We are all born with automatic movements called primitive reflexes. These reflexes are important in the first year of life because they help babies survive and start developing important skills.
As your baby grows and reaches important milestones like rolling, sitting, and crawling, their brain and nervous system develop. This development helps these early reflexes gradually fade away and be replaced by more controlled, voluntary movements.
This process is important because it allows children to develop skills like:
- Moving smoothly and confidently
- Focusing and paying attention
- Learning to read and write
- Playing, running, and participating in sports
If these reflexes don’t fully fade away, they can sometimes make these everyday tasks a bit more challenging.
Signs of retained reflexes:
Motor/Coordination Issues: Clumsiness, poor balance, difficulty with skipping, catching a ball, or fine motor tasks (like holding a pencil).
Academic Struggles: Difficulty tracking across a page when reading, poor handwriting, trouble sitting still, or challenges with focus and attention.
Behavioral/Emotional Difficulties: Anxiety, motion sickness, sensitivity to light/sound, or easily becoming overwhelmed.
Blog
| Milestone | Typical age range | What’s happening in the body | If this stage is missed or incomplete… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tummy Time | Birth - 6 months | Child learns to lift their head, build strength, and develop body awareness | Weak core strength, poor posture, trouble with balance and coordination |
| Rolling both directions | 4-6 months | Child learns to move smoothly and coordinate both sides of the body | Difficulty coordinating movements, trouble crossing the midline (important for reading and writing) |
| Sitting independently | 6-8 months | Baby develops balance and starts using both hands together | Slouching, messy handwriting, difficulty using both hands together |
| Crawling (on hands and knees) | 8-10 months | Builds strong connections between both sides of the brain and body | Clumsiness, trouble with sports, difficulty focusing, reading and writing challenges |
| Standing balance/walking | 10-18 months | Balance, coordination, and body control develop | Poor balance, fidgeting, trouble sitting still, coordination and attention difficulties |
How can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy can help by using fun, targeted activities to support your child in working through these early reflex patterns. Sessions are usually play-based and tailored to your child’s needs, so they feel comfortable and engaged.
Physiotherapy may look like:
- Playing games that involve crawling, rolling, and balancing
- Activities that encourage using both sides of the body together
- Practicing hand–eye coordination through throwing, catching, or drawing
- Simple movement exercises that help the brain and body work better together
- Building core strength and posture through fun challenges
- A personalised home program with easy activities you can do together
If you have any concerns about your child’s development, or you’re wondering whether physiotherapy might be helpful, please feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to have a chat, answer your questions, and guide you on what support might be right for your child. Our friendly physiotherapists are here to help every step of the way.
