2 1/2 Year Old Walks with One Foot Turned In

Updated on August 19, 2010
L.C. asks from Irvine, CA
8 answers

When my daughter walks & runs, I noticed that her right foot turns in dramatically. Her left foot is straight. She has no problems walking, running or jumping but I also don't want to ignore the problem. Should I take her to see a podiatrist or an orthopedic doctor? Can anyone recommend the best brand of shoes to prevent this?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for everyone's reply! I will look into a pediatric orthopedic doctor. Does anyone have a good recommendation in the Orange County area?

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S.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

She is pigeoned toed on the one side. Take her to Dr now so she can get special shoes or a brace when she is young. I had that and my mom felt bad putting the brace on me to sleep when I was young so then I had to wear when I was 8. Best to do it now.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Orthopedic doctor. I am pigeon toed in my left foot. My hips are often misaligned and it is worse when my hips are out. Sometimes I can see my hip in a higher position...it got worse after the last kiddo.

IMO podiatrists tend to put band aids on problems and they fester. I walked on a torn tendon for a year under two different podiatrists care. They can Xray, however cannot order MRI's. As well, they don't have as much education.

I wore corrective shoes until I was in second grade and it didn't correct anything, hence the problem was not the foot. My younger sisters wore corrective shoes with braces and their feet are corrected. Better to have it checked out right and if it is something a podiatrist can correct, then you can switch later.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Not sure how exactly her foot turns in but you may want to have her checked by an orthopedic doctor. He can check her hips to make sure the problem does not stem from a misalignment there. Shoes will only help IF the problem is in her foot. The doctor can recommend the proper shoes or other options. Her pediatrician can probably guide you.

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A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I agree with the comments below - start with your pediatrician for referral, and go orthopedic, just in case. You can always go back to a podiatrist.

A good friend and my daughter both walked with a bit of a pigeon toed gait. Her daughter is a year older. The pediatrician recommended boots and she bought 2 pair of Ecco leather boots. There were and are magnificent. Not cheap but fabulous - leather lined and cool to wear, supportive and hard wearing. She wore them for a season, my kid wore them, and they went to a neighbor's daughter who wore them also. No one was able to wear them out! In all cases, it was a gait problem, which self-corrected with the help of time and wearing boots (not all the time, just most). If you want a photo, send me a message with an email address and I'll send you one to show the cut of the boots.

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M.B.

answers from Honolulu on

Take her to an orthopedic doctor for an eval. Then get her to a chiropractor for some realignment. We actually just did both of these for my 2-yr old.

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J.H.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

See your pediatrician for the correct referral. Sometimes this can be corrected without surgery if she is is not to old. The orthodic shoe is woren backwards left shoe on right. But your daughter needs to be seen by a specialist first . This runs in my family and can be caused for multiple reason. Only a bone specialist can give the best answers. Your pediatrician should be able to give a list of the best in your area.

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K.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

hi, my niece was born with both feet turned in she had to have cast put on both legs for about 6 weeks then she had to wear special shoes to bed like walking shoes with a bar between them to keep the feet straight. I would most def take her to the doctor before her foot sets that way. good luck.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

At 2.5, it's not a big deal. the reason is, her internal leg rotator muscles are stronger than her external. Have her walk like a duck sometimes during play with you. Have her follow you like a duckling. Sometimes if the hip is not moving properly, a couple chiropractic adjustments seem to do the trick. Find a local pediatric chiropractor and just call their office.

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