10/07/2025
🧠 Pediatric Primitive Reflexes: ATNR & STNR Explained
Every baby is born with a set of automatic movement patterns called primitive reflexes — early brainstem-driven responses that help with survival and development. These reflexes are meant to appear, serve a purpose, and then naturally “integrate” as the brain matures.
Two key reflexes we often assess in pediatric neurological exams are the ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) and STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex). When these remain active beyond the expected age, they can influence a child’s posture, coordination, learning, and emotional regulation.
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🍼 ATNR – The “Fencer’s” Reflex
The ATNR is triggered when a baby turns their head: the arm and leg on that side extend, while the opposite side bends.
This reflex helps with early eye-hand coordination, rolling, and reaching across the body.
If the ATNR remains active, a child may experience:
• Difficulty with reading or writing (eyes don’t track smoothly across midline)
• Poor handwriting or awkward pencil grip
• Trouble with sports or activities requiring bilateral coordination
• Tension in the neck, shoulders, or upper back
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🚼 STNR – The Crawling Reflex
The STNR helps babies transition from lying on their tummy to getting up on hands and knees.
When the head looks up, the arms straighten and legs bend; when the head looks down, the arms bend and legs straighten.
If the STNR remains active, you might notice:
• Poor posture or “slumped” sitting
• Fidgeting, wiggling, or trouble staying seated
• Delays in crawling or awkward movement patterns
• Difficulty copying from the board or focusing on written work
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⚖️ Why Retained Reflexes Matter
When primitive reflexes don’t integrate on time, they can interfere with higher-level brain development — especially in areas controlling focus, coordination, and emotional self-regulation.
These retained reflexes can create “neurological traffic jams” that make learning and movement feel harder than they should.
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At our clinic, we use gentle neurological and chiropractic assessments to identify retained reflexes and guide the nervous system toward better integration. With targeted reflex exercises, movement-based therapies, and chiropractic care, we can help the brain build stronger, more efficient pathways for learning and development.
If your child struggles with focus, reading, coordination, or posture — it may not be a “behavioral” issue, but a neurological developmental delay linked to retained reflexes.
💡 We offer pediatric neurological evaluations to help uncover what’s holding your child back and create a plan for better brain-body balance.
