The rooting reflex is an involuntary muscle response to touch around the mouth area.

Challenges when this reflex is not integrated:

• Hypersensitivity around the mouth area

• Tongue too far forwards in the mouth

• Swallowing and chewing

• Drooling and dribbling

• Licks or chews pens, shirt sleeves or inedible objects

• Grinds teeth throughout the day

• Thumb sucking

• Speech and articulation problems

• Poor dexterity such as messy handwriting

• Thyroid imbalances.

  Do this exercise to help integrate the rooting reflex

  TIP: pay attention to reactions in the arms, hands and fingers, not just at the mouth area.

  Description:

  1. Stroke from nose to chin in increasingly wider strokes.

  2. Stroke from ear to mouth.

  3. Repeat for both sides of the mouth.

     Frequency: 3 reps on each side every day for 40 days

     Time: 1 minute

     Note: make sure the head and arms stay still; the child needs to tolerate the sensation without reacting.

  How to integrate the reflex: Devine Development

  Explanation and coaching: Fit2Learn