Primitive Reflexes - What Are They and How Long Do They Stick Around?

Humans are pretty amazing. We have been programmed since birth to react to external factors. For example, when there’s a bright light and you blink, your eyelids are acting involuntarily. This autonomic, innate response to environmental stimuli is a reflex behavior. They’re controlled by lower brain centers that are in charge of other involuntary processes, such as breathing and heart rate. 

There are an estimated 27 major reflexes for infants! Typically present at birth or soon after birth (Gabbard, 1996). What Occupational Therapists call Primitive Reflexes, such as sucking and movement related for feeding early on, are related to instinctive needs for survival and protection. They also help with the early on connection to the caregiver. Some reflexes are related to human evolution; for example, the grasping reflex (child holding your finger tightly) which enables infant monkeys to hold on to their mothers’ fur. 

Typically, these reflexes do not last too long. They may help with some necessary activities early on, but once we develop physically and cognitively to do things on our own, they’re not as needed. Higher brain centers become more active during the first 2-4 months, babies start to show postural reflexes; changes in position or balance. For example, babies who are tilted downward have a reflex to extend their arms in the “parachute reflex,” an instinctive way to break a fall. Some “locomotor reflexes” for walking and swimming are not present until months after the primitive reflexes disappear. 

Most of the earlier reflexes disappear by the first 6-12 months. The reflexes that continue, like blinking, yawning, coughing, gagging, sneezing, shivering, and dilation of pupils in the dark, continue as protective functions. Disappearance of the unnecessary reflexes by a certain age is a sign that motor pathways have myelinated (developed), allowing your child to shift to voluntary behaviors. That is why Occupational Therapists can evaluate a baby’s neurological development by seeing if certain reflexes are present or absent. 

If a child is having trouble with meeting certain developmental milestones, there may be some underlying cause for concern, as explained in the neurological development of your child. We are happy to talk to families about their child development, and help with occupational therapy if needed. Please schedule a FREE consultation to learn more!