The Retained Primitive Reflexes Causing Sleep Disruptions

This article provides helpful information about retained Primitive Reflexes and sleep disruptions. Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

Sleep is very important for all children. Not only do they need their rest, their brains need a chance to heal overnight and be prepared for more learning when they wake up. Many kids, especially when they are young, need an average of 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night.

Because most kids play hard throughout the day on the playground or in sports, sleeping usually comes naturally at night when the body and the brain is ready. Overtime, the majority of kids develop regular sleep patterns. However, there are some kids who may constantly struggle with sleep because of one or more retained Primitive Reflexes.

Retained Primitive Reflexes and Sleep Disruptions

Some retained Primitive Reflexes may cause sensitivities, which can lead to trouble when falling asleep or when trying to stay asleep throughout the night. Something as simple as the hum of a dryer or the air conditioning kicking on in the middle of the night can wake kids who are sensitive to sound, making it hard for them to fall back asleep.

When we miss out on sleep, we are often sluggish, grumpy and even emotional the next day. Kids are no different, especially if retained Primitive Reflexes are triggered almost every night. If the child continues to suffer from lack of sleep, you may find them to be:

• Cranky
• Short tempered
• Lethargic
• Emotional
• Unfocused
• Overly sensitive
• Sick more often than other children

When retained Primitive Reflexes are triggered in the middle of the night or before bed, children usually struggle in the classroom the next day. If children have trouble with sleep due to a retained Primitive Reflex, you may notice kids falling behind in the following areas:

• Trouble with balance and coordination
• Problems with attention and focus
• Laying on the desk
• Sensitivities to background noise in the classroom
• Trouble remembering tasks and retaining information

If one or more retained reflexes are the cause of interrupted sleep every night, you can make a few sleep accommodations for the child to help them reach a healthier REM cycle each night.

How does the Reticular Activating System Play a Role?

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) acts like the brain’s own personal alarm clock. It monitors incoming sensory signals and passes them to the body to alert or calm down. The RAS also plays an important role in helping the brain maintain consciousness and regulation of sleep (the wake cycle).

When the body is in pain or there is movement and sensitivity, the RAS sends the brain messages. This is especially important when the spinal reflexes are triggered by sensitivities throughout the night.

If the reflexes are activated, the body is often aroused by the RAS into consciousness, keeping the body awake. That is why children with retained Primitive Reflexes have trouble sleeping through the night and are typically tired in the morning. The brain remains in an awakened state and won’t allow the child to go into a deeper sleep.

The Retained Reflexes Causing Sleep Disruptions

When it comes to sleep, there are a few retained Primitive Reflexes that could be the culprit of a rough night. Each of these reflexes can be triggered by different events before or after sleep begins. Here are a few of the most common retained reflexes associated with difficult sleep patterns.

Fear Paralysis Reflex

Children with a retained Fear Paralysis Reflex often have the feeling of being “in danger,” which is why they are in constant fight or flight mode. As the child sleeps, their brain and their body may never fully feel safe. This may cause the child to have frequent nightmares or night terrors. Or, the reflex may also trigger the child to sleep walk or can cause sleep paralysis.

Before bed, the child may also continue to look for danger when they should be sleeping. They may stay awake thinking of monsters, bullies or other fearful events that happened to them throughout the day.

If the reflex continues to disrupt sleep patterns, it can create insomnia and sleep problems throughout the child’s life into adulthood.

Moro Reflex

If a child has a retained Moro reflex, they are likely to startle at the slightest sounds and may have trouble staying asleep. If they are sensitive to sound, they may wake to the sound of snoring or a sibling moving in the bed next to their own. The more sensitive the child is to noise and movement inside or outside their room, the harder it is for them to get to a mindset where they can easily fall asleep.

Parents may have noticed when their child was an infant they had to keep the room completely quiet to avoid startling or waking the newborn. If the reflex remains retained as the baby grows older, their sleep patterns do not make much progress.

The same sleep interruptions may also happen if the child is sensitive to textures. If the child is bothered by the texture of their bedding or the material of their pajamas, the child will find it difficult to get to a comfortable place when trying to fall asleep.

Research suggests kids who are prone to tactile, movement or auditory sensitivities frequently develop negative correlations with sleep.

Kids who experience these types of frequent sleep disruptions are often irritable, fussy or clingy because they can’t self-soothe themselves to sleep.

When children are finally asleep, the startle response may activate during sleep and awaken the child. The brain is never fully asleep if the Moro reflex is constantly activated throughout the night.

Spinal Galant Reflex

Children with a retained Spinal Galant reflex have higher incidences of bedwetting and soiling their pants during the night. If the child sleeps on their back or changes positions during sleep, it may activate the reflex and trigger bedwetting.

Certain pajamas can also activate the reflex throughout the night. Pajamas that have a seam or waistband can activate the reflex during sleep. This creates frequent, and sometimes nightly, bedwetting accidents. In many cases, the reflex keeps kids awake throughout the night because it continues to activate while the child is sleeping.

If you are working on integrating these reflexes at home or in therapy sessions, you may also want to make a few adjustments to the child’s sleep routine. To learn more about accommodations you can make for the child when it comes to bedtime, click here.

Retained Primitive Reflexes Roadmap

If you want to learn more about how to get your child or students on the right path toward integration, complete the form below to receive our Retained Primitive Reflexes Roadmap. This roadmap will provide you with helpful information on the signs and symptoms of retained Primitive reflexes and how you can start your journey toward integration.

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Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning challenges achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs