Rooting Reflex
What is the Rooting Reflex?
The Rooting Reflex is one of Baby’s most important early survival reflexes. It helps Baby locate food and begin feeding. When the corner of Baby’s mouth or cheek is gently touched, they instinctively turn their head toward the touch, open their mouth, and move their tongue forward—getting ready to latch and feed.
This reflex is strongest at birth, especially during the first few hours of life. It ensures that Baby can find the breast or bottle to feed effectively. If Baby doesn’t get to practice this reflex through feeding or gentle nurturing touch, the reflex may weaken over time.
The Rooting Reflex also plays a role in early emotional bonding and oral motor development, both of which support calmness and comfort.
Connection Between the Rooting and Suck Reflexes
The Suck Reflex works hand in hand with the Rooting Reflex. Once Baby locates the breast or bottle using the Rooting Reflex, the Suck Reflex activates when the roof of Baby’s mouth is stimulated. This allows Baby to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing—skills essential for feeding and later speech development.
Because these two reflexes are closely linked, if one remains retained, the other often does as well.
Signs of a Retained Rooting Reflex
A retained Rooting Reflex can cause challenges for older children or adults, including:
Excessive drooling
Difficulty chewing or swallowing solid foods
Speech and articulation challenges
Hypersensitivity in or around the mouth
Thumb sucking or constant oral stimulation
Tongue resting too far forward
Retained Primitive Reflexes affect EVERYTHING
〰️
Retained Primitive Reflexes affect EVERYTHING 〰️
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
At Blessingways Family Wellness in Airdrie and North Calgary, our chiropractors—Dr. Melanie Beingessner, Dr. Laurence Dion, and Dr. Leah Robinson—help families support healthy brain and body development through gentle, movement-based chiropractic care.
When retained primitive reflexes are suspected, we:
Perform a thorough chiropractic and neurological examination.
Review a detailed intake form to identify which reflexes may be active.
Create a personalized care plan that includes gentle chiropractic adjustments and home-based movement activities.
Recommend daily exercises to help the nervous system learn new, more coordinated patterns.
Re-evaluate progress regularly to monitor changes and refine care.
Every nervous system is unique. While many people respond well to chiropractic adjustments and home movement activities, progress depends on each individual’s ability to adapt and integrate new information.
📞 Call Blessingways Family Wellness at (403) 945-2422
to book your appointment or learn more about our family chiropractic services in Airdrie
Best Beginnings: Infant Massage and Movement Program
Ready to nurture your baby’s growth from the very beginning?
Our Best Beginnings Program teaches parents hands-on ways to support healthy growth and brain development, calm Baby’s nervous system, and encourage reflex integration through touch and play.
You’ll receive:
● Over 20 hours of guided video tutorials
●Simple, science-based activities you can do at home
● Practical home organization tips
● Exclusive downloadable guides and printable resources
● Unlimited lifetime access
Exercises to Help Integrate the Rooting Reflex
To help integrate the Rooting Reflex, practice the following routine:
Every morning for 30 days
20 repetitions of the Cat Whiskers Exercise
20 repetitions of at least one fun movement activity from the video links below
Every afternoon or evening for 30 days
20 repetitions of the Cat Whiskers Exercise
20 repetitions of at least one fun exercise from the video list below
(You can do as many of the fun exercises as you like!)
Cat Whiskers Exercise Demonstration
Here are more fun Rooting Reflex Integration Exercises to choose from
Click Here to see 10 videos of Additional FUN Exercises - click on the Rooting Reflex Functional Activities folder
Click Here for additional FUN integration exercises that we’ve found on YouTube
Click Here to print a 30 days exercise Tracking Calendar
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.
