Retained Primitive Reflexes: How They Impact Learning, Behavior, and Regulation
If your child struggles with attention, coordination, or behavior—even though you’re doing “all the right things”—there may be a hidden root cause: retained primitive reflexes. Primitive reflexes are involuntary movement patterns that babies are born with. These reflexes help newborns during the birthing process, survive, and provide the foundation for motor development, posture, and coordination. When reflexes remain active past infancy, the body continues to react automatically instead of intentionally. This means the nervous system has to work harder to stay organized. And as pediatric occupational therapist we look at the whole child — movement, posture, sensory processing, attention, and daily skills.