21-Month-old Tiptoes

Is he on track developmentally? If you see no other oddities then I would give it 3 months to see if he stops doing it on his own. If he doesn't then I would seek help from a Dr. in correcting this so it does not become habitual for him. If you do see delays in his develoment (doesn't speak very much, doesn't respond to his name often, doesn't wave or clap, fixates on spinning objects...) then I would call Early Intervention. toe walking is common among those with Autism Spectrum disorders ro Sensory processing disorder. This by itself however is not a sign of one of those things so don't worry - its only if accompanied by many other signs. and even then early intervention is wonderful.

Hi S., I remember when I was growing up, my friends sister tiptoed til she was almost a teenager and it had no ill affect on her. She is happy, healthy and married with kids.

Hope this helped, M.

My first daughter did it on and off for years, she was tiny - maybe she was just trying to see over the counters, lol. My son barely did it. My 19 month daughter just started doing it recently... being that she looks a lot like my oldest it brought back a lot of memories. No worries... I think all kids tippytoe for at least some time. If he stops walking flat foot all together than I would be concerned about tight calf muscles or a short Achilles tendon but as long as he does both I wouldn't worry.

This is very comman but I would suggest you talk to your pediatrician about it though. My son wears leg braces to correct his toe-walking. This can be a sensory issue, neurogical or just his preference but should be investigated. My son's case is very different he was born at 25 weeks premauture & had a brain injury to his motor skills which was not detected until he was 19 months when I started the toe walking & his left leg turned slightly in. We started with a orthopedic, then a neurogolist & last a rehab speicialist who prescribed the braces. I am also not suggesting that this is the case with your child but I am telling my experience just so you know why it is a good idea to look further into it.
Well if you have any further questions feel free to ask & I hope things turn out well for you & your child.

Walking on their toes is a bad habit to get into. My older son, age 4, gets occupational therapy, and I have a 20 month old who accompanies me with him and we wait in the waiting room. Just the other day the 20 month old was walking on his toes in front of the OT and she said "oh no" and walked over and showed me a way to keep on top of it. She said say no and gently push down on their shoulder until he stands correctly again. I should have asked the reason why they do it or what it could lead to, but I didn't. I will ask next time.

The only concern is when they stop flattening the foot and the achilles tendon stops getting stretched. It is a problem in orthopedic injuries when people use crutches for non weight bearing too long and don't mimmick the walking motion properly (carry the injured limb behind them as they crutch on the good foot)....when they are allowed to bear weight, they find they can no longer flatten their foot to the floor and have to go through physical therapy to re stretch that tendon.

He is in fact weight bearing while staying on the toes which means he is not only not stretching that growing tendon, but building the muscle attached to it.

Encourage him to walk flat footed or point the toes upward to make sure it is going to be just a phase and not a damaging habit. See if he'll imitate you sitting on the floor stretching to touch or grab the toes... Or better yet...imitate you walking on your HEELS.

It's most likely just a phase. But just be sure.

Are there other issues?
Hip rotation?
Walking with inward or outward rotation or the hips (toes in or out?)

How cute! My guess is that it's something he discovered, and thinks is pretty neat. My now 5-year-old daughter went through funny movement stages between 1 and 3.

I have a 9 year old that walked on her tiptoes all the time!
She actually just stopped doing it last year. I was always making her conscious of it because I didn't want her to have a walking problem in the future or have a crooked spine. However, I was told she would grow out of it & she did. I would just make him aware of it if he still does it by next year. He'll be able to understand to correct it on his own.

Sincerely
J. T

:) I think he is fine. Did you or your husband ever walk on tiptoe when you were a child? I've heard that it could be hereditary. I've also read that it can become habitual. I know that I walked on my tiptoes until I was in my mid twenties! It was always when I was barefoot or had socks on though... don't know why I just did...

You could always do a google search, there is plenty of information on tiptoeing. Just don't read to much into and ask your pediatrician.

Just found this:
MY two year old is walking on his tip toes!
09/14/99 by jennifer

My little boy is 2 1/2. He walked at 15 months and is normal and healthy in every way. He does always walk on his toes. Shoes or bare feet make no difference. Almost daily someone coments on it. Everyone however says that he will grow out of it. However, My sister is 24 and she is still on her toes to this day. She was supposed to grow out of it too. She can walk flat but really has to concentrate. She reverts back to toes when she's tired, barefoot, or not concentrating. Given the family experience, I want to intervene with my son now. How long do I let this go before we seek help? What options are out there? Are there pediatric orthopedists? Is this something that we can correct with behvior modification and discipline? I really hesitate to discipline if this is more than a bad habit. Having girls on their toes is one thing but you really don't care to see a teenage boy tiptoeing around! Thanks for your direction!
Doctor's Answer

09/14/99 by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.


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Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.

Dear Jennifer,

Temper tantrums modification and discipline are not going to be helpful. Yes, pediatricPediatric asthma orthopedics is a specialty, and obtaining a referral to one is a sensible plan.

By the way, many children do 'outgrow' this as they develop, so it's not clear that your son will require specialized treatment. But, there's no need to speculate or wonder. See the specialist.

Tiptoeing can be a very typical developmental stage. That being said, it might be something just to keep an eye on, especially if combined with other behaviors such as hand flapping, avoiding certain textures or things that are sticky, gooey, slimey. . . avoiding bright lights, not liking sudden or loud noises. . . Not many pediatricians realize, according to our O.T., that toe-walking can sometimes be a sensation-avoiding behavior. My son started walking on his toes about that time and was eventually diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction, but he also had all the other symptoms I mentioned and a few others I haven't.

I have seen a lot of youngsters toe walking just because it is an interesting experience, as well. If it continues past the novelty period, it might be worth a closer look just to ease your mind.

My son did the same thing. He's 11 now and completely normal. Apparently, my son's Dad did the smae thing around the same age. He just grew out of it eventually -- he did it for a long time.

my daughter just turned 21 months a couple days ago, and has been doing the tippy-toes thing for the past couple of weeks also. i thought she was trying to walk like her barbie (since they're made in tippy-toe position) but then the other day i noticed that a few of her cartoons on NOGGIN say to "do the tippy-toe and be quiet shhhh!" it's usually dora, or diego when they're "creeping by" to pass the snakes, swiper, or whatever that episode is about. the backyardigans to it too. yo gabba gabba! does it too, but in a dance, as well as jack's big music show all for dancing. so you might want to watch the shows that your child is watching, maybe during the shows they do something on tippy-toes and maybe he's just mimicking them. it's not a bad thing, it's just if you notice they do it on the shows, and know that's the reason, it can ease your mind so much more (i know i'm no longer questioning it anymore...i just laugh at her and start doing tippy-toes with her when she starts lol).

My DD started at about 18 months walking on her toes. When I asked the Doctor's I was told not to worry until she is older 3-ish. At her 3 year old appointment I asked about it again and we were refered to a specialist. I wouldn't worry until he is a little older. It sounds like he is trying something new and keeping you on your toes.

My son walked and ran on his tippy-toes since the age of 1. Never got to the bottom of it and the doctor had no explanation. He grew out of the havit and eventually walked correctly. However, at the age of 1o he developed plantar faciitus, which is caused by the ligaments not stretching in his feet. He eventually had to have both feet operated on (very common procedure. The doctor did not know if walking on his toes caused this condition. It is a very commom condition amongst athletes and my son did participate in all sports. The operation was a complete sucess. Talk to your pediatrician. As I say once again this could of been a coincidence. Walking on the tippy toes may of had nothing to do with the onset of the ligament problem.

I would definitely go see your pediatrician, it could be a problem. See http://www.drfoot.co.uk/tip_toe_child.htm

Hi Shawna,

I have heard that we all want different levels of sensory input (adults and children) and that walking on tip toes means more input or because it is only the front of your foot more pressure. I have seen other children do this and then stop doing it later on. I think an occupational therapist could fill you in on more of the details.

While it can be completely normal, it is smething that must be mentioned to the pediatrician at his next visit.. as a pediatric nurse I have seen it as a precursor to other things, and it warrants mentioning - and if it continues, mention it at every visit.

We did have this problem once when DS was very constipated. Hope that's not the problem here. Once we got his bowels moving again the problem cleared up.

Good luck!

I would recommend having an Early Intervention evaluation done. It's free for children under 3 in New York and if they recommend physical therapy or other services, the services are also free and can be provided in your home. You can google Early intervention or ask your pediatrician to refer you somewhere.

Toe-walking is sometimes seen in children with developmental delays, so it is something to pay attention to. What has the pediatrician said about it? Do you have other concerns (i.e. is his speech on track? other basic skills/milestones?)? My best advice is to have the eval done. It costs nothing and will either reassure you or get you and your son connected with the services you may need early.

S., I remember all of my kids walking on tip-toes at one point. My husband would freak out.. but they are all fine now and also very athletic........ Dont worry he wouldnt do it if it hurt...
C.
Mom helping Moms work from Home!
http://colleend.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

You don't have to worry unless he can't walk with his feet flat. He is probably just doing it for fun, my 19 month old does it and laughs. But like I said the important thing is that he CAN walk with his feet flat.

It is very normal for toddlers to walk on their tip toes. Just keep track of him and make sure that he does walk flat on his feet eventually. I had a friend who's daughter walked on her tip toes from the time she walked until she was 4 or 5 and when she tried to walk flat foot she couldn't. She had to have foot surgery to lengthen her tendon in the back of her foot to help her walk normal. She is fine now and tolerated the surgery fine. The biggest pain about it, was that she couldn't swim all summer because she had the cast on. Just keep track of him and I am sure he will be fine.

All I can tell you is that both of my nieces did it and they are absolutely fine. My daughter even started doing it, not all the time though, but every now and then I see her on her tippy toes. (She's 18 months). I'm thinking it's normal, especially since my two nieces grew out of it just fine. If your concerned though by all means mention it to the pediatrician. Keep us updated, I'm interested!!

It's perfectly normal for a toddler to experiment with different modes of ambulation. You have nothing to worry about unless your child refuses to put any weight on his foot. Enjoy him!

this is appartently pretty normal... lots of kids do it 18-24mos.
for most kids, it is a phase -- but my husband and his siblings did it their whole lives... and my husband does have outrageously tight calves... if it continues much past your childs 2nd birthday, i would talk to your doctor...
or you could try getting him a pair of shoes that he wears only in the house that doesn't let him go on his toes (vans or something with chunky soles)... but i would definitely wait it out for a bit... good chance it is just a phase.

It's nothing major but I would mention it to his pediatrician. I can't remember what it's called but I learned it while in school (I'm a nurse) and there is something neurologically that makes some children do that. My best friends young cousin used to do it for years. Again, it's nothing major that will affect his development but it is something worth mentioning. If I find it in my big nursing book I will try to get back to you. Good luck!

Hi My Daughter is 3 and she walks on her tiptoes almost all day also. I asked her doctor if it was normal and he said yes as long as she is developing fine then not to worry about it and to not try to correct her all the time. I would double check with your doctor to make sure but I think it is ok as long as he can walk normally.Hope this helps a little :)

I am a mother of a 23 month old boy who will be 2 years old on Jan 24th. He still walks on his tippytoes this is normal at their age they are experimenting with their body. My son still walks on his tippytoes once in a while. He will grow out of it with out and after effects.

My neice tippy toed. She did it for fun. Kids who do it consistantly may have an underlying problem such as short Achilles tendon, flat feet, even cerebral palsy.

Sounds to me like your son is doing it for fun. Just another way of discovering the beauty and control he has over his body.

A.

My husband is 46 and still always walks on his tip toes.

Hi S.,

I actually saw an article on this a month or so ago, and they said it's totally normal up to 3 years old. If you are concerned about it though, speak w/your dr. at your next appointment. My daughter sometimes does the tippy toes thing too...maybe their on their way to be dancers :)

Take Care!

R.
(mom to Chandra 14 months)

My son did the same exact thing when he was about 19 mos, and he walks wonderfully now! I was worried for a bit, too, but it passe after a couple of mos, and he is a runnin' fool now!

What does his doctor say? If his doctor finds nothing wrong it could be a phase he is going through but it can't hurt to keep and eye on things to make sure. How about making up a game, like follow the leader, where he copies how you do things and then throw in walking regularly just to see what he does?

Hi S.,

Both my kids went through a stage where they walked on their tiptoes all the time. I didn't worry about it and they eventually moved on (it definitely went on for months). My kids developed fine, and I see other kids doing it all the time too. It think it's a very typical developmental stage.
Enjoy!
D.

My now 8 year old daughter used to do that all the time when she was around 2. My 2 year old also does it sometimes. They are both very smart for their ages. No mental disorders to worry about. It is perfectly normal to do that unless your son can't walk with his feet flat on the floor.

I hope this will help, not sure if it will. A few months
ago my son was being evaluated for a possible delay in speach, the evaluator noticed him tippy-toe walking. She asked how often he did it, I told her it was just occasionally at best. I think he is trying to make himself taller. Anyway she said to keep a eye on it and to let his pediatrician know if he starts dooing it more often. She said that his feet could be overly sensitive. I have noticed that it is becong increasingly difficult to get him to stay still to trim his toe nails. The finger nails are no problem. My son is 26 months. You might want to talk to your pediatrician at you next appoinment. The evaluator said that sometimes they use "touch" therapy to
help ease the sensitivity. By the way I love your name:)!!

I would definitely check with the pediatrician. Tiptoe walking is sometimes a characteristic on the autistic spectrum.

Hi! My son (26 months) also went through this stage for about a month or two at around 21 months and then it just faded out. So I wouldn't worry about it!