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Primitive reflexes explained: Moro, ATNR, STNR, Babinski, Palmar and Rooting

What they are, and why they may matter.

Six early reflexes parents often ask about. What each one is, what it can look like when it’s still active, and what the research does and doesn’t show.

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The short version

Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns babies are born with. Most fade in the first year or two.
Some practitioners, including us, believe reflexes that stay active can get in the way of coordination, focus and emotional regulation. This is debated, and the research is limited and mixed.
This guide covers six reflexes: Moro, ATNR, STNR, Babinski, Palmar and Rooting. It’s general information, not medical advice. If you’re worried about your child’s development, start with your GP or health visitor.

Written by Adi and Dana Latter. Last updated 2 November 2026.

The six reflexes at a glance.

When each reflex usually fades, and what some practitioners link it to if it stays active. Tap a name for the full explanation.
Reflex	Usually fades by	If it stays active, some practitioners link it to
Moro	Around 4 months	Anxiety, sensory sensitivity, poor emotional regulation and being easily startled or overwhelmed.
ATNR	Around 6 months	Handwriting, crossing the midline, reading and difficulty tracking a line of text.
STNR	8 to 11 months	Poor posture, W sitting, slouching at a desk and difficulty copying from a board.
Babinski	Around 2 years	Balance, toe walking, and general foot and ankle stability during movement.
Palmar	Around 6 months	Pencil grip, handwriting fatigue and fine motor tasks like buttons or cutlery.
Rooting	Around 4 months	Speech articulation, sensitivity around the mouth, and some feeding or texture difficulties.

Why a reflex from infancy may still matter years later.

Every baby is born with automatic movement patterns that help them in the first months. Most switch off, or integrate, as the nervous system matures. Some practitioners, including us, believe that when one stays active for longer than expected, it can get in the way of things like coordination, focus and emotional regulation.

In the way we work, reflexes come after helping the nervous system feel safe and building balance and movement, and before focus, language and confidence. The six below are the ones we see most often.

What each reflex is, and what to look for.

These signs overlap with a lot of other things, so treat this as a way to notice patterns, not a way to self diagnose. A hands on check by a trained practitioner is the only way to know what’s actually going on. If you’re worried about your child’s development, or your child has lost skills they had, talk to your GP or health visitor first.

Moro Reflex

The startle reflex

In infancy, a sudden noise, light or drop in support makes a baby fling their arms out and cry. It's the body's built in alarm system. It should settle by around 4 months as the nervous system learns the world is safe.

Early sign: Arms and legs jerk outward at a loud noise or sudden movement, followed by crying.
If it stays active: The nervous system can stay stuck in a low level fight or flight state well past infancy.
What it may be linked to: Anxiety, sensory sensitivity, poor emotional regulation and being easily startled or overwhelmed.

ATNR

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

When a baby's head turns to one side, the arm and leg on that side straighten while the opposite side bends. It's called the "fencer" position. It supports early hand and eye coordination and should integrate by around 6 months.

Early sign: The classic fencer pose, one arm extended in the direction the head is turned.
If it stays active: Turning the head can still trigger an unwanted shift in arm position or balance.
What it may be linked to: Handwriting, crossing the midline, reading and difficulty tracking a line of text.

STNR

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

This reflex links head position to arm and leg movement together, helping a baby learn to get onto hands and knees and eventually crawl. It typically integrates between 8 and 11 months.

Early sign: Bending the head forward or back changes arm and leg position at the same time.
If it stays active: Sitting upright at a desk and looking between a book and the board becomes tiring.
What it may be linked to: Poor posture, W sitting, slouching at a desk and difficulty copying from a board.

Babinski Reflex

The plantar reflex

Stroking the sole of a baby's foot causes the big toe to bend upward and the other toes to fan out. It's a normal sign of an immature nervous system. It should integrate as the pathways controlling the foot mature, usually by around 2 years.

Early sign: The big toe lifts and the foot fans when the sole is stroked.
If it stays active: The foot and ankle can struggle to provide stable, grounded input to the brain.
What it may be linked to: Balance, toe walking, and general foot and ankle stability during movement.

Palmar Reflex

The grasp reflex

Press a finger into a baby's palm and their fingers curl tightly around it. It's an early survival grip. It should integrate by around 6 months as voluntary hand control develops.

Early sign: An automatic, tight grasp when the palm is touched, hard for the baby to release.
If it stays active: Fine motor control in the hand can stay effortful rather than becoming automatic.
What it may be linked to: Pencil grip, handwriting fatigue and fine motor tasks like buttons or cutlery.

Rooting Reflex

The feeding reflex

Stroke a baby's cheek and they turn toward it, mouth open, ready to feed. It's essential in the first weeks of life and should integrate by around 4 months as feeding becomes more voluntary.

Early sign: Turning the head and opening the mouth automatically when the cheek is touched.
If it stays active: The mouth and face can stay more sensitive or reactive to touch than expected.
What it may be linked to: Speech articulation, sensitivity around the mouth, and some feeding or texture difficulties.

An honest note before you go further.

It’s well established that primitive reflexes appear in infancy and usually fade in the first year or two. Whether reflexes that persist in older children contribute to difficulties with learning, attention or behaviour is debated. So is whether reflex integration exercises help.

Studies so far are small, and results are mixed. Reflex integration isn’t part of standard NHS pathways, and we can’t promise results. We think it’s worth exploring for some children, alongside everything else they have, and we’ll tell you honestly on a call whether we think it’s worth it for yours.

If you’d like to read more, see our page on the Melillo Method in the UK and our research page. If your child is late with movement, our guide to baby and toddler motor delay explains when to get checked first.

Adi and Dana Latter, founders of Hopeful Neuron and authors of this guide

We’ve been where you are. Now we know what to look for.

Our older son didn’t speak until he was five, and that’s where this started. Today he’s fully verbal, has finished his GCSEs, has friends and is independent. We’ve spent over 20 years in developmental therapies since, and we’ve both been Melillo Method certified since 2022. We’re not medical doctors, and we don’t diagnose.

If you’d like to know whether reflexes are part of your child’s picture:

Start at home with our free reflexes course.
Get a hands on check at a Clarity Day in our Mill Hill clinic.
Not near London? Start with a remote look at your child.

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Things parents ask us about primitive reflexes.

What is a retained primitive reflex?

A primitive reflex is an automatic movement pattern babies are born with. Most integrate, meaning switch off, in the first year or two as the nervous system matures. When one is still active beyond that window, some practitioners describe it as retained, and believe it can get in the way of attention, coordination, emotional regulation and learning. That idea is debated.

Is a retained reflex a diagnosis?

No. It isn't a diagnosis, and it isn't a formal condition in the way autism or ADHD is. It's a term some practitioners use for patterns they see when they check a child's movement.

How do I know if my child has retained reflexes?

They're usually looked for through a hands on check by a trained practitioner, not a questionnaire. Signs that people link to them include poor balance, messy handwriting, being easily startled, W sitting, toe walking and difficulty with reading or focus. These signs overlap with many other things, so a check is the only way to know.

Is there evidence that reflex integration works?

Research is limited and mixed. It's well established that primitive reflexes appear in infancy and usually fade. Whether persisting reflexes in older children contribute to learning, attention or behaviour difficulties, and whether integration exercises help, is debated. Studies are small, and reflex integration isn't part of standard NHS pathways. We can't promise results. See our page on the Melillo Method in the UK and our research page.

Should we see our GP first?

If you're worried about your child's development, yes. Your GP or health visitor can look for other causes and refer you on where needed, which matters especially for delayed movement or lost skills. Our support is designed to sit alongside that, not replace it. If your child is late with movement, see our guide to baby and toddler motor delay.

Can reflex work help at any age?

We work with children from 18 months to 18 years. The nervous system stays adaptable throughout childhood and the teenage years, and we think integration work can be useful well beyond early childhood. We can't promise particular outcomes at any age.

Does my child need a diagnosis before checking for retained reflexes?

No. We see children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, dyslexia and dyspraxia, and children with no diagnosis at all. A diagnosis isn't needed to have this checked.

Can I work on reflexes at home?

Yes. The exercises are gentle movements done at home, and we coach parents through them so the work fits into daily family life. Our free course is a good place to start.

Is reflex work instead of other therapies?

No. It's designed to sit alongside them, and you can keep any therapy your child already has, including OT, speech therapy and school SEN support.

How long does reflex work take?

Every child is different. Some families notice early changes within a few weeks of consistent daily practice, while others take longer, and some children don't respond as we'd hope. Working on a reflex pattern is usually measured in months, not days.

This page is general information for parents. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace advice from your GP, health visitor, paediatrician or other health professional.

Wondering about your own child?

Book a free 15 minute call with Adi or Dana. Tell us what you’re seeing, and we’ll tell you honestly whether we think reflex work is worth trying.

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Primitive reflexes explained: Moro, ATNR, STNR, Babinski, Palmar and Rooting

The short version

The six reflexes at a glance.

Why a reflex from infancy may still matter years later.