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Neurodevelopmental Therapist | Primitive Reflex and Sensory Integration. Helping children thrive!

08/12/2025

You don't want to see the startle (Moro) reflex beyond 4 months of age because that signals your baby's brain is not maturing or developing as it should be.

The Moro reflex is a primitive reflex that babies are born with. It can be triggered by the head tipping back, loud noises, light or even touch.

Primitive reflexes are only meant to be active for the first few months of life. If this reflex remains beyond its lifespan, something is off track in baby's development.

What should you do? The best option is to seek help from a reflex practitioner/Neurodevelopmental therapist like me!

Some helpful things you can do at home on your own are to;
- reduce swaddling as this prevents the Moro from integrating
- increase vestibular movement like rocking, rolling, swinging, being upside down as this helps the Moro to integrate
- make sure you are encouraging nasal breathing. Check your baby isn't a mouth-breather because this can keep the Moro reflex active

02/12/2025

Look at the beautiful Zarah showing us a lovely ATNR!

What is that you ask?

The ATNR is an infant reflex that develops in-utero and emerges at around 18 weeks.

This reflex occurs when the head turns to one side- the arm and leg on that side straighten and the opposite arm and leg bend.

This reflex can be the reason you feel baby move in-utero. It also plays a huge role in helping baby move through the birth canal.

Once born, the reflex will help baby’s brain to learn about the left and right side of body. It will also help the brain learn how to control the arms and legs and how to track with the eyes.

The ATNR will inhibit (no longer be active) by about 6 months of age.

Want to learn about more reflexes your baby should have and what they do? Hit follow for all things reflexes and brain development! 💙

27/11/2025

I saw this post from a mum in an Autism parents' group. What's sad is that she doesn't understand her child's brain. 😢 (and no one has properly explained it to her).

This mum, in describing her autistic son, has perfectly described what we see when the left hemisphere of the brain is strong or overconnected and the right side is weaker or underdeveloped. This picture of brain asymmetry is the common presentation of Autism.

The more developed left side gives the child incredible skills (even gifts) like being able to read from an early age, being great at computation and able to remember awesome facts on favourite topics.

However, the underdeveloped right side can present as motor and speech delays, a lack of body awareness and difficulty with self-care skills.

It fascinates me that a paediatrician and/or psychologist has spent time with this mum and her child in order to diagnose him, yet in that time they couldn't explain to her what is actually going on in her child's brain.

Does anyone else think something is really wrong with that? Is it a case of they just don't know?

20/11/2025

Neurodevelopmental Therapy (primitive reflex integration) is available in Rouse Hill!

18/11/2025

An imbalanced brain can look good and bad. Unfortunately, both ways are problematic.

When one side of the brain is more dominant and overdeveloped, the weaker side doesn't get much say. For a child to function at an optimal level, both hemispheres of the brain must work together and be balanced.

13/11/2025

W-sitting can be a symptom of a retained baby reflex called the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR).

This infant/primitive reflex emerges around 6-9 months of age and integrates or inhibits around 9-11 months.

If it doesn't inhibit, it is said to be a retained primitive reflex and can pose a multitude of challenges.

Some of those are poor focus, difficulty sitting still and difficulty reading and writing- many of the things that send parents off to a doctor for an ADHD diagnosis.

If your child displays some of these challenges and w-sits, it would be beneficial to have them checked for this retained primitive reflex (and any others). Retained reflexes can be easily addressed with a reflex practitioner like me 🙋. Many of us call ourselves Neurodevelopmental Therapists.

I am based in Rouse Hill NSW and work with families from the Hills District, Western Sydney, the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains areas. If you live further away, you can work with me online!

31/10/2025

Nearly every child I assess has this baby reflex when they shouldn't! Take a look at the long-term effects of this reflex being retained in an older child. ➡

16/10/2025

Tutoring rarely helps. Try this instead!

19/08/2025

The right side of the brain develops first, doing most of the growing from 0-3 years of age.

It is the social, emotional and non-verbal side of the brain. It allows us to see the big picture of the world and comprehend. The right also looks after creativity, empathy, digestion and the ability to inhibit impulses, thoughts or anti-social behaviour.

When the right is weak, we can see incredible gifts from the higher or more connected left brain. But we can also see a lag in skills and functions.

Does your child seem to be right-brain weak?

31/07/2025

Primitive reflexes that haven’t integrated show up in various ways in older children. They are often the root causes of challenges.

30/07/2025

The first part of the brain to develop is the Brainstem. It’s where primitive reflexes come from.

Primitive reflexes are involuntary movements that develop in utero and help baby to be born and survive in the early months.

As baby develops, the brain matures and higher centres learn to take over control of the body. So primitive reflexes integrate or are inhibited because they are no longer needed.

In many children though, the reflexes don’t inhibit and can create many physical, social, behavioural and academic challenges. This is due to the brain not fully maturing.

29/07/2025

This is why we see immature behaviour ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Children who can't;
👉 regulate their emotions
👉 control their impulses
👉sit still
👉interact socially
👉 learn

Retained primitive reflexes will hold everything back.

Have you ever had your child assessed for retained reflexes?

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10 Minstrel Place Rouse Hill
Sydney, NSW
2155

Opening Hours

Tuesday	5pm - 8pm
Wednesday	5pm - 8pm
Friday	9am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm
Sunday	9am - 1pm

Website

https://www.unlocklearningandhealth.com.au/

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