will elicit the movement of their tongue, mouth, or head to turn towards the stimulus
- Significance: assists the baby in locating and finding food
- If not integrated a child may have difficulty with feeding and speech development
- Onset: 28 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 2-5 months
- If you place your finger in the baby’s mouth, they should respond with a strong rhythmical sucking
- Significance: allows baby to eat
- If not integrated a child may have difficulty with feeding and controlling drooling and muscle movements of the mouth
Onset: 28 weeks gestation- Integration age: 2-5 months
- This reflex is performed by pulling the baby up into a seated position by their forearms and in response the baby will grasp their fingers tightly and experience a head lag
- Significance: gain voluntary control when grasping objects
- If not integrated:
- Child may have difficulty with voluntary grasping and releasing of objects (feeding utensils, writing utensil, toys, difficulty playing sports, etc)
Moro Reflex (Protective Response)
- Onset: 28 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 4-6 months
- This reflex is displayed when a baby is startled by positional changes and environmental stimuli (loud noises)
- Significance: our fight or flight reflex; protective response to stressful stimuli
- If not integrated:
- Child may be very emotional / experience sleep disturbances
- Fear loud sounds / emotional outbursts
- Be in a constant state of fight or flight (very anxious)
- Poor coordination and balance
- Weak immune system
- Shyness
- Onset: 28 weeks gestation
- Integration age: 9 months
- To test this reflex, a parent will apply pressure to the ball of the infant’s foot and their toes will curl into a flexed position
- Significance: provides tactile input to the sole of the infant’s foot in preparation to stand, walk, and run
- If not integrated:
- The child will experience hypersensitivity to touch
- Gravitational insecurity when standing – making walking difficult
- Difficulty maintaining balance in motion
* Attached to each reflex name are hyperlink videos which will demonstrate how to elicit each reflex!*
