It has been my observation that since my daughter began to walk (around 1 year), she falls excessively. She walked on her toes for a long time, and she had an early evaluation in which they determined she was fine. I didn't think much of it when she was a new walker, but she just passed her 4th birthday and it seems she still falls several times a day. My sister in law has commented on it in the past, as well, my daughters teacher pulled me aside today and reported that she had a big fall at school today and that she had fallen "all day." Granted, she was wearing Crocs today, which I realize add to the problem- they seem to catch on pavement. I have already resolved to no longer let her wear the Crocs, but now I am left wondering, is it just her shoes or does she need an evaluation. All of her other milestones have been spot on, and she is otherwise a totally normal kid developmentally. As well, any recommendations for good shoes for an active preschooler with wide feet.
Well I fitted my daughter with good shoes and that seems to have helped. I went to the park with her and had her do some exercises that were recommended, as well I watched her run and she was completely fine. I am going to discuss this with the pediatrician and put her in some activities that will help improve her balance and coordination. And thank you for mentioning the vision issue- she did fail her vision screening and I realized I forgot to follow up. So that could be a factor as well.
My 3 year old fell a lot until we took her to an eye doctor. Found out she is practically blind in one eye. Got her glasses and the problem was solved. There was no other indication she could have had a sight problem; she is ahead on every developmental milestone. Her other eye had just been overcompensating in every area except walking.
L.,
You didn't say what kind of eval she had. Was it with an early intervention program or a developmental pediatrician? If not, I would go to a developmental pediatrician. She could have a sensory integration issue. My son had that and we used a scrub brush technique with him that helped tremendously. I also used to work in early intervention and that technique worked miracles with some children.
Victoria
Stride Rite shoes are ususally a good bet.
I would suggest having her evaluated by an occupational therapist. My son fell a lot also when he was younger and it had to do with gross motor coordination and vestibular balance issues that he was able to work out with OT.
Also getting her eyes checked wouldn't be a bad thing either.
Hope this helps.
I would take her to a Feldenkrise practitioner. They repattern movement and walking very easily using play. Pigeon toed, foot dragging, toe walking children and adults learn how to move in ways that are healthy, protective and reduce energy expended in getting from here to there.
Our daycare and then elementary school all had a rule that only tennis shoes are to be worn at school every day.
That being said, our daughter was always covered in bandaides. Her first day of kindergarten, we actually gave her teacher a box of bandaides and told her we "did not want her to go through her own stash, so to feel free to use these".. daughter would need them. We are a family of Klutz's. We can walk down a smooth sidewalk and trip. I bump into walls all of the time.. and yes, we all wear glasses..
I do suggest you have her eyes checked. And on the next physical mention it to your Pediatrician.
It could be your daughter is going a mile a minute and does not have time to look. You can ask her to slow down, look at where she is going.. It still could be she is just not very coordinated.. Dance classes will help, but maybe gymnastics would be better..
When you are playing have her walk backwards, one foot right in front of the other walk sideways. Hop on one foot then the other, Hopscotch. Teach her to skip. Have her take giant steps forward, giant steps backwards.. Then have her try these things with her eyes closed. See who can stand on one leg the longest.. then the other leg.. Do Simon says, then let her be Simon.. It can be like your own therapy sessions..
Perhaps take her to a pediatric chioropractor? Chiropractors actually take 4 years of neurology and they deal with functional neurology all day long.
Walking on her toes is dealing with the S1 nerve root and it can be a sign that her sacrum needs to be adjusted, which can also impact her C1, which deals directly with equilibrium due to inner ear function, or lack thereof.
I can't answer much about the rest, but for shoes I would stick with Stride Rite. My daughter is 3 and her femurs have had a tendency to rotate inward (not really causing any issues, just something we notice). The pediatrician said it should self-correct by the time she is 6 but in the meanwhile she recommended good quality sneakers like Stride Rite that provide adequate ankle support - no Crocs, flip-flops, etc.
Get a sneaker or shoe that stays on well with not much wiggle room and ditch the crocs, flip flops, pull on boots, etc. How does she do when barefooted? My kids go barefoot indoors most of the time. My son is 4, almost 5 and tends to fall and be careless when he is tired especially.
stride rite for shoes.
and check out the pediatrician for falling.
check her for muscular dystrophey
Could be the shoes, could be a lot of other things. I believe in "going with your gut" feelings. Schedule a consultation with the ped, and if he/she blows you off, then get a second opinion.
My son had very wide feet -- as the other moms recommended, Stride Rite.
Stride rite is my first option ,my 7 yo girl stills falling, mostly every day brings home a bandiad or a brush ,at first I was worrie even thinking that probably she need glasses, but no she's healthy as can be, I notice that she doesn't pay to much attention and like to do Things fast , is very easy to distract ....so is getting better..not as bad as a preschooler.
Updated
Stride rite is my first option ,my 7 yo girl stills falling, mostly every day brings home a bandiad or a brush ,at first I was worrie even thinking that probably she need glasses, but no she's healthy as can be, I notice that she doesn't pay to much attention and like to do Things fast , is very easy to distract ....so is getting better..not as bad as a preschooler.
I fell a lot as a child - broke all my limbs at different times - and nobody really thought much about it. Now I have a son with special needs and through all my learning with him I found out I have some primary reflexes that were unintegrated. When I integrated them, my balance was much improved (read more about it here: http://www.moveplaythrive.com)
But I also agree you should have her checked for a vestibular issue. An OT can do a visual evaluation, but an ENT could evaluate for a physical issue. The vestibular system is very involved in balance, and if she had a lot of ear infections, or any middle ear trouble, it could effect that.
If she walks on her toes a lot, I would have her seen by a developmental pediatrician or pediatric neurologist. My son walked on his toes a lot, and my father is a neurosurgeon and checked him for a nerve problem that might cause that (sorry, don't remember the name). My son did not have it, and we never figured out why he walked that way. His brother, who is totally typical, also walks that way.
HTH,
B.
Could it be an inner ear thing? Your ear is essential for balance so maybe while your having her eyes checked, take her to a doctor to have her ears examined.. tell him/her your wondering about ear problems associated with balance.
You mention she had an early evaluation...for what?! I would consult her pediatrician right away about the falling.
As others have said for the shoes...Stride Rite! See if there is an outlet by you and sign up for emails so you know about all their sales.
Best of Luck!
Bonzlee - you might be thinking of tethered cord?
I was thinking that might be the possibility here as well! One of the signs of that is walking tip-toe, so it might be worth looking into...
(tho do get rid of crocs or any shoe similar)
