Primitive Reflexes Supporting Babies - School of Calmology Insights

For our latest training course, I've been taking a deep dive into the fascinating world of primitive reflexes and I have to say, it has completely captured my attention.

As a mum of three and someone who has worked in the baby and child wellness space for decades, I was genuinely surprised by how little I knew about primitive reflexes and the incredibly important role they play in both early survival and later development.

The biggest revelation for me was learning how these early reflexes, if they don't integrate as expected, may influence aspects of movement, coordination, attention and learning later in childhood. Throughout the training, I experienced so many lightbulb moments, thinking back to children I've worked with over the years, as well as recognising traits and challenges in my own children. It's amazing how something so fundamental to our earliest days of life is something so few of us have ever heard about.

So, what are primitive reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements that develop during pregnancy and are present at birth. They are essential for a baby's survival and early development.

These reflexes help a baby to:

• Be born.

• Take their first breath (the Moro Reflex helps initiate that first breath after birth).

• Feed (the rooting and sucking reflexes help a baby find the breast and feed effectively).

• Grasp.

• Move.

• Begin developing balance, coordination and body awareness.

  
  

You may have seen the incredible footage of a newborn, placed on their mother's chest immediately after birth, slowly making their way to the breast. This remarkable sequence is driven by a combination of primitive reflexes working together exactly as nature intended.

Primitive reflexes begin developing in the womb. As babies grow and experience movement after birth, these reflexes are gradually replaced by more mature movement patterns, allowing the brain and nervous system to continue developing.

Why movement matters

Learning about primitive reflexes reminded me just how important natural movement is during infancy.

Over the last 50 years, parenting has changed enormously. We now have an abundance of baby equipment designed to make life easier—car seats, bouncers, swings, walkers, containers and carriers. Many of these products have their place and can be incredibly helpful when used appropriately. However, it also made me wonder whether, as a society, we've unintentionally reduced the amount of free movement babies experience.

• Babies learn through movement.

• Floor time allows them to wriggle, roll, reach, pivot, push up, crawl and explore. These repeated movements help build strength, coordination, body awareness and the neurological connections that underpin future development.

• Tummy time and crawling are particularly valuable experiences because they encourage whole-body movement, weight bearing through the arms, visual tracking and coordination between both sides of the body.

Of course, many factors influence development, and every child's journey is unique. Some babies may skip crawling or reach milestones differently for perfectly valid reasons. However, providing plenty of opportunities for unrestricted movement gives babies the best chance to explore their bodies and develop naturally.

As I've learned more, it's reinforced something I've believed for years—we need to get our children moving.

• Less time on screens.

• More time outdoors.

• More climbing.

• More balancing.

• More catching, throwing and jumping.

• More opportunities to connect with nature, their bodies and the world around them. Sometimes the simplest things really are the most powerful.

  
  

How practitioners can support parents

As practitioners, one of the most valuable things we can offer is education without creating fear. Rather than encouraging parents to worry about every milestone, we can help them understand that development is a process and that every child follows their own path. Observing movement patterns, listening to parental concerns and considering the child's overall development can all help build a fuller picture.

Practitioners can support families by:

• Encouraging plenty of floor-based play from birth.

• Explaining the value of tummy time and natural movement.

• Suggesting ways to reduce prolonged time spent in containers where appropriate.

• Promoting active play, outdoor experiences and opportunities for whole-body movement throughout childhood.

• Signposting families to appropriately qualified healthcare professionals if there are concerns about a child's development or movement patterns.

  
  

Most importantly, we can empower parents with knowledge rather than overwhelm them with information.

How parents can support their child

The good news is that supporting your child's development doesn't have to involve expensive equipment or complicated programmes.

Some of the best things you can do are beautifully simple:

• Give your baby plenty of supervised floor time every day.

• Introduce tummy time little and often from the early weeks.

• Allow opportunities for rolling, crawling and free exploration.

• Avoid keeping babies in car seats, swings or bouncers for longer than necessary outside of their intended use.

• Encourage active play as your child grows—climbing, balancing, jumping, throwing, catching and exploring.

• Spend time outdoors whenever possible.

• Limit screen time and make space for movement, imagination and play.

• Most importantly, trust your instincts. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't be afraid to seek advice from your health visitor, GP or another appropriately qualified professional.

  
  

Every movement, every opportunity to play and every chance to explore helps build the strong neurological foundations that children will continue to develop throughout their lives.

Final thoughts

This training has been one of the biggest eye-openers of my career.

It's reminded me that children's development isn't just about reaching milestones—it's about giving the nervous system the opportunities it needs to grow, adapt and thrive.

Primitive reflexes are only one piece of the developmental puzzle, but understanding them has changed the way I view movement, play and early childhood.

Perhaps, in our increasingly busy, technology-filled world, the greatest gift we can give our children is something wonderfully simple: the time and space to move.

If you'd like to learn more about primitive reflexes, you can sign up for our Introduction to Primitive Reflexes online course, now available in our store. Alternatively, visit our Primitive Reflexes page under Courses for Professionals to find out more about this training.