I plan on asking the Dr about this next week, but I have been freaking out about this lately. My daughter is 15 months old and has been walking for a few months now. She was doing really well until a month or so ago. What I first noticed was how clumsy she had become. Not just normal clumsiness either. I figured this was due to an ear infection (she has had a couple in the last few months) but now I am starting to think it's something more. Her daycare even mentioned this because she toppled over 3 times in one week and they asked if I had noticed this in her. Again, I tossed it up to her ear infections leaving her off balance.
Another thing is this, she has walked, or stood, on her toes for as long as she could stand. I know a lot of children do this, but, she still does this the majority of the time. Not only does she walk on her toes, but it appears her legs are stiffer than they should be when she walks. Has anyone else encountered this at this age??? I have read on the net that this could be a sign of mild cerebal palsy. When I read this, I was in shock, then it said speech may be delayed too....well, now I am really worried because she isn't really talking. She'll say a couple of words like mama or cat, but even cat isn't very clear. She also no longer waves goodbye, even though she did it all the time about 3 months ago. It just seems like something is going on, but maybe I am being paranoid?? (which I tend to be a lot of the time) Anyway, Thanks!
Thank-you to everyone for all your caring and thoughtful knowledge! My daughter went in for her 15 mnth check-up and, well, I was not exactly thrilled with her pediatrician. I haven't been for some time, but I haven't had a chance to switch, which I am now. He said he found nothing wrong with her, but wants her to see a specialist because he said she should be saying 6 words clearly!! I know she may not be rattling off words, but she has been getting better and I think all kids are different. In fact, the DAY we left his office, she has been jibbering nonstop and has said 'hi' 'mom' 'nana' and 'cat' pretty darn well. He also laughed at me when I said I wasn't sure about the MMR shots. When I told him why (autism scare and the fact that her immune system is low) he actually told me that autism occurs while still in the mother, not after the fact, and that all the stuff in the media is just hype. Well, I guess I don't appreciate someone telling me I am basically crazy. So, I may still get the assessment done, not sure yet, but she isn't walking on her toes much either anymore, and I think it's because she never wore shoes and now she is wearing them a lot. So, thanks again!
I have a niece who is 4 and trips over a blade of grass. There is nothing wrong with her except for the fact that she is ever so slightly pigeon toed. If she seems stiff legged, have her lay on the floor and do exercises with her. Bend her legs in and out and up and down. This will help and hopefully give you something to do until you get to the doctor. Try not to worry too much because it may be nothing. Good luck.
Okay M., the biggest thing is....don't self diagnose. Sometimes I think that the internet is a terrible thing. Just last year my husband thought he was dying because he self diagnosed. He was wrong. Talking is not a definite in any child. Yours may take a little longer to talk but that doesn't mean anything. She just doesn't want to right now. I have a friend whose 4 year old daughter still walks on her toes all the time. She still eats with her fingers too instead of using a fork or spoon. And finally, my 4 year old son falls over and is the clumsiest person I know. On a daily basis he runs into walls in our home. (Like I just put the wall up to make him run into it.) Before you panic, talk to your doctor.
The rate at which children pick words, and choose to speak them, varies greatly. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
My daughter, 14 months, will randomly walk into walls, fall down, etc. This is no big deal either. She just tries to get going too fast sometimes and can't stop herself. Has your daughter been trying to run?
I'm not sure about walking on tip toes, but I've noticed my daughter does it too sometimes.
About waving goodbye- My daugher also quit doing that after she did it for so long, but she is now moving on to master other skills, which waving goodbye definately is (a skill). Babies/kids will constantly work on something until they have it mastered and once that's accomplished, they may not do it in lieu of trying something new.
All in all, I would say it's all pretty normal. HOWEVER, please talk to her doctor. They are really the only ones who can say for sure. Like someone else said, try not to self-diagnose. I have worried myself sick something because of things I've read/heard.
Best of luck to you!
I will be praying for you!!! Definately make your doctor listen to your concerns.
C.
www.bhomelikeme.com
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If you're doctor does not put your mind at ease, call Redwood ###-###-#### and they will be able to test her, they specialize in that sort of thing. It's probably nothing though.
Talk to your doctor and be as detailed as you can be. Ask for a referral to a physical therapist for an evaluation; you will probably need a referral for insurance.
If your daughter is walking on her tiptoes and always has, she may have tense or short tendens that need to be stretched... This can be a relatively easy fix now but if you wait until she is older they will have to do other things. A friend had to have her older daughter's tendens cut which turned out to be no big deal either.
Good catch on your part and her daycare who noticed something unusual and gave you a heads up!
Hello M.,
i was reading about your daughter and my daughter at that age did some of the similar things.she "always" walked on her toes, she had mass ear infections and also was clumsy and had speech problems. Does she have tubes in her ears yet? Once kaitlyn had tubes input in her ears over the next couple months i saw a major
change.now kaitlyn is 6 yrs old and she still has a little bit of a speech problem but her school is working on it with her. I know u are truely scared to death and without any help it makes it alot worse but try not to worry to much until u see your baby girl's doctor. I would suggest tubes. My dr. Told me that speech is a problem with children with ear infections early in life because they are not hearing things as they should. It's not very clear. I would also think back on your family tree and think of anyone else on your side or the fathers side that may of had ear infections, i know i suffered from them and so did my husband. Also i asked my husband if he also remembered when she had those problems and he said, the same things i said above but he also said when we would change he diapers she would stretch her legs out where they would be stiff and also when she would be laying on the floor. Is this the type of stiffness u r experiencing? This could just be a balance problem/// please e-mail me back to let me know what u find out and if u have anymore questions/ thanks, K. :0) smiles
Please mention this to doctor as they will give you the best advice. These are definitely warning signs that need to addressed, in the best interest of your daughter. If detected young enough, physical therapy could work wonders! Also, the loss of skills that were once there, is a possible symptom that surfaces with autism.... but please try not to worry - (yeah right, a mom that doesn't worry!) Hang in there and let us know what you discover! GOOD LUCK!
Hi M.,
I can relate to your email. Our circumstances were somewhat different, but I can still relate to what you and your child are going through.
My son didn't begin walking independently until he was 12-13 months old, and mostly on his tip toes. He fell down a lot and seemed to be "clumsy" as well. He was diagnosed with mild CP, and we have had him in PT and in leg braces since his diagnosis 2 years ago. The good news is he is now out of his brace on his right leg and is being fitted for a new, shorter brace on his left. He is now with in the normal range for flexibility for both legs and has made tremendous progress.
The diagnosis of CP was a shock to say the least, but once we knew what we were dealing with we were able to attack the problem and move forward. We do stretches with him every morning and night and really focus on having him walk with his heels down, and it has really worked. He falls down much less frequently and is much more aware of his body and now walks "correctly".
Please talk to your doctor ASAP about this. The sooner you begin therapy, etc. the better off your child will be. Dr. Michael Albert in Dayton is who we see for our son. You can visit his practice's website at http://www.orthocenterdayton.com.
Good luck with everything.
Hi M.,
I think it is a good idea to talk to your Dr. about your concerns about your daughter. Sometimes Drs. will suggest waiting until the next visit which can be months away, I would recommend not waiting any longer.
I suggest you contact your local Health Department and ask to talk to someone in the Help Me Grow Program. Anyone can refer a child under 3 years of age if they have concerns. They will set up a time to come to your home and do an inital assessment on your daughter. If they determine that there is a concern they can follow up with a more indepth evaluation. This is free to you, even if they don't find any concerns. (which would be great)
Kids will sometimes stand/walk on their toes when they first start standing & walking, but will walk flat footed as they get older. There are other reasons kids walk on their toes not just cerebral palsy. Don't worry yourself needlessly. You're taking the first step in expressing a concern, and the next step in contacting the Health Department.
I work for a local HD in the HMG program. Each county does things a little differently. The ultimate goal is helping kids & thier families have all the resources available to help the child grow and develope normally.
I wish you good luck & I hope all works out well with your daughter.
K.
