toe walking

[beth]

Don't laugh. My 17 month old started walking on her toes about 2 months ago. Now she does it, I want to say, 50-60% of the time. Someone told me it could signify a problem. They didn't say what KIND of a problem, but it got me thinking. Are they full of crap? Has anyone heard of this?

[kat]

Nothing useful to add. But I did start off crawling backwards, before I managed to go forwards. Everyone learns in different ways. I guess mention it to your doctor or nurse next time you go.

Kat

[Tame]

It can be a warning sign for a variety of problems, from the very minor to the more serious. It can also be absolutely nothing. With her doing only about half of the time, my guess is that this is something minor or nothing at all, but I would consult a pediatrician.

A linky-dinky:
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerdevelopment/12580.html

[kristadb]

With Tame on this. Because it has the potential to be something serious, just get her checked out to be safe and put your own mind at ease.

[beth]

Thanks for the link, Tame. I read through the article and I feel a little better about it now. She definitely doesn't have any problems with language or socialization. And she doesn't seem to be bothered by walking normally. She jumps well, too. For awhile when she first started doing it, we all thought it was really cute, and I'm sure she picked up on that. It's definitely something I'll bring up during her 18 month appointment in a few weeks.

[808veggie]

I've always done it-especially when I walk up stairs and so....my daughter now does it as well and she's perfectly healthy!

[Michael Nelson]

I see no problems with this at all. People tend to 'freak out' over the simplest things, especially when kids are pigeon toed.

[rabid_child]

My cousin used to walk like that when she was a toddler. She's 14 now, and walks just fine :D No medical intervention required. I really don't know why she did. It was really cute though!

[zoebird]

it's actually natural for kids to do this to strengthen their feet (particularly around the arches), their ankles and calves. standing on your toes also promotes balance.

it can show a problem, but usually doesn't. it's just another way that the bodies themselves work on alignment.

when my clients who have MS or GBS and are getting feeling back into their feet, we spend a lot of time on the toes (usually the last area to regain sensation)--walking, moving balance left to right, moving weight into the heels, doing heel toe and toe-heel walking, and picking up pens and pencils with toes.

this not only works the toes independently (again, promoting neuromuscular connections and muscle tone), but it works the whole foot, balance, and sensation to improve walking and other skills. i started teaching toe walking because i was watching babies (new walkers particularly) practice this before walking without support.

[beth]

That's nice to hear, zoebird. It reminds me of something cute she's recently started doing. She places a crayon between the first and second toe of each foot and colors with both feet at the same time. It's quite a talent.

[zoebird]

that is cute. to practice with her, see if she can pick up crayons with her toes (big toe to small, then without the big toe, and then just with the big toe. it's really fun and builds foot agility. also, see how far she can stretch her toes apart without using her hands. also very good for feet. :)

[bethanie]

Beth, I wouldn't start worrying yet. But it does signify a problem if it persists and is done MOST of the time. We have a boy in our class who is a toe walker (he's kindergarten age) who is aspergers. In the next class, a girl who is a toe walker has some sensory developmental delays. It's a neurological thing that it can come to signify. Talk to your ped and keep an eye on how long it continues, but I agree that at this age, many things are often expiramental. And that this is most likely to develop gross motor skills and muscles.

B

[beth]

Bethanie, do you think that there would be other signs if there were a problem at this age? Or would they not show up til she was older?

[bethanie]

I think you'd begin to notice more 'quirks' as her development continues. But again, at this stage I believe it's pretty normal, only if it isn't a 'stage' and it comes to where she is walking that way most of the time. The boy in our class walks that way 90% of the time or more...same with the girl in the neighboring class, though she's doing better with whatever physical therapy she's undergoing. I have seen improvement in her walking from last year to this.

[eggplant]

As a kid I met a 2-year-old who walked on her toes. She turned out normal.

[msbunnicula]

I walked on my tiptoes a lot until probably mid-elementary (I know because there was a guy in highschool who used to remind me of it every once in a while), and then I just stopped. I don't think that it was a problem (I don't recall anyone even considering it to be a problem-I do have a really bad memory though).

I do have flat feet though. I wonder if the two are connected in anyway (I've never thought about that before).

[NewlinArchinal]

my brother walks on his toes quite a bit. he's 5 and does have some developmental delays. i never heard about a connection between the two until a few weeks ago when my mother said that his pediatrician mentioned it.

[Life2k]

Our oldest did it when he was going through growth spurts. The Dr. said our muscles are signaled to grow by the growth of the bones, but it makes the muscles a bit sore, so to avoid the soreness they walk on tiptoe. This of course compounds the problem.

Solution:2x a day have her/him stand on a phone directory with heels hanging off. Hold her hand for balance, and have her lower her heels slowly but not to the point of pain then back up 5 times. Do this about two weeks to a month. This will signal to her muscles to grow to match the length of her bones. At least this is what the Dr. told us to do for Luke and it worked beautifully.

[beth]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I've been keeping an eye on it and she doesn't seem to do it as often as I first thought. And when she does it, she watches her feet and laughs, so maybe she just finds it amusing? Anyway, I will bring it up to her doctor soon.

[glamboy]

There is no problem with it, I still do it :D
(GLAMBOY)

[Annie]

My daughter was a tippy toe walker since she figured out how to walk. She did it 90% of the time until she was 8 or 9 years old. She "grew out of it". Otherwise, she's a normal, bright kid. Junior high, now and the lowest grades she's made so far are two A-, and a regular A. She plays clarinet, takes Spanish, student mentors a 4th grader learning excel in computer class, and volunteers student service hours helping in a daycare. That's pretty well-adjusted for being a toe walker....I wouldn't worry about it.

[IamJen]

OT: Your daughter is such a cutie!

Ditto to what others said re: "watch and wait". I work with toddlers in my profession, and toe-walking is very, very common. It often is just a phase kids go through because they like the way it feels.

[beth]

Thanks, IamJen!

I'm glad to hear you see it often. I guess it's more common than I thought.