Tiptoe Daughter

Hi T.,

I read an article on Babycenter.com once that it could be an issue depending on how often it occurs. My daughter was an occassional tiptoer so I just asked the doctor at her next appointment and explained what my daughter was doing. The pediatrician checked her out and with all the other information she knows about my daughter said it was nothing to worry about. She has since outgrown it. She tiptoes every long once in a while when playing. I would suggest asking the doctor although it probably is nothing.

Good luck,
S.

1 mom found this helpful

i am going through it with my 3 year old they say they grow out of it i have a 3 year old and a boy THAT WILL BE FIVE IN A COUPLE DAYS AND I RAISE A 16 YEAR OLD AND IT DOES GET BETTER IT AINT THAT BAD I LIVE IN GOULDSBORO KEEP IN TOUCH

When my daughter started to walk she was basically living at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was also a tip toe walker. The doctor told us it's very common for children who are learning to walk to be tip toe walkers but since my daughter had been premature, had some developemental delays and would not walk "normally" when asked they had her tested for cerebral palsy. In the end she didn't have cerebral palsy or any problems with her calves or heels she just liked to be a toe walker. If she doesn't ever seem to walk normally or has any other conditions I would mention the toe walking to the doctor.

Although she will probably outgrow it, it can be a symptom of something more serious. Lots of kids who have autism or sensory problems are toe walkers. Of course, not all are, but it's something to keep an eye on. My son has Sensory Integration Disorder and has always toe walked. Our ped told us that it's usually normal until they turn 3. If it's still happening then, it's worth a trip to a neurologist. It can be caused by CP and other kinds of motor disorders. Or from short heel cords. Your ped can do an eval to make sure that she CAN walk flat footed. The danger is that even if she can walk on flat feet now, the more they walk on their toes, the tighter the muscles can get and eventually they aren't able to walk flat footed. Then they need surgery, braces or casting.

Not trying to scare you at all. But I remember asking when my son was this age and not one person told me anything but 'it's normal' and it's not for all kids.

Good luck!

S. H.

My daughter is 4 years old now, but when she was first learning how to walk she did the same thing. We used to call her the little ballerina. At the time I thought she was strange too, but I did later find out that many kids do this, so I would say it's nothing to worry about. My daughter is fine now.

T.,

Sounds like you have a future with her in gymnastics. Nothing to worry about. Always remember though you can call her pediatrician if it does concern you or if it lasts too long. Keep up the great job of being a mom.

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Have a great day,
B. sue A.

hi my son did the same thing eventually he just stopped so its really nothing to worry about.

Hi T.,
You know it doesn't hurt to get her checked by a physician.
There was a little boy in my daughters' preschool class a few years ago that walked on his tiptoes. In first grade last year he had surgery to correct that problem. He still has a slight problem with the one foot. So if your daughter has the tiptoe problem that he had it is correctable.
Mention it to her pediatrician, and if the dr. says no problem still get a second opinion. My daughter had exotropia (an eye muscle problem which looks like lazy eyes). Her pediatrician dismissed it until she was over 1 yr old. Well I took it upon myself to tell the receptionist I needed a referral for an eye specialist. I got it, took her to the appointment and found out she needed eye muscle surgery in BOTH eyes! So when I took her back to the pediatrician for her physical for the surgery... she said oh I didn't think it was that serious.....I told her that when my daughter fell off of a chair and didn't block her fall, (because she couldn't see correctly) and knocked out her front tooth out that I knew right there and then that it was serious. And she said well I am glad you went ahead(behind her back) and had her seen.
Good luck I hope it's nothing to serious.
K.

well id talk to her dr about it. i went to high school with a girl that walked on her tip toes when she was little, it never straightened out because the tendon behind her foot shortened so much.

My nine year old daughter did the same thing when she started walking. The doctor said it was normal especially if shes seen anyone in the family walking in high heels. Which, on my husbands side of the family, both his mom and aunt did. She still does it once in a while, but there is nothing wrong with her. As a matter of fact, when I take her for shoes, she wants the ones with heels and she does very well walking in them and her legs are unbievably strong. I laugh when she tells me she wants a pair of stelettos. But as far as me and the doctor can see, shes fine and he said its normal.

I read the other responses and no one pointed out that although it is probably nothing, it may be something. My daughter is 3-1/2 and still walks on her toes sometimes but our pediatrician actually sent us to a pedeatric physical therapist when she turned two, because he said most kids out grow it by then and she did have quite a bit of tightness in her calf muscles. They tested her to make sure that she didn't have discomfort in her legs or heals which is sometimes the cause of a bigger problem. Try seeing if she'll walk on her heals - - you do it and see it she'll copy you. If she can do that without pain, then I'd say you're in the clear, but if she's unwilling or unable to put pressure on her heals, I'd suggest talking to your pediatrican about having her evaluated further. My 19 month old just started walking last month and she isn't a toe walker, but my older child still does it. Good luck!

Toe-walking can be a motor coordination thing. It's worth having the pediatrician check out. My youngest was a toe-walker, and he had occupational therapy, and he's fine. And very bright and now you'd never know there was a problem. Sometimes it's nothing. But it's something you should definitely have the pediatrician check out.

Hi T.. This is S.. I have a 7 year old daughter. I've experienced that myself. I say it's normal and eventually she should grow out of it. My daughter did that for a little while but eventually grew out of it and now she walks normal; so yes it's part of being a kid so I say it's normal.

My 2 year old daughter walks on her tip toes all the time. Her daddy did too, when he was little. She should outgrow this without problems. Just watch that her tendons don't shorten as a result, meaning, let her doc know she does this so he can keep an eye on it.

I used to walk on my tip toes all the time when I was little, and now my daughter , who is 4 , does it, too. Actually, so do my neices, lol. The only thing that happened to me was very strong calf muscles. Unless the doctor sees a problem with this, she is fine.

I realize I still walk on my tip toes at 35, usually because the floor is a bit cold, lol.

Hope this has helped out.

Yep, it's perfectly normal. My 20 month old daughter has been walking since 9 months old and she still spends most of her time walking around the house on her tip toes.

I have two little nieces (ages 5 and 2) who both walk on their toes. It's actually really cute. I do agree that it seems a bit odd, but the reason she is doing this is because her calves haven't stretched and developed. When your developing in the uterus, you're so squished up for so long and it takes a while to get everything unraveled! If it bothers you, get her some good shoes with rubber soles and they'll start to force her on to her flat feet.

Hi T.,
I would discuss this with the pediatrician and ask for a referral to an early intervention occupational or physical therapist to have an evaluation done. Either they will find that your daughter is developing normally and there's no problem or they may find that there are some other red flags which may be helped through therapy. Either way, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you took steps to help your daughter. If you disagree with the assessment, you can always seek out a second opinion. If funding is a problem, maybe the doctor will know of some funding source. Good luck!
A. K.

It is just a part of being a kid....Most children do this anywhere from your daughters age to 3yrs old...It is just a phase...She has good balance if she is tiptoeing around. Dont discourage her doing so, she is just experienceing her capabilities.

My 19 month old has been walking since 12 months and still likes to walk on his toes sometimes even though he can walk flat. i think it's just one of their little experiments with balance and the world - see what happens. plus it makes them a little taller and gives them a different view of things. my 3 year old likes to copy him sometimes and just giggles when anyone notices she's on her toes.

This is not uncommon. My son is 7 years old and still walks on his toes most of the time. He has very strong calves and started football this year and is the fastest on his team and doing great because of his strong calves from walking on his toes. She will most likely grow out of it but if not don't worry.