22mo walks on tip toes - only sometimes

[sleepcrisis]

Hi everyone

DS was a late-ish walker at 18 months, and walked normally for the first few months. For the last month or so I have noticed him walking on tiptoes but not all of the time - he can and does walk normally.

I have had all sorts of totally unfounded anxieties re autism (am 90% sure he is NT but I suffer from anxiety and it seems to manifest itself in concerns over DS development). Anyway, he only seems to do it when either excited (eg at toddler group, bouncing around on tip toes) or at home while wandering around looking for something to do/discover. When walking around the park or shops for example he'll walk normally.

Should I be concerned about this?

Thanks

[rrreow]

Marking place. DS (23mo) does exactly the same.

[sleepcrisis]

bump

[Goldmandra]

Any indicator of Autism can be present in a NT child in isolation to some degree. Lots of NT children avoid eye contact or get upset about disruption to routines. That doesn't mean they have Autism.

You should only be concerned if the tiptoe walking is part of a bigger picture which includes lots of other indicators and those things are having a significant impact on your child's daily life or development.

Have you spoken to your health visitor about this?

[sleepcrisis]

Yes, HV is a bit pants and just said that if he only does it sometimes then there's nothing to worry about. Didn't ask any Qs about the rest of his behaviour or mention autism or anything - just looked at the walking thing in isolation.

But as far as I know there are no other indicators. All fine on Mchat etc.

[Goldmandra]

But as far as I know there are no other indicators. All fine on Mchat etc.

In that case I would try to stop worrying. If the tiptoe walking increases you should ask your GP for a referral to an Occupational Therapist. If they say they can't do that ask for a referral to a Community Paediatrician who will be able to send you to an OT.

[fififrog]

My DD who I do not worry about at all in terms of ASD, went through a phase last month of walking on tiptoes. She's just two. Totally normal. Prior to that we had monty python-esque silly walking. This month's weird walk she bends forward by 90 degrees and kind of staggers along like that. I am trying to teach her to do chicken wing arms as she looks so funny. Actually we have quite a laugh walking down thestreet with me imitating her silly walks. People must think we're bonkers! Try not to worry and enjoy the silliness!

[Havingkittens]

I used to do this. I was born with quite short tendons at the bottom of my calves. They were originally going to snip them when I was a toddler, I think, but they stretched enough on their own and I ended up walking normally. This may or may not be the case with your DS, but this was my reason. If it is the reason then it's a good idea to do some stretching exercises with him, bending his feet up and down whilst he sits with his legs straight.

[ChompieMum]

It can be a sign of hypermobility or what in the old days used to be called being double jointed.

See www.drhasson.co.uk/conditions.php

If so, likely not much to worry about.

[babySophieRose]

My DD 17 months does walk on tip toes when she wants to reach something high above or dancing. I do not think it is anything to worry about if not doing it all the time.

[brettgirl2]

My daughter sometimes walked on tip toes at about that age. If your hv says not to worry then don't. I can't remember when she stopped it but she did.

[welcometomysillylife]

This can be a sign of dyspraxia so keep an eye on it.

[paranoidmother]

My DD prefers to dance/walk on tip toes and she's now 8. I worried about dyspraxia to start off with and if you have a look at their website it tells you info on it. It's quite common and this could be the only thing that happens.
My DD can walk properly when she wants to and she has no other symptoms or problems with co-ordination/speech/language/motor skills etc.
I'm going to say if your HV isn't worried and everything else is coming along at a relatively "normal" pace I wouldn't panic. My name isn't paranoidmother for nothing!

[paranoidmother]

I meant to also say that DD does walk normally to and can do quite easily. It's just one of those habits with her in some shoes and in others she doesn't do it!

[ubik]

My 8year old DD does this when barefoot. All other aspects of development are NT.

Funny though -DP does this too and has no ASDs but his brother also tiptoes and has aspergers.

[mrsmalcolmreynolds]

Agree with others who have said that in isolation unlikely to be a sign of ASD. Keep an eye on it though for physical reasons as much as anything else. If occasional then unlikely to be a problem on that front long term either, but a friend's DS has now got to the point where he cannot walk normally and is going to have to have an op and several weeks in casts - he is 4.2.