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As a mom concerned about your child’s development, I want you to understand how your amazing brain handles change and what happens when things go off track.
In this episode of Connect My Brain, I talk more about the Moro reflex (the automatic startle response that begins at just nine weeks in the womb). This primitive reflex is fascinating because it controls three critical functions: your baby’s sleep-wake cycle, the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response). When this reflex doesn’t integrate properly, it can leave children struggling to handle change throughout their lives.
I’m seeing more children missing crucial developmental milestones, and I’m concerned that we’ve normalized developmental delays. Your child’s ability to crawl, walk, and move through proper developmental stages literally wires their brain. These movement patterns create the foundation for attention, learning, and social skills later on in life.
The connection between body chemistry and brain function is incredible. Strep infections, even just one episode during those critical early years, can trigger autoimmune responses that cross the blood-brain barrier. I’ve seen children with chronic inflammation struggle with attention issues, brain fog, and behavioral challenges that completely transform once we address the underlying chemical imbalances.
Here’s the encouraging news: neuroplasticity means your brain can change at any age. However, timing matters. The earlier we intervene, the easier it is to rewire those neural pathways. Before age seven, changes happen quickly. After fourteen, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves for more intensive work.
Whether you’re dealing with low muscle tone, attention issues, or developmental delays, remember that everything is connected. Your child’s brain, body, and chemistry work together, and when we are able to address the root causes, big transformations happen.
In this episode, we cover:
- How this primitive reflex controls sleep, breathing, and stress response, and why problems with it affect how children handle change
- Why normalizing late crawling and walking is concerning and how these delays directly impact brain wiring
- How even one childhood strep infection can trigger autoimmune responses that cross into the brain
- Examining mechanical movement, body chemistry, and brain function to understand your child’s development
- Why early intervention works faster and easier than waiting until your child is older
Resources mentioned:
- Episode 55: Withdraw Reflexes: Why it’s Important And What Happens If It Doesn’t Properly Integrate
- Download the Connect My Brain app on Apple or Google Play (it’s free!)
- Book a FREE consultation!
- Learn more about Courses & Resources at Connect My Brain!
- Download Dr. Laura’s guide to Developmental Milestones
- Connect with Dr. Laura on Instagram and Facebook
- Liking the show? Write a review!
More about Connect My Brain:
Why is this happening to my kid and what can I do about it? If you are the parent of a developmentally delayed child then you’ve probably asked this question more than once. That’s where I come in! I’m Dr. Laura Hanson and I specialize in identifying the “why” and telling you the “what.” Join me every Thursday for a deeper look at how our brains are wired and how to get the most out of your mind. Are you looking to break negative patterns, overcome mood disorders, or optimize your potential? Maybe your child struggles with ADHD, OCD or other learning difficulties. Tune in to Connect My Brain, where I explain concepts like biofeedback and neurofeedback, brainwave frequencies, and much more. Let me help you change your life by changing your mind! Contact me HERE.
