Podiatry

I worked in physical therapy and saw a few babies with gait problems. What I remember about the ones that walked on their tiptoes were it became a habit and then their muscles and tendons/ligaments would actually hurt (feel tight) when trying to walk normal. The best comparison I have is when you get a charlie horse in your calf and can't straighten it out right away.
It's normal for babies from 10-18 months to walk on their tippy toes, and of course with anything else regarding babies there is room to safely say a little before 10 months and a little after would still be in the "normal" range. Some babies keep it up and it becomes their normal, feels right, or they just do it for fun or force of habit.
You never know maybe your reg dr is just adding it to the list but the main reason for seeing one is the flat feet (which usually require orthodics or inserts). There are other things it "could" be but try not to google too much and stress yourself out even more. Hang in there, hope this helps.

I thought most babies have flat feet? My DD also is on her toes alot, but also stands flat footed. She walks holding on and is off and on about tippy toe walking. I thought it was normal... Now Im wondering? I look forward to your responses.

My neighbors still walk on their toes a lot - the father and one of the kids. Apparently a number of the dad's relatives do the same thing. It's less and less the older the child gets and the father doesn't do it much, but it's just a similar stride that you noticed when the child was toe-walking as a toddler. They are all athletes and it doesn't slow them down at all. I imagine your son will grow out of some or all of it, but it doesn't hurt to see a podiatrist since there is an arch issue anyway. I'd get some consultations about it but I wouldn't panic. Take your time and don't rush into anything. I don't think this is any kind of an emergency and I think time will be the biggest factor.

My niece always walked on her toes. She's in middle school now and walks beautifully without the need of any specialist. I don't think that toe walking is really all that uncommon or abnormal. I wonder if your son's ped overreacts to other things?

Tip toeing is a common autism trait. But it doesn't HAVE to be. May just be a phase where he discovered something fun!

:)

My little girl walked on her toes ALOT. She did it from the time she started walking. People told me it was a problem, and I should get it checked out and to stretch her feet in a flexed position, etc. Her pediatrician did not seem to mind and did not refer me to anything. She is now six and very athletic, into lots of different sports and dancing. Since your doctor referred you to a specialist, it does not hurt to check it out. he might need some physical therapy or special shoes or something, but it is good to correct things now when they are small.