Your paediatrician talks about reflexes at every check-up. Your OT mentioned specific reflex types in your child’s assessment report. You want to understand the full picture — what all the different types of primitive reflexes are, what each one does, and when each should disappear. This guide gives you the complete list.
Types of primitive reflexes include motor reflexes (Moro, ATNR, TLR, STNR), feeding reflexes (rooting, sucking, palmar grasp), protective reflexes (Babinski, swimming, stepping), and postural reflexes. All are present at birth and should integrate by 6–12 months.
1. How Primitive Reflexes Are Classified
Primitive reflexes can be classified by function:
- Feeding reflexes — help the newborn find food and feed
- Motor and movement reflexes — develop muscle tone, coordination, and voluntary movement foundations
- Protective reflexes — protect the baby from harm
- Postural and balance reflexes — develop the sense of body position and gravity
For a full overview, see our complete guide to primitive reflexes.
2. Feeding Reflexes
Rooting Reflex: Touch on the cheek — baby turns head toward touch and opens mouth. Integrates by 3–4 months. If retained: oral hypersensitivity, speech articulation difficulties. See rooting reflex guide.
Sucking Reflex: Touch to lips triggers automatic sucking. Integrates as reflex around 4 months but retained as voluntary action.
Palmar Grasp Reflex: Pressure on palm triggers tight grip. Integrates by 5–6 months. If retained: fine motor difficulties, hypersensitive hands, pencil grip problems.
3. Motor and Movement Reflexes
Moro Reflex (Startle): Arms fling outward at sudden movement or sound. Integrates by 4–6 months. If retained: high anxiety, excessive startle, sensory hypersensitivity. See Moro reflex guide.
ATNR (Fencer Reflex): Head turning causes same-side arm and leg to extend. Integrates by 6 months. If retained: midline crossing difficulties, letter reversals, reading and writing challenges.
TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex): Head position relative to gravity affects muscle tone. Integrates by 6–12 months. If retained: poor posture, balance difficulties, motion sickness.
STNR (Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex): Neck bending causes specific arm-leg movements. Integrates by 9–11 months. If retained: W-sitting, poor posture at desks, skipped crawling.
Stepping Reflex: Stepping movements when held upright with feet on surface. Integrates by 2 months.
4. Protective Reflexes
Babinski Reflex: Toe fans out when sole stroked. Normal in infants, integrates by 12–24 months. Persistence beyond age 2 warrants neurological assessment.
Plantar Grasp: Toes curl at touch on ball of foot. Integrates by 9–12 months.
Swimming Reflex: Swimming movements face-down in water. Integrates by 4–6 months.
5. Types of Reflexes Indian Parents See in Their Babies
- Startling at sounds — Moro reflex, completely normal
- Gripping fingers tightly — palmar grasp reflex
- Rooting when cheek is touched — especially obvious when hungry
- Stepping when held upright — stepping reflex, not walking
- Ceiling fan fascination — partly TLR-related visual tracking
Types of primitive reflexes: Feeding (rooting, sucking, palmar grasp), motor (Moro, ATNR, TLR, STNR), protective (Babinski, plantar, swimming). List of primitive reflexes: Moro, rooting, sucking, palmar grasp, plantar grasp, ATNR, TLR, STNR, Babinski, stepping, swimming, Landau. Examples of reflexes in babies / examples of simple reflexes in infants: Moro startle, rooting, palmar grasp, stepping, Babinski toe fan. Types of reflexes in child development: Primitive reflexes integrate into voluntary movement; postural reflexes develop as balance matures.
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