Rooting Reflex

The information presented on this webpage is printed with permission from Harkla.co

infant demonstrating rooting reflex

More facts about the Rooting Reflex

  • The Rooting Reflex is essential for survival and growth, as it assists the newborn in finding food and initiating feeding.

  • When the corner of the infant’s mouth is stimulated, the infant will turn his/her head towards the stimulus and open their mouth, with tongue thrusting (getting ready for the suck reflex to be stimulated).

  • It has been stated that the Rooting Reflex is strongest at birth, specifically within the first few hours. If the baby does not receive gratification for 'rooting' or go through the motion of rooting to find the breast, the reflex will weaken.

  • The strength of the reflex fluctuates depending on feeding schedules, however as with other reflexes, if it is not used fully at the proper time, it appears to become unfulfilled, frustrated, and unable to let go, which can, in turn, look like feeding challenges.

What is the Rooting Reflex?

Connected to the Rooting Reflex is the Suck Reflex

  • The suck reflex is also essential for survival and growth, as it allows the infant to coordinate breathing with swallowing.

  • The suck reflex initiates when the roof of the mouth is stimulated (after the Rooting Reflex has activated to locate the bottle or breast) and begins the process of feeding.

  • Because of the connection between the Rooting Reflex and the Sucking Reflex, if one is significantly retained, it's likely that the other will also be retained.

Signs of a Retained Rooting Reflex in an older child or adult:

  • excessive drooling

  • speech and articulation challenges

  • chewing and swallowing challenges

  • difficulties with textures and solid foods

  • hypersensitivity of the mouth

  • tongue lies too far forward

  • thumb sucking

Retained Primitive Reflexes affect EVERYTHING

〰️

Retained Primitive Reflexes affect EVERYTHING 〰️

How We Can Help

Dr. Melanie Beingessner, Dr. Laurence Dion, Dr. Leah Robinson from Blessingways Family Wellness in Airdrie and North Calgary, AB

Both children AND adults can have Retained Primitive Reflexes

Dr. Melanie, Dr. Laurence and Dr. Leah have taken extra courses and seminars to learn how to assess and treat people with retained primitive reflexes

  • We will have you fill out a comprehensive intake form that will help us to focus on which reflexes might be retained

  • We will do a thorough chiropractic and neurological exam

  • We will make an individualized plan for you and/or your child that will include chiropractic adjustments and home exercises

    These home exercises must be done twice a day for at least 30 days for your nervous system to integrate the retained primitive reflexes

  • Then we will re-exam to assess and plan again

If you would like more information, or to
make an appointment with one of our Doctors,
please call us at 403-945-2422

To help integrate the Rooting Reflex, you will need to do

Every morning for 30 DAYS

20 repetitions of the Cat Whiskers exercise
20 repetitions of at least ONE FUN Exercise that you can choose from the second pdf download

(Of course, you can do as many of the fun exercises as you like!)

Every afternoon or evening for 30 DAYS

20 repetitions of the Cat Whiskers Exercise
20 repetitions of at least ONE FUN Exercise that you can choose from the second pdf download

(Do as many of the fun exercises as you like!)

Here are your downloads for the Rooting Reflex Integration Exercises

Click Here to print the instructions for the Cat Whiskers exercise

Click Here to print the instructions for 10 Additional FUN Exercises you can choose from

Click Here to see 10 videos of the Additional FUN Exercises - click on the Rooting Functional Activities folder

Click Here to print a 30 days exercise Tracking Calendar

Exercises to Integrate
the Rooting Reflex

Examples of the Cat Whiskers Exercise that we’ve found on YouTube

Dr. Melanie, Dr. Laurence and Dr. Leah have taken many courses about retained primitive reflexes. One course, offered by Harkla, called Assessment and Integration of Primitive Reflexes Master Level was created by Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill, both occupational therapists

We have been given permission by them to post their very thorough information on our website and to give their handouts to our patients

For more information about Harkla’s courses for
professionals and parents, please click here

Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill from Harkla