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The Wiggle Reflex: Spinal Galant in Action
Why that newborn “squirm” matters, and how to support healthy integration
Eliana Savitsky
September 05, 2025
✨ Hey there!
Ever notice how a newborn squirms their hips when you run a hand gently along one side of their back? That’s the Spinal Galant reflex, a primitive reflex babies are born with that helps them wiggle, crawl, and eventually walk.
It’s an important one, but if it lingers too long, it can cause challenges with attention, posture, and even potty training. The good news? There are playful ways to help your child integrate it and build stronger control of their body.
✨ First Things First: Quick Wins for You
A few tools to support integration while keeping things playful:
🧘 Kid’s Yoga Mat – Great for tummy exercises and floor play.
→ https://a.co/d/5b6m08d🪀 Balance Disc – Adds movement and core strengthening during play or seated activities.
→ https://a.co/d/bfGeWF9🧩 Twister game – Encourages attention, coordination, balance, and body awareness.
→https://a.co/d/9k9wqyz
🧠 Why the Spinal Galant Reflex Matters (OT Lens)
In Newborns: It’s essential for movement during birth and early motor skills. The hip wiggle helps babies work their way down the birth canal and later supports crawling patterns.
For Motor Development: It links the hips, core, and spine—laying the foundation for posture, balance, and walking.
When It Persists: If it doesn’t integrate by 3–9 months, kids may struggle with:
Constant fidgeting or wiggling in chairs
Poor posture or scoliosis risk
Bedwetting or bathroom delays
Difficulty focusing (because their body is stuck in “wiggle mode”)
Integration means your child’s nervous system is learning to switch from automatic reflexes to intentional, controlled movements.
When my kid was a tiny infant, diaper changes were a bit of a wrestling match. The moment I’d run my hand under his back to adjust the diaper tabs, his hips would wiggle side to side like he was doing a dance. At first, I thought it was just fussiness—but then I remembered: it was the Spinal Galant reflex kicking in.
Later, as an OT, I started spotting the same pattern in older kids—those who couldn’t sit still in chairs, who fidgeted constantly, or who struggled to stay dry at night. Often, the reflex hadn’t fully integrated. These “automatic” baby movements really shape later development.
🛠️ Integration & Play Routine
Here are some OT-approved ways to gently integrate the Spinal Galant reflex:
Snow Angels on the Floor
Have your child lie on their back.
Slowly move arms and legs out and in like a snow angel.
Builds symmetry and coordination across both sides of the body.
Crawling Games
Set up a tunnel or simple obstacle course.
Encourage crawling forward, backward, and even sideways.
Crawling activates the spinal muscles and balances reflex patterns.
I’m A Little Teapot Dance
Play music and encourage your child to sway their hips side to side and form a teapot with their bodies.
Great for younger toddlers still learning body control.
“Cat Cow” on the Floor
Have your child in quadruped and lift head all the way up, and arch their back. Then have them round their spine and tuck their head all the way into their chest.
Strengthens the core, increases spinal flexibility, and integrates reflex activity.
🔬 Why It Works
Each of these activities promotes core strength, balance, and body awareness. By giving the nervous system repeated, controlled practice, you help replace the automatic hip-wiggle reflex with intentional, stable movements.
Wrapping Up for Today
The Spinal Galant reflex might look like a little wiggle, but it plays a big role in your child’s development. With a few simple daily activities, you can support smoother posture, calmer focus, and better body control.
Here’s to happy wiggles that grow into strong, confident movement. 💛
— Eliana
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