Babinski Reflex: How it Develops and What Happens When Retained

This article provides helpful information on the Babinski reflex and what happens if it’s retained. 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.

When babies are born, we often celebrate their first smile, first steps, and first words. What many people don’t realize is that long before these exciting milestones, a baby’s nervous system is busy laying the foundation for every future movement, learning skill, and developmental achievement.

One of the earliest building blocks of healthy neurological development is the Babinski reflex. While this reflex is completely normal in infancy, it should naturally integrate as the brain matures. When it doesn’t, it can create unexpected challenges with movement, learning, attention, and overall development.

Let’s take a closer look at what the Babinski reflex is, when it should integrate, and the signs parents should watch for as their child grows.

What Is the Babinski Reflex?

The Babinski reflex is a primitive reflex that is present from birth. Primitive reflexes are automatic movements controlled by the brainstem that help babies survive and develop during their first year of life.

The Babinski reflex is tested by gently stroking the sole of a baby’s foot from the heel toward the toes. In a newborn or young infant, the normal response is for the big toe to lift upward while the other toes fan outward.

This automatic movement is a sign that the infant’s nervous system is functioning as expected.

As the brain matures and higher brain centers gain control over movement, this reflex gradually integrates and is replaced by the mature plantar response, where the toes curl downward instead.

What Does the Babinski Reflex Support?

The Babinski reflex assists in the development of joint rotation, especially in the feet, ankles, knees and hips. It also contributes to the development of muscle tone in the lower part of the body and supports overall movement.

In addition, the Babinski reflex helps support the following foundational areas:

• Early neurological organization
• Development of motor skills
• Sensory awareness of the feet
• Preparation for standing and walking
• Postural development and balance

During infancy, these automatic movements provide important sensory information to the developing brain. As babies experience movement, tummy time, crawling, standing, and walking, the nervous system becomes more organized.

When motor skills mature and are established, the Babinski reflex is no longer needed.

When should the Babinski Reflex Integrate?

The Babinski reflex is present at birth and is considered normal throughout infancy.

Most children naturally integrate the reflex between 12 and 24 months of age, with many developmental specialists expecting a mature plantar response by approximately 18 to 24 months.

After this age, the toes should curl downward rather than fan upward when the sole of the foot is stimulated.

If the Babinski reflex remains active beyond toddlerhood, it may suggest that the nervous system has not fully matured in this area. While a retained primitive reflex alone is not a diagnosis, it may be one piece of a child’s overall developmental picture. If the child experiences motor delays or setbacks in certain areas of learning development that can be connected to a retained Babinski reflex, a comprehensive evaluation is recommended.

What Happens when the Babinski Reflex is Retained?

When a primitive reflex remains active, the brain continues to receive immature neurological signals that can interfere with more advanced motor and cognitive skills.

Because the feet provide constant sensory input during standing and walking, a retained Babinski reflex can affect many aspects of development.

Children may have difficulty developing efficient balance, coordination, posture, and body awareness.

The nervous system may also have to work harder to maintain stability, leaving fewer resources available for attention, learning, and higher-level thinking.

Signs of Retention Parents May Notice

Every child is different, but some common signs and symptoms associated with a retained Babinski reflex include the following:

Movement and Coordination

• Frequent tripping or clumsiness
• Poor balance
• Awkward walking or running pattern
• Difficulty learning to ride a bike
• Delayed gross motor milestones
• Poor coordination during sports
• Toe walking in some children
• Feet that appear overly sensitive to touch

Posture and Stability

• Poor posture
• Fatigue during physical activity
• Difficulty standing still
• Weak core muscles
• Poor body awareness

Sensory Challenges

Because the soles of the feet are rich in sensory receptors, a retained Babinski may contribute to the following:

• Discomfort wearing shoes or socks
• Avoiding walking barefoot
• Sensitivity to different floor textures
• Increased sensory defensiveness
• Difficulty tolerating certain footwear

How can a Retained Babinski Reflex Affect Learning?

Learning isn’t just about intelligence. A child’s learning ability depends on how efficiently the brain and body communicate.

When the nervous system is still managing primitive reflex activity, children may have to devote more energy to maintaining posture and processing sensory information. This can reduce the brain’s capacity for sustained attention and complex learning.

Some children may experience challenges with the following:

• Sitting still during class
• Maintaining attention
• Following multi-step directions
• Handwriting endurance
• Visual tracking while reading
• Eye-foot coordination
• Physical education activities
• Executive functioning skills such as planning and organization

While research is still developing for retained reflexes, pediatric occupational therapists and developmental practitioners observe these associations when working with kids. Many agree, retained reflexes should be considered one factor among many that can influence development rather than a sole cause of learning difficulties.

What Parents May See at Home

Parents are often the first to notice that something seems “off,” even when their child appears bright and capable.

When a child struggles, parents may notice the following:

• Seems unusually clumsy
• Avoids playground equipment
• Tires easily after physical activity
• Has trouble keeping up with peers in sports
• Struggles to sit through homework
• Frequently changes position while seated
• Complains that shoes feel uncomfortable
• Walks awkwardly or seems unsteady
• Becomes frustrated with tasks requiring coordination

Many parents describe their child as “trying really hard” but still struggling with skills that seem to come naturally to other children.

Can a Retained Babinski Reflex be Integrated?

The good news is that the nervous system remains capable of change throughout childhood.

If a retained primitive reflex is suspected, a qualified pediatric occupational therapist, physical therapist, or other clinician with training in developmental neurology can perform an assessment to determine whether primitive reflexes are contributing to a child’s challenges.

Intervention often focuses on improving overall motor control, balance, strength, coordination, and sensory processing. Reflex integration exercises, like in the Integrate with Success program, provide movements to integrate many of these retained reflexes.

Early identification allows children to build stronger movement patterns that support learning, confidence, and everyday participation.

Supporting Reflex Integration

The Babinski reflex is a normal and essential part of infant development. It helps organize the nervous system during the earliest months of life and prepares babies for standing, walking, and future movement.

By the second year of life, however, this reflex should naturally integrate as the brain matures.

When it remains active beyond the expected age, children may experience challenges with balance, coordination, posture, sensory processing, and learning. While a retained Babinski reflex is not a diagnosis and does not necessarily explain all developmental concerns, it can be an important clue that the nervous system may benefit from further help and assistance.

If you’ve noticed ongoing coordination difficulties, sensory sensitivities, or learning challenges, register for our 90-minute workshop to explain more about signs and symptoms you may see with retained Primitive Reflexes. Understanding how the nervous system develops can help parents recognize potential concerns early and support their child’s growth with appropriate guidance and intervention.

Retained Primitive Reflexes Roadmap

For more information on the signs and symptoms of six retained Primitive reflexes, complete the form below to download a free copy of our Retained Primitive Reflexes Roadmap. When you’ve completed the form, check your email inbox for the download link, including your junk and spam folder. If you do not see the download link come to your email inbox, please email us at info@ilslearning.com.

Reference Materials

Modrell, A. K., & Tadi, P. (2023, March 6). Primitive reflexes. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554606/

Melillo, R., Leisman, G., Machado, C., Machado-Ferrer, Y., Chinchilla-Acosta, M., Kamgang, S., Melillo, T., & Carmeli, E. (2022). Retained primitive reflexes and potential for intervention in autistic spectrum disorders. Frontiers in Neurology, 13, Article 922322. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.922322

Gieysztor, E. Z., Choińska, A. M., & Paprocka-Borowicz, M. (2018). Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy preschool children. Archives of Medical Science, 14(1), 167–173. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29379547/

Bartlett, D. J. (1997). Primitive reflexes and early motor development. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 18(3), 151–157. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004703-199706000-00002

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