Baby 6 mo retained reflexes, worries

[hopelesshypo]

Hi there, I have noticed my almost 7 mo DD has retained some reflexes. He has the Moro Reflex when in pram occasionally but not always and also is still rooting when hungry. The internet is unhelpful because RR only seem to be picked up in later childhood, and everything just says moro is not normal after 6 months. and could be a sign of developmental issues but nothing else helpful. Also no info about losing the reflexes slowly. DD definitely has much less of these reflexes now but there is some remnant of them still there. Developmentally he seems fine and HV happy as have doctors been. Very fussy baby but just wants a lot of parental input. He is social, vocal and happy when he has that. I have put it down to a highly sensitive temperament which i would so both DH and myself have anyway. He is early on some milestones and others in the middle or still normal. Only one hes not been big on has been rolling although he can do it and i have seen him roll. Just not that interested. Wants to be sitting or standing, but still lots of movement. HV came when i told her about the reflexes but just told me to go to GP which i am now waiting on a check. Generally i find GP and HV always just very generic info and advice, which is fine if we need something specific but not helpful for more complicated issues.

I guess i want to know if anyone else noticed retained reflexes in their infant or baby for a bit longer than they should have them and if these gradually went away or were they a sign of something else? Any other info about them or things you did to help that can console me?

Thanks x

Hi OP, I’m sorry you’re in this horrible anxiety place. Just to reassure you that many infant reflexes can take a little longer to integrate than the literature suggests.

Both my sons had the Moro still at 8 months which led to lots of frantic googling from me. They went in the end. DS2 had the ATNR for much longer than he should have but again it naturally integrated in the end. They are 5 and 2 now and perfectly healthy and happy boys.

There is lots of mixed info on infant reflexes online. Lots of new evidence to say that retained reflexes can lead to issues like ADHD, dyspraxia etc whilst old school neurologists think this is rubbish and retained reflexes would only go hand in hand with actual neurological issues such as cerebral palsy. Given your baby is perfectly on track developmentally I don’t think you have anything to worry about! Also if they are gradually reducing that’s encouraging too.

The Moro naturally evolves into a adult startle reaction (I still jump a mile at the smallest unexpected noise etc) so it might be that you’re seeing 🙂

@NeonHalo thank you for your reassurance, I wish the literature had more nuance but my hope was that if it was already starting to go away it was ok, thank you for putting my mind at rest!