Why Are Primitive Reflexes Important in Child Development
- Mar 9
- 4 min read
Lara Cawthra is a Paediatric Chiropractor and MNRI® Core Specialist who supports infants and children with gentle, neurologically focused care. She’s passionate about helping kids build strong foundations for movement, learning, and regulation while empowering parents every step of the way.
Primitive reflexes begin to develop in utero. Those movements that are felt when the baby is developing during pregnancy is the baby training their central nervous system. As they move, kick, and squirm, their motor system is learning how to develop their movements. These movements, in turn, develop brain function.
How does the brainstem develop?
We are taught in school about the development of a fetus originating from two cells. As development continues, we form the notochord, which induces the formation of the neural tube. The spinal cord and brainstem (midbrain, pons, and medulla) develop from the neural tube. The brainstem is where most of the primitive reflexes reside.
The brainstem is at the base of the brain, at the top of the spinal cord. Other parts of the brain, such as the cerebellum and cortex, also begin development in utero.
The brainstem is about survival
The brainstem helps to regulate the autonomous functions for survival. These are the functions you don’t need to think about, such as regulating breathing and heart rate. The Cleveland clinic article has further information about the brainstem function.
What are primitive reflexes, and why do they matter?
Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements present in infants that develop in the womb. Originating in the brainstem, they help newborns survive and interact with their environment. As a child grows and their brain matures, these reflexes should integrate into more controlled, whole-body movements. If they do not integrate at the expected time, it may signal developmental delays or neurological concerns. Understand primitive reflexes and why they matter.
What happens when reflexes don’t integrate?
If primitive reflexes persist beyond their typical integration age, it may signal underlying neurological or developmental delay.
When your baby is born, you are given a logbook for you to keep so you can monitor your baby’s development. The milestones that are recorded help us to understand if the baby is developing in an age-appropriate manner. Learning more about the developmental milestones scale, including Social, Hearing and Language, Gross Motor, Vision, and Fine motor, can help you find out how your child 0-48 is developing.
The milestones do not tell us what might be underlying slow development or regression. As the primitive reflexes are the foundations for these movements, a practitioner who is trained to assess these movements would be helpful to assess if these are unintegrated and may need some help to reach optimal neurodevelopment.
Addressing primitive reflexes
With 30 years of experience in health care, I have researched many approaches to reflex integration. The technique that I have found is most comprehensive in assessment and reintegration methods is MNRI.
MNRI stands for Masgutova Neuromotorsensorimotor Reflex Integration. The reason what I have found this method so helpful for many children and adults with retained reflexes is because it begins with addressing the foundation of the reflex.
If, for example, the foundations for a house is unstable then the structure will fail and most likely fall down. This is similar in development. If the underlying neurodevelopment hasn’t taken place, the higher structures will not work efficiently, as the cortex may have to compensate for the lower structures that are not working automatically.
MNRI techniques encompass archetype movements, which are movements which are the basis of the reflexes. They help with our spatial awareness and our body map in space.
The skin is our largest organ and forms the boundary between our physical being and the outside world. A person can be hypersensitive to touch, which may mean they flinch at labels or having their hair cut. Conversely, a person could be hypo sensitive and require deep pressure. Working with this system, with gentle hands-on techniques, we are often able to help the neurotactile system to become regulated.
Movement, sensory and motor patterns are often affected when the primitive reflexes are unintegrated. MNRI uses gentle exercises to help the reflexes become integrated into the whole body system. These exercises may at first be done
passively, that is, the practitioner will guide the client's movements. When the person’s system is ready, the exercises may then be more active and intentional. An initial assessment will guide where the starting point needs to be.
How to help?
Start with finding a practitioner who is qualified to assess the neurodevelopment of your child, including the primitive reflexes. An assessment will help to profile good function as well as areas that might need focus on where to help.
After the assessment, your practitioner should be able to provide a management plan on where to start. As the body learns through repetition, it is best if some of the exercises and bodywork can be done at home. Your practitioner should be able to guide you on how to do this.
Rebalance programme: Putting it all together. As a well-rounded Holistic Health Care Professional, Lara is able to put the elements of posture, nutrition, and neurology together so that a tailor-made programme can be designed for your child. Helping your child to reach their full potential.
Join the discussion with Lara at the free Rebalance - Holistic Health Community
Read more from Lara Cawthra
Lara Cawthra, Paediatric Chiropractor and MNRI Core Specialist
Lara Cawthra is a Paediatric Chiropractor and MNRI® Core Specialist who loves helping kids grow, move, and thrive. She works with babies, children, and their families, using gentle tonal chiropractic care and MNRI® techniques to support healthy neurological development. Lara has a particular interest in supporting children with developmental delays, sensory challenges, and neurodivergent needs, always focusing on what each child needs to feel safe, regulated, and confident in their body. Known for her warm, down-to-earth approach, Lara is passionate about empowering parents with knowledge and practical tools so they feel supported every step of the way.
