Does a baby come with a manual?

If this is the first time you've heard about primitive reflexes, welcome to a fascinating world. Don't worry, no technical jargon here: just enough to better understand what's going on in your baby's body (and to casually drop "Babinski reflex*" into conversation at your next dinner party).

The starter kit: 70 so-called primitive reflexes. These reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements triggered by a stimulus (a sound, a touch, a loss of balance, a smell…). They appear in utero, help the baby come into the world, and allow them to survive. No less than that. Around ten reflexes are actually tested at birth to check neurological function is working as it should. Suckling, gripping, startling at a noise, finding a foothold… all of this lays the foundations for motor, sensory, emotional and cognitive development. Each reflex has a specific purpose. When that tiny hand grips your finger so tightly, it's impossibly adorable. But above all, incredibly useful. This gripping reflex is particularly important in preparing future fine motor skills and the ability to hold a pencil at school.

Because the story is only just beginning. These reflexes, essential up to around age 3, must… disappear (we call it "integrating"). Gradually, the automatic movement transforms into a controlled gesture. And here's the counterintuitive part: for a reflex to fade, it needs to be used enormously. Yes, really — you use it a lot… in order to stop using it. Still with us? So, as parents, what do we do? As little as possible. It's the famous "Less is more" from architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (another one to impress at your next dinner party). For everything to fall gently into place, your baby mostly needs space.

Your best ally? Our mat, of course, with its firm surface to push against, comfortable enough to spend time on the floor, and large enough to leave room for exploration. On their very first adventure playground, baby sets off to discover gravity! From the first few months, don't hesitate to add the sensory cover: its black and white contrasts naturally stimulate visual development and encourage little ones to turn their head, move, roll over, and crawl.

And what if some reflexes overstay their welcome? We say they are "persistent". This is common in children, teenagers and… in us adults too. Sometimes it shows up as slightly shaky coordination, hypersensitivity, restlessness or difficulty concentrating. The result: you can't even land a soft toy in your Ciao Bazar.

The best known, the Moro reflex — when your baby startles with arms outstretched — acts like an alarm system. Once integrated, it helps the child manage stress and emotional security more effectively. But if it stays active, it's like a "panic button" that triggers too easily. The result: hypersensitivity, intense reactions, fatigue, travel sickness…

The good news is that our bodies remain incredibly adaptable, and these reflexes can be integrated at any age — at 5, at 16, and even well past 40. And as is so often the case, movement is the key. In short, when it comes to your child, trust the process (we couldn't resist): give them space and confidence. And don't worry — they came with the manual built in.

*The Babinski reflex — but what exactly? When you stroke the outer edge of the foot, the big toe lifts up and the others fan out… like a little flower. If it stays active, the consequences can include clumsiness and poor balance. It often shows up as flat feet or toes that turn inward. 

An alternative use of *: *How interesting, Pierre-Emmanuel — you have slightly inward-pointing toes and an entirely charming tendency to trip over nothing. Could your Babinski reflex still be just a little bit active? (Roll on the next dinner party:)