Optimal Positions for Releasing Primitive Neonatal Reflexes to Support Breastfeeding
If you’ve been around Be Well Baby for more than five minutes, you know I’m obsessed with foundations. How the body organizes itself after birth matters. A lot. And one of the most elegant, underappreciated foundations for feeding?
Primitive neonatal reflexes.
These reflexes are not just cute survival instincts — they are neurological wiring programs. They organize tone, coordination, airway protection, digestion, eye tracking, head turning, and yes… breastfeeding.
When they integrate smoothly, feeding often feels easier. When they don’t, we may see:
Shallow latch
Gagging or coughing at the breast
Clicking
Breast refusal
Refluxy behavior
Tension in the jaw, neck, or body
One-sided feeding preferences
“Feels like they can’t organize their body at the breast”
And here’s the cool part:
✨ Positioning alone can help these reflexes organize and integrate.
No gadgets. No forcing. Just supporting the nervous system in the language it understands: movement and position.
What Are Primitive Neonatal Reflexes (Quick & Friendly Version)
Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns babies are born with to help them:
Survive
Feed
Protect their airway
Develop posture
Organize their nervous system
Some of the big ones related to feeding include:
Rooting reflex (turning toward touch at the mouth)
Suck–swallow–breathe coordination
Moro reflex (startle)
Body righting and head turning reflexes
Palmar reflex (grasping — yes, even this affects feeding!)
These reflexes are meant to integrate, not disappear, as the brain matures. Integration means the reflex no longer runs the show automatically — it becomes available by choice. That’s when skilled feeding, coordinated breathing, and relaxed latch really shine.
Why Positioning Matters So Much
A baby’s nervous system develops through:
Gravity
Pressure
Movement
Containment
Flexion and extension
When we place a baby in certain positions, we’re basically giving their brain the exact sensory input it needs to finish wiring itself.
This is why:
Some babies suddenly latch better in laid-back
Some need side-lying
Some need more midline containment
Some melt when their feet are supported
It’s not random. It’s neurology 💛
Optimal Positions That Support Reflex Integration for Feeding
These are not rigid rules — they’re starting points we explore gently, always watching the baby’s cues.
1. Laid-Back/Biological Nurturing Position
Parent reclined, baby tummy-down, full body contact
Why it helps:
Activates the rooting reflex naturally
Supports head/neck extension without strain
Organizes suck–swallow–breathe beautifully
Decreases gag reflex for many babies
Encourages wide, spontaneous latch
This is one of my absolute favorite starting places for babies with:
Reflux
Tension
Disorganized sucking
Strong Moro reflexes
Caveat: I have some clients who hate this position. If that’s you- no shade… every body and every baby are different!
2. Side-Lying Feeding
Parent and baby on their sides, face-to-face
Why it helps:
Decreases gravity load on the jaw and tongue
Encourages midline organization
Calms an overactive nervous system
Supports babies who fatigue easily
Allows deeper regulation before peak milk flow hits
This can be magic for:
Preterm babies
Babies with high tone
Babies who choke or sputter at letdown
Parents recovering from birth
3. Supported Upright / Koala Hold
Baby upright against parent’s body
Why it helps:
Improves airway organization
Integrates head-righting reflexes
Helps with reflux and gas
Encourages jaw stability
Supports babies who collapse at the breast
Great for:
Refluxy babies
Babies with low tone
Babies with coordination challenges
Bottle-to-breast transitions
4. Deep Containment + Flexion Support
(This one isn’t a single “hold” — it’s an intention.)
We want:
Feet touching the parent’s body
Hips gently flexed
Hands near the face or chest
Shoulders wrapped in, not flung wide
Why this matters:
Calms the Moro reflex
Improves latch stability
Helps the tongue organize better
Decreases frantic feeding behavior
This is HUGE for babies who:
Feel “stiff”
Arch
Push off the breast
Flail their arms during feeding
This might sound like I’m telling you to swaddle your baby… and maybe? But it so depends on their age.
What This Can Look Like in Real Life
Sometimes this work is subtle:
A baby who used to clamp down suddenly softens
A baby who always popped off now stays latched
A baby who gagged every feed suddenly stays calm
A parent who felt tense finally exhales
And sometimes it’s dramatic:
Full feeding transformations
Resolution of clicking
Less reflux
Better milk transfer
Less exhaustion for both parent and baby
This Is Why I Blend Lactation + PT + CST
Breastfeeding is not just about nipples and milk (though those matter too). It’s about:
Nervous system regulation
Postural reflexes
Muscle tone
Airway safety
Brain organization
This is why I so often combine:
Positioning
Gentle reflex integration
Craniosacral therapy
Pelvic + postural support for parents
And traditional IBCLC skill checks
It’s never either/or. It’s always both/and.
A Gentle Note for Parents
If feeding feels hard right now, please hear this clearly:
You did nothing wrong.
Your baby isn’t broken.
Their nervous system may just need a little different input to organize.
Sometimes the shift is as simple as:
Changing gravity
Changing where their feet land
Changing how their body is contained
Changing how supported you feel
If you’re local to Portland and want support with:
Feeding struggles
Tension
Refluxy babies
Bottle-to-breast transitions
Or “something feels off but I can’t name it”
That’s exactly what we do at Be Well Baby.
And if you’re reading this from afar, we can help virtually too. I hope this gives you a whole new lens for understanding your baby — not as “difficult,” but as beautifully wired and still organizing.
Love,
Emily
References
Optimal positions for the release of primitive neonatal reflexes stimulating breastfeeding — Colson S., Meek J., Hawdon J.; Early Human Development. 2008;84(7):441-449.
