We all have reflexes; fast, automatic movements our bodies make without us even thinking. Some reflexes stay with us for life, helping us stay safe and respond to the world around us. Others are meant only for infancy. They support early survival and movement, then fade as children gain more control of their bodies. When those early reflexes don’t integrate on schedule, they can influence how a child experiences their body and how they interact with their environment. These are known collectively as primitive reflexes.

What’s funny is that most parents (in non health-related fields) don’t even know what these are. Newborns have such weird movements when they are learning body control that you can get through the first six months without even realizing the reflexes at work.

FYI: This post has a lot of definitions and lists, so feel free to bookmark and save.