The rooting reflex is one of the earliest reflexes babies use to feed. When you gently stroke a newborn’s cheek, they turn toward the touch and open their mouth. This is normal in infancy and helps them find the breast or bottle. As the brain matures, this reflex should fade so higher motor and speech systems can take over. When the rooting reflex stays active beyond infancy, it can create challenges because the head and mouth are still being pulled into that early feeding pattern. This limits h

Why Some Kids Struggle With Haircuts & Hair Washing 💇‍♂️🚿 If your child has ASD, you might notice big resistance when it comes to: • Haircuts 💇‍♀️ • Washing their hair 🚿 • Having water poured over their head 💦 👉 One reflex that’s often linked to this behaviour is the Rooting Reflex. When this reflex stays active beyond infancy, it can make the face extra sensitive, leading to strong reactions like pulling away, twitching, or even trying to bite. ✨ How to test it: • Take a soft brush 🖌️ •