Ever since birth, I have noticed that my daughter has slightly odd feet. It almost looks as though her toes are overcrowded; the second toe doesn't quite line up with the others and overlaps the one next to it. It almost looks like that toe doesn't belong. Anyway, I have never let it bother me, assuming that it was just "one of those things."
I brought it up to my in-laws the other day and they thought I should immediately see a doctor about it. She isn't scheduled for a regular check-up for a few months, so I thought I would just wait until then to bring it up. I did a little internet research (I know, doctors HATE that), and there actually is a condition called overlapping toes. From what the online sources said, it doesn't seem like a huge ordeal unless there is pain associated with the toes rubbing together or not fitting in shoes properly.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this condition. Should I take her to the doctor as soon as possible, or can it wait? Should I be worried?
no need to "see the doctor RIGHT away" just bring it up to your pediatrician when you see him/ her next. Most likely its a normal condition and will cause little problems. Your child has A LOT of growing to do, and if she was born with it, rest assured she was checked from head to toe and back again....
My son, 3, has the same condition. I have never heard it referred to as "overlapping toes" although that's what it looks like for sure. Anyway, I was concerned as well, and on one of his well-baby visits when he was almost 2, we asked about it, and the doc. referred us to a podiatrist. The podiatrist looked at it, called it "hammertoe", but said there was nothing to do about it. He said as long as it's not bothering him, don't worry about it and that eventually he may grow out of it. If it got to the point where it was bothering him, then there was a surgery for it, but when they're this young, he said, their feet still have so much changing and growing to do. One thing he said to do that may be helpful is to gently massage the toe in the right direction. I do it sometimes to my son, it doesn't seem to fix it, but maybe that's because I'm not consistent with it. Anyway, I hope this helps. Write back if you have further questions about it. I did see a grown man with this at the pool one time, so I guess some people live their whole lives fine with it.
i dont have any experience with this but my first thought is that if shes not in pain and she can walk okay then i wouldnt worry and i dont see why you cant wait as it is not causing any problems
Hello I would just call your doctors office and explain what is going on and see if they think she needs to be seen or not. I did that with my daughter when her foot was turning in and it gave me peace of mind. Good luck
HI Tamara,
My son has the same problem. When we first noticed it we spoke to his pediatrician about it and she told us not to worry. If the problem interfered with walking or became painful then she would refer us to a Specialist. When my son was 2 he had an ingrown toe nail and we were sent to a Podiatrist. For peace of mind we talked to him about how his toe overlaps the other one and what he thought about it. He however did NOT call it Hammertoes. He said that since it hadn't affected our son's walking or ability to wear shoes and wasn't bothering him, he said we should do nothing. However if we really wanted it corrected, he could re break the toe and set it....not something I want to put my child through!! After all.....it hasn't bothered him at all!!
Also as he has gotten older and the bones in the feet are developing more, the problem has gotten a lot less noticable.
However if this REALLY bothers you then you should call your Dr and discuss this with him/her over the phone and see if they feel you should bring her in.
Hope this helps!
My daughter had the same thing. Apearently it's hereditary. Most children the problem corrects it's self and they grow out of it. But in many cases surgery can be done to fix it. The problem is the tenden. But they usually won't do surgery until after the age of 2, or after they have been walking for some time. My daughter just turned 16yrs old. Her 3 middle toes were all crossed on both feet. Wedid sort of a physical therepy thing on her. When she was still real little, we started stretching her toes, rubbing lotion on them like a foot message...gentle is the key. You don't want to hurt them. Remember the tendens are tight, and must be streched over time. Now you can barely tell her toes ever crossed. except for 1 that just sorta covers the toenail next to it. No fun for a teenage girl her likes to paint her toes hahahaha.
Anyways good luck!
L.
Paint her toes and enhance the cute factor of a slightly odd thing, stop worring and just give your doc a call to see if you should go before the set appointment. SMILE the fact that you are seeking the opinion of others tells anyone that you care but in reality Nothing you feel like asking the doc will bother or annoy them. They went into the child field because they love the little tikes. The ONLY stupid question is the one you don't ask.
