[2] In order to progress beyond this development stage, the baby needs to have been successful in unlinking the automatic movement of the head from the automatic movement of the arms and legs.
The STNR is normally fully developed by 6–8 months and significantly diminished by 2–3 years.
If this reflex is retained beyond 2–3 years to such a degree that it "modifies voluntary movement", the child is considered to have "immature and abnormal reflex development", and this can have broad effects on the child's later development.
[1] The symmetrical tonic neck reflex can be tested by placing the child in quadruped position on the floor and passively flexing the head forward and then extend it backwards.
This reflex can help the child to come to quadruped or crawling position but does not allow crawling because when the neck flexes forward, the upper limbs flex and lower limbs go into extension.