The Startle reflex is one of the most important to integrate. If it does not, a child can grow up with high anxiety and high cortisol without even knowing why. Babies need to practice the startle. Swaddling keeps the reflex from activating, which prevents it from integrating. For a regulated nervous system, babies need time out of the wrap so the startle can happen often. Noise, gravity, and floor time all help trigger it naturally. Those little flailing arms are not just cute, they are building