Postural Reflexes

Labrynthine Righting

2-6 months

• When baby is in upright position then tilted in a direction, head will move in the opposite direction in order to keep the head upright

  • Ex: baby tilted downward, head/neck will go into extension in order to keep head upright

Optical Righting

6-12 months

• Same as labrynthine, except now eyes follow the motion of the head

Neck Righting

0-6 months

• IN SUPINE: When head/neck is turned one way, body will follow

Body Righting

6-12 months

• When body/torso is turned one way, head and neck will follow

• Progression (AFTER) Neck Righting

Pull Up

0-3 months

• When baby held upright by the arms and is lowered backwards, baby will flex their arms (“pull up”) to try to stay upright

Parachute/Propping

3-12 months

• When baby is held in prone and lowered towards the ground, they automatically extend arms in anticipation of fall

  • Legs also extend and abduct

• Crawling

0-3 months

• When pressure applied to sole of one of baby’s feet while in prone, baby starts crawling motion (upper and lower limbs)

Stepping

0-4 months

• When baby is supported in standing position and tilted forward, baby makes a stepping motion

Swimming

0-4 months

• When in prone and put over/in water, baby makes swimming motions