The Toe Walking Is Driving Me Crazy!

My advice would be to have him evaluated by early intervention. I looked at your other posts regarding your son and it seems that there could be more going on than just the toe walking. My oldest son was diagnosed with autism 2 years ago and I had no idea he was on the spectrum until we had him evaluated for what I thought was just a speech delay.

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Wow. I am rarely speechless. Thanks for the moment of silence today.

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Jill,
I agree with Diana P. after reading some of your other posts/questions, I think it might be time to get your pediatrician involved. You have a BA in early childhood education, so I'm sure you are familiar with just how much PT and OT can help a child. I'd have him evaluated just for your own peace of mind. Knowledge is power. Good luck!

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There are a number of games that you can play to encourage walking with "heels down" but it depends on the age of your child. Some of the ideas are:
* walk in swimming fins
* walk like a penguin (waddle side by side while walking on heels)
* tape a penny to the bottom of the shoe so you can hear the "click" noise of the coin in the ground

Just as an FYI it is not normal to constantly walk on your toes (going on tip toes to reach for something is normal - walking around the room on toes is not). Toe walking can be a sign of

1) sensory processing (toe walking is a "closed chain" activity that increases feedback to the ankle joint giving additional feedback of where you are in space). If there are other signs of sensory issues you may want to consider a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation – see website for red flags: http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/child-developm... )

2) tight heel cords (may require stretching) - if you have a hard time flexing his foot (bending the ball of his foot up past a 90 degree (L) angle at ankle joint) then you may want to consider a pediatric physical therapy evaluation - they can give stretches/activities for toe walking

Hand flapping: does this occur when he is excited? Other times of day? This can also be a sign of sensory processing.

Good luck!

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It could be completely nothing at all. However, there are nerve endings in your toes and sometimes kids with sensory issues do that to kind of "ground" themselves - the sensation of the toes overtakes any of the other sensations around them, cutting down on the overwhelming. Again, I'm sure it's nothing - just a phase - but I think it's worth asking the pediatrician about. I would if it were my child.

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I'm responding to this question after reading some of your other posts about normal behavior in a toddler: consider taking your son to be evaluated by an occupational therapist. He may have some sensory processing issues that can be so easily addressed! We are currently taking our 2 1/2-yr-old to an OT and after 4 sessions he's already making progress in social situations and with the way he moves and carries himself. Ask your pediatrician for a recommendation.

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My two cents: get an evaluation. It could be a tendon thing, it could be a neurological thing, it could be SPD, it could be nothing--a phase he'll grow out of. If he's doing it 65% of the time and he's also had other developmental delays, it's time to just check in with an evaluation to be responsible and safe. It's not about whether or not you like labels or believe in Autism or SPD etc. etc. It's about the fact that your child is doing this 65% of the time and it's not seeming like normal development. Knowledge is power. Get an evaluation. If you get a label you don't like--then disregard it and just take away from it the information or services you need.

"Do I believe these are real conditions? Of course, but have you seen the checklist for sensory processing disorder. Check the link below it was provided for me below by one of the lovely mothers. If you looked at that thing you would see that the criteria fits just about everybody."

My daughter is now receiving OT for Sensory Processing Disorder. I was initially very wary of the label and had the same reaction to the questionnaire when I first read it (these questions are all over the place! everyone must have SPD according to this!). But think of it this way: some people say they need glasses to see things that are far away. Some people say they need glasses to see things up close. Isn't that wacky? Just about anyone could fit somewhere in that spectrum! Maybe that's not the best analogy but do you see what I mean? We're not used to thinking of sensory input that way but why wouldn't it make sense that there would be a broad spectrum of ways that the sensory system could also have problems--just like any other system of your body?

SPD is about the brain misinterpreting sensory input. Sometimes that means they aren't getting enough feedback (high tolerance for pain etc.) sometimes that means heightened sensitivity (can't stand to wear clothes with tags etc.). Those are two distinct reactions--it's not like the questionnaire means you test positive if you check a box here or there in contradictory areas.

If you look at that questionnaire and just check a few boxes, then no, that's not SPD. If you check a lot of boxes, in the same few categories, and these issues are impeding development or enjoyment or participation in normal life, then it could be SPD.

The only way to really know if to have an evaluation by someone who's trained, like an OT or a developmental pediatrician etc. I went to the OT because there were a few areas where it was really bothering my daughter and causing her to not enjoy activities like a kid her age should. But at the evaluation they showed me that she was lagging in some areas of development that I wasn't even aware of. So I'm very thankful they called my attention to it. I don't care about the "label". It's about getting resources to help your child. Who cares what anyone calls it? I don't care if my child has "SPD" (and I don't care if you think it's a crock!) if that's what we need to call it to get her the help she needs--so be it!

If your child is under 3, you can get a free evaluation by Babies Can't Wait. If your child is school aged, I believe he could get a free evaluation by the school district if you ask in writing.

One last note about all the label hysteria: A label does not change one thing about your child! They're still the same kid. What a label CAN do is get your services and resources to HELP your child that you couldn't otherwise get. I have two relatives who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (high functioning Autism). I thought my relatives were out of their mind when I heard this--these kids are smart, sociable, funny--how can they have Autism? But guess what? They're still those same great kids with or without that label. And with that label they now get individualized education plans that help them thrive in their classrooms to overcome problems that weren't readily apparent to me but were preventing them from reaching their full potential in the classroom.

I would just caution you to step back and ask yourself why you're so caught up in labeling or not labeling. Who cares what anyone thinks? It's just about gaining insight and knowledge and care for your child. If someone with training and knowledge spends time with your child and explains their thinking and why their experiences lends them to lean one way or another, then you at least have the information to make an informed decision or an informed opinion. Looking at one questionnaire online is not the way to form a judgement on whether or not SPD is "a crock". I fear I'm rambling so I'm going to sign off...

I wish you the best for your child.

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I would take him to be evaluated. It would be much better to treat now if he has some kind of physical problem (tendons, etc.) or if he just needs to be "retrained" in how he walks, then it would be in a couple of years.

As a side note. Why is walking on tip toes and having a "hand thing" gay? I have several gay friends and none of them do this...You cautioned everyone about labeling and stereotypes, but you were quick to label these actions...just my two cents.

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Our darling Zoe does the toe-walking thing to and we are constantly reminding her to "flat-foot" and she will immediatly correct the toe behaviour:) I tell her mostly because i worry about tendon shortening but I'm on the same page w/ you...it has nothing to do with autism. We have had her evaluated all over the state and she is off the charts for her age so, as popular as it has become to blame all developmental delays on "autism" or spectrum disorders...I think sometimes you just have to let it be:) best wishes to you and your family !

I'm in my thirties and have always been a 'toe walker'. I didn't even realise it for a long time! Turns out, it's just a mechanical thing with the alignment of my knees (they turn in just a little, not enough to be noticeable to most people). Orthotics help, but I often don't wear them as it's so hard to fit them into summer shoes. Anyway, I'm in my thirties and it hasn't created any major issues. You may want to check with a podiatrist or physio to see whether this could also be your son's reason for walking on his toes ... it may just be more comfortable for him that way! Suspect it will only become more of an issue if he enjoys certain sports that will cause strain.
Good luck and don't worry too much!!

Dear Jill,
You seem to worry a lot about your son, which is perfectly normal.
I think I responded to an earlier post about his wave being "off".
In most cases, I tend to be on the side of little kids just doing weird things because they're little and they figure out how to do them and it doesn't last long. My kids tip-toed...my kids walked on their heels, they hopped instead of walking (we had bunnies).
I rarely suggest worrying about things or racing for an evaluation and I'm not going to do that now, but a nephew of mine walked on his toes from the time he was a baby. I don't think that his parents ever flexed or massaged his feet or got him sturdy shoes...they just let him do it. He ended up having surgery on the backs of both legs to release the tendons or some darn thing. He was in casts for a while and had some physical therapy, but he walked perfectly normally afterwards.
You probably should have him seen, but in the meantime, you can rub mineral oil on his feet and and the backs of his legs and try to get him to flex his toes upward, pointing toward him as opposed to pointing down.
The longer your son goes without "flexing" the harder it will get as he grows.
In my nephews case, he was very intelligent, had no other issues healthwise, but it did get to a point where he couldn't walk normally without surgical intervention. I think he was 5 when it was finally done.
If your son can stand flat on his feet, have him bend over to put his hands down flat on the floor. Stretch those muscles in the backs of his legs. On a nice day, let him get his feet wet and make footprints on the sidewalk, "dinosaur tracks", like a stomping dinosaur with flat feet. Your son might want to stomp for a while, finding it fun, but it's an exercise to help him with putting weight on his whole foot.
If you make it fun, he won't even know what you're trying to do.

He may just be goofing around on his toes because he finds it fun, but make sure he gets the backs of his legs stretched as well.

Best wishes!

My youngest son is just learning to walk and he tries to walk on his toes, and when he is in his walker he does walk on his toes. According to his Nana I did the same thing and it worked it's self out. And I figure his will too. His older brother did weird things with his hands and arms when he was learning to walk, but I just let him be to see if it worked it's way out and the better he got and the more confident he got the more it went away. Best way I can describe it would to say it was to help his balance.

It could very well be the achilles tendon problem one poster suggested, or it could just be a phase. Who knows? I walked on my toes my entire life, and now I see my son doing it when he's barefooted. In his case, I think he's just imitating me.

All the women in my family had shortened tendons, and I'm here to tell you that it's just plain easier for me to walk on the balls of my feet than to walk flat-footed. You do need to discourage the toe-walking, however, because it can cause long-term problems. When you toe-walk, you're using calf muscles almost exclusively. In my case, the calf muscles got so huge that I had to have surgery to open up the fascia in order to let the muscles expand. Before the surgery, I was totally handicapped and could barely walk because of the pain and pressure in my calves.

I would casually encourage him to bring his heels down and possibly have him seen by an orthopedist. I wouldn't lose any sleep, though, because it really could just be a phase.

Good luck!

Yep, I am speechless, too. I guess your insensitive stereotype was missed by more than a few. Lady, get some help, you've got too much time on your hands worrying about your perfectly healthy son. You should address the stereotyping and homophobia issues you have - that is more important and should be recognized.

How old is he? He'll find a normal stride as he practices. I wouldn't worry

I am not a fan of labeling either, but if you do notice signs of delay, a proper evaluation and treatment (occupational and physical therapy) can unlabel you son. I am a strong believer of early intervention.

My son has always been a little different. It was hard for my hubby and I because we both relate to his differences. His quirks came directly from both of us. However, we chose early intervention, had him evaluated, and got these treatments for him (a play therapist for social skills training, Occupational Therapist for sensory and fine motor skills, and speech therapy for interpreting language.) A year later, and he is thriving. I hate that we had to get an official diagnosis to help him, but now he does not stand out and he is happy again. He is invited to birthday parties and kids want to be around him.

Nothing may be wrong at all, but if you are posting about it, then you most be worried, so have him evaluated. It can only help your son.

My heart goes out to you. It is really hard when your kid is just like every other kid, but something seems a little different and you cannot pinpoint it or know what it means and you don't want to make the wrong choice and ruin his life. I wonder will he hate me one day for diagnosing him. Will he understand why I did what I did. Then I think about how much progress we have made and I hope he understands that my heart was in the right place. I did it because he was being labeled bad and aggressive when that was not the issue. I chose to find a label that I thought fit than accept the ones that were given to him because as his mom I knew he was a sweet boy just struggling in this chaotic world. It is very hard to be a parent and I do understand where you are coming from.

Both my daughters liked to walk on the balls of the feet for a time (probably between 2yrs and 4 yrs old) my eldest has now "outgrown" it.

Sometimes these things can be nothing- sometimes something.
How old is he? What does your pediatrician say?

You sound frustrated. I can understand why. It sounds like you are certai there is nothing "wrong" with him. As you mentioned in your first sentence ... and I mean this in all seriousness ... maybe he is simply gay. Have you considered that?

My son's pe teacher pointed out to me that at age 10/11 my son was still toe walking on one foot. My husband and I had always thought this was due to his breaking that foot when he was 5. We finally got a pediatrician to look at this seriously. He sensed it was neurological and sent us to a neurologist. After an MRI and CAT scan it was determined that he indeed has a very slight malformation in the brain that controls his left leg/foot. The missing brain matter has caused his calf muscle to contract. Physical therapy is helping him to stretch that muscle and keep his heel down.

I'm not saying this could be your son's problem too. I just offer it as something you may or may not want to check into. And I agree heartily with your thoughts on autism and sensory processing disorder. Why must we give a name to every childhood and adulthood idiosyncrasy? And why are so many doctors and parents willing to stigmatize children with a label?

Hi Jill!

I have nothing new to add, but I want to echo what the other posters have posted! Get him evaluated. If there are issues, the sooner you son gets therapies, the better!

C.
www.littlebitquirky.blogspot.com

Yes! Woman you rock! As for the "toe walking," my cousin did that for a year until they took her to a therapist of some sort to help her -- her calf and achilles tendon were shortened through birth and practice.

Good luck lovely lady:)