Why Can’t My Child Sit Still? The Spinal Galant Reflex Explained

The Reflex That’s Still Running the Show

Your child sits down at the table and within seconds they’re twisting, rocking, or sliding off the chair entirely. Maybe they squirm through meals, can’t get comfortable in car seats, or seem overwhelmed by tight waistbands.

You’ve tried behavior strategies, adjusted routines, even looked into ADHD, but something still feels off.

There’s a neurological reason this might be happening — and it starts in the lower back.

What’s Really Going on :Why Your Child Can't Sit Still:“spinal galant reflex”?

The Spinal Galant Reflex is one of the many primitive reflexes we’re all born with. It’s designed to help newborns move through the birth canal and develop those first early movements — but it’s meant to settle down within the first year of life.

When it doesn’t, the nervous system stays in a state of alert — constantly toggling between mobilizing and calming but never truly balanced.

The lower back becomes hypersensitive, and simple sensations like clothing pressure or sitting still can trigger physical reactions. These responses are often mistaken for restlessness or defiance, when really they’re body-based reflexes trying to finish their job.

How the Nervous System Plays a Role in the Spinal Galant Reflex

Our autonomic nervous system has two main divisions: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.

The sympathetic system is your “ready for action” mode — it sharpens focus, quickens the heartbeat, and prepares the body to move.The parasympathetic system does the opposite — it’s responsible for rest, digestion, and recovery.

When primitive reflexes like the Spinal Galant remain active, they keep the sympathetic system subtly switched on, leaving the parasympathetic system struggling to bring the body back into calm.

Over time, this imbalance can look like chronic fidgeting, low frustration tolerance, or even trouble sleeping and focusing.

What You Might Notice

When this reflex is still active, the signs can show up in surprising ways:

• Fidgeting or discomfort when seated• Bedwetting long after toilet training• Sensitivity to clothing textures or waistbands• Trouble focusing or sitting still• Impulsive or overactive behavior• Clumsiness or low body awareness• Digestive issues or low stamina

These are not random quirks child can’t sit still — they’re signals from a nervous system caught between overdrive and shutdown, trying to find balance.

Why It’s Often Missed

Even children who’ve done therapy may still carry this reflex because most approaches focus on managing behaviors rather than resolving the underlying sensory-motor pattern.

True healing begins when the body’s reflex pathways integrate, allowing the autonomic nervous system to self-regulate naturally.

Integration: The Real Shift

Reflex integration training isn’t about fixing behavior — it’s about helping the brain and body finally work as a team.

When the nervous system feels safe and regulated, focus, confidence, and calm come naturally and one of the crucial reflexes for development like the “spinal galant reflex” can start integrating.

Through gentle movement, touch, and connection, we can guide the system toward lasting balance — where both the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses can finally take their proper turns running the show.

✨ With love and awareness,

Hela

Founder of The HELA Method™