Heads up! Your newborn's primitive reflexes

Your new baby doesn't have the strength to control their head when they are born, but you will soon notice them holding their head steady and starting to look at things: this is thanks to primitive reflexes. In this article, we look at the part that these reflexes play in your baby’s early head movements and gradual control of the rest of their body.  

What are primitive reflexes? 

Your baby's ability to control their body starts at their head and moves to their toes. Primitive reflexes are mediated at the brainstem and are responses to sensory stimuli that your baby has before, and for a few months after, birth. These reflexes have different roles but are concerned with survival.

As your baby’s brain develops, these primitive reflexes become integrated, with movements being controlled either by postural reflexes which are mediated at the midbrain or by conscious movements. The postural reflexes support the control of balance, position and movement, and the development of these reflexes links closely with your baby’s physical development.  

Tonic labyrinthine reflex 

The tonic labyrinthine reflex is linked to movement of the head. If your baby’s head is below the level of their spine, then your baby’s arms and legs will straighten; if their head is above the level of their spine, your baby’s arms and legs will curl inwards.

This reflex helps babies to develop muscle tone and coordination. It will also interact with other reflexes as your baby develops, supporting the development of head control and balance.  

Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex 

The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex involves each side of your baby’s body moving in a slightly different way: when your baby is lying on their back and their head turns to one side, this reflex leads to the arm and leg on that side extending and the arm and leg on the opposite side bending.

When your baby is lying on their tummy, this reflex ensures that they can breathe, as they will turn their head to one side. When you first try tummy time, you might notice that even though your baby can't lift and control their head yet, they will turn their head to the side. 

Gaining head control

Your baby will gain control of their head when lying on their tummy at first, so you might notice that they can briefly lift their head when on their tummy. As they gain more control, they will turn their head when on their back, before being able to hold their head up for longer and turn from side to side.

Giving your baby time lying on their tummy when they are awake and alert will help them to develop the control that they need to lift their head. If your baby doesn’t like lying on their front, you could try lying them on your chest for ‘tummy time’ or varying the position that you hold them in so they feel their head in different positions and start to gain control of it.  

Reference:

Goddard-Blythe, S. (2004). The Well Balanced Child: Movement and Early Learning. Stroud: Hawthorn Press.