The Moro Reflex: What It Is, Signs of Retention, and How to Support Nervous System Regulation
The Moro Reflex is an early survival reflex that triggers a startle and stress response. When it remains active beyond infancy, it can contribute to anxiety, emotional reactivity, sensory sensitivity, poor sleep, and reduced stress tolerance. Nervous system-focused chiropractic care and reflex integration strategies can help support calmer regulation and improved resilience at any age.
The Moro Reflex, often called the startle reflex, is one of the most well-known primitive reflexes in early development. While completely normal and necessary in infancy, this reflex is meant to integrate within the first few months of life. When it doesn’t, it can significantly influence emotional regulation, sensory processing, posture, sleep, immunity, and stress resilience—well into childhood and adulthood.
At Nomad Chiropractic, we regularly assess and support children and adults across Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches with retained Moro reflex patterns. These patterns are often underlying issues in anxiety, behavioural challenges, sensory overload, and chronic stress.
This blog will walk you through:
What the Moro reflex is
When it should integrate
Signs and symptoms of retention at different ages
How it impacts the nervous system
Practical home care strategies
How chiropractic care supports integration
What Is the Moro Reflex?
The Moro reflex develops around 9–12 weeks in utero and is controlled by the brainstem. It is an automatic survival response to a sudden change in sensory input—such as noise, light, movement, or loss of support.
A classic Moro response includes:
Sudden extension of the arms and legs
Opening of the hands
Inhalation or gasp
Followed by flexion and often crying
In infancy, this reflex acts as an alarm system, alerting the nervous system to potential danger.
When Should the Moro Reflex Integrate?
The Moro reflex is expected to integrate between 4–6 months of age as higher brain centres mature and take over regulation.
Integration allows the baby to:
Respond appropriately rather than reflexively
Adapt to sensory input
Develop emotional and physical stability
When the Moro reflex remains active beyond infancy, the nervous system can remain stuck in a heightened state of alert.
Why a Retained Moro Reflex Matters
A retained Moro reflex keeps the body in a fight-or-flight dominant state. The nervous system constantly scans for danger, even in safe environments.
This can lead to:
Chronic stress responses
Poor emotional regulation
Sensory defensiveness
Fatigue and burnout
Difficulty concentrating or learning
Importantly, a retained Moro reflex is neurological—not behavioural or psychological.
Signs and Symptoms of a Retained Moro Reflex
In Babies
Exaggerated startle response
Difficulty settling or self-soothing
Poor sleep
Sensitivity to noise, light, or touch
Frequent crying or irritability
In Children
Anxiety or fearfulness
Emotional overreactions
Sensory sensitivities (clothing, sound, food textures)
Poor balance or coordination
Motion sickness
Frequent illness (immune stress)
In Teens
Social anxiety
Poor stress tolerance
Headaches or jaw tension
Difficulty focusing
Feeling overwhelmed by school demands
In Adults
Anxiety or panic responses
Chronic fatigue
Poor sleep quality
Overreaction to stress
Hormonal imbalance
Neck and upper back tension
Many adults are unaware that their stress patterns may be driven by a retained primitive reflex.
How the Moro Reflex Affects the Nervous System
When the Moro reflex is retained:
The sympathetic nervous system remains dominant
Cortisol and adrenaline are easily triggered
The vagus nerve’s calming influence is reduced
The immune and digestive systems are down-regulated
This creates a body that is reactive rather than resilient.
Over time, this can affect:
Emotional health
Learning and memory
Immune function
Gut health
Posture and breathing patterns
Home Care Strategies to Support Moro Reflex Integration
While professional guidance is essential, home support is critical for success.
1. Reduce Sensory Overload
Limit excessive screen exposure
Reduce background noise
Create calm, predictable routines
2. Support Calm Breathing
Encourage nasal breathing
Slow, rhythmic breathing patterns
Longer exhales to activate parasympathetic tone
3. Create Emotional Safety
Consistent routines
Gentle transitions
Clear expectations
A nervous system that feels safe integrates more effectively.
4. Reflex-Based Movement Exercises
Specific, gentle movements that replicate early developmental patterns can help the brain re-process the Moro reflex. These exercises must be:
Slow
Symmetrical
Repetitive
Performed consistently
(Always work with a trained practitioner to ensure correctness.)
Chiropractic Care and the Moro Reflex
Chiropractic care plays a valuable role in supporting Moro reflex integration by optimising nervous system communication.
At Nomad Chiropractic, our approach focuses on:
Gentle, age-appropriate adjustments
Reducing stress on the brainstem and spinal cord
Improving sensory input to the brain
Supporting vagal tone and regulation
Enhancing postural and motor integration
This is particularly helpful for:
Babies with unsettled behaviour
Children with anxiety or sensory challenges
Teens under academic pressure
Adults experiencing chronic stress or burnout
Families across Sydney, the North Shore, and Northern Beaches often seek us out specifically for this neurological approach.
Why Early Support Is So Important
The longer the Moro reflex remains active, the more deeply it influences:
Emotional responses
Stress perception
Learning capacity
Physical tension patterns
Early identification can significantly improve outcomes—but adults can also experience powerful changes when their nervous system finally learns to regulate rather than react.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Moro reflex the same as anxiety?
No. Anxiety may be a symptom. A retained Moro reflex is a neurological driver that can contribute to anxiety.
2. Can chiropractic help without exercises?
Chiropractic care supports regulation, but best results occur when care is combined with home exercises.
3. How long does integration take?
Some changes are noticed within weeks, but full integration often requires consistent care over several months and sometimes years.
Homecare Movement Tips
We have a lot of homecare tips on our website here. But before you start doing every exercise under the sun we recommend getting checked and adjusted because some may integrate without the need of an extensive home-care regime with chiropractic care.
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The Moro reflex is meant to protect us early in life—not control us forever.
If you or your child experience anxiety, overwhelm, sensory sensitivities, or poor stress tolerance, a retained Moro reflex may be part of the picture.
At Nomad Chiropractic, we have nervous system-focused care, supporting families across Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches—and educating families worldwide.
👉 Book a nervous system assessment today and help your body move from constant alert to calm resilience.
Want to learn more? Book a FREE 15min discovery call with one of our North Shore Paediatric & Retained Primitive Reflex Chiropractors today: Book HERE
👉 Book a nervous system assessment today and take the first step toward calmer, more resilient living.
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Goddard Blythe, S. Reflexes, Learning and Behaviour. Fern Ridge Press.
Goddard Blythe, S. Attention, Balance and Coordination. Wiley-Blackwell.
Melillo, R. Disconnected Kids. Penguin Random House.
Porges, S. The Polyvagal Theory. W. W. Norton & Company.
Schore, A. Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self. Routledge.
Ayres, A. J. Sensory Integration and the Child. Western Psychological Services.
Kolb, B., Gibb, R. “Brain plasticity and behaviour.” Annual Review of Psychology.
Teicher, M. H. et al. “The neurobiological consequences of early stress.” Biological Psychiatry.
Australian Spinal Research Foundation – Neurological models of chiropractic care.
Haavik, H. The Reality Check.
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) Clinical Guidelines.
Panksepp, J. Affective Neuroscience. Oxford University Press.
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The information provided by Nomad Chiropractic is intended for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Chiropractic care, movement strategies, and nervous system–based approaches aim to support overall function and wellbeing. They do not diagnose or treat medical conditions, learning disorders, behavioural conditions, or developmental diagnoses.
Every child is unique, and responses to care may vary. Any concerns regarding your child’s health, development, learning, or behaviour should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek advice from your GP, paediatrician, or other appropriately registered health practitioner regarding specific medical concerns.
This content does not replace individual assessment or care. Decisions about your child’s health should be made in consultation with qualified professionals familiar with your child’s individual needs.
What is the Moro Reflex?
The Moro Reflex is a primitive startle reflex that activates the fight-or-flight stress response. When retained, it can keep the nervous system in a heightened state of alert.