Tip toe walking in toddler

[ForeverBaffled]

My 23 month old DS has been on and off tip toe walking for the last couple of months. The majority of the time he walks flat footed but around 30% of the time he’s up on his toes - when walking or running.

He went through a similar phase when he first learnt to walk (12 months) and again at 18 months but only for a few weeks at a time.

I have no other concerns about his development (very active and very verbal) but wondered if it’s something I need to mention to the health visitor?

Obviously Dr Google has scared the living daylights out of me with talk of things like muscular dystrophy.

Has anyone had any experience of this? Thank you.

They often walk on tiptoes sometimes, it's not at all unusual. By all means mention to health visitor if it is really worrying you (not that the HV will necessarily know anything that you don't know), but I've seen lots of little ones do that - not forever though.

A child I know was still doing this aged 5 pretty much all the time. Her mum didnt seem worried but was eventually referred for physio to do exercises to stretch the tendons.

It can still be common.

In my case it was a tendon problem. Which didn't need surgery and hasn't bothered me over my 50+ years, except I do trip up over nothing.

I'm just more comfortable on tip toes.

I did it all the time as a child, up to the age of about 7 or 8. I just liked how it felt. No physical problems whatsoever, then or now.

Thank you all so much for replying. I’m glad it can sometimes be normal. Trying not to worry too much. I will mention it at his two year review (whenever I’m offered one!)

@ForeverBaffled if you read this, I was wondering if your son grew out of tip toe walking or if it was a sign of something else. I have other concerns re my son , and now he has started tip toe walking

Hi @SS1983 my DS is 4 years old now and still occasionally tip toe walks! It’s totally intentional though and he stops the minute I ask him to so probably just a bit of a habit. He is slightly hypermobile though so imagine it’s related to that. He has no other issues (despite my anxieties!) Hope you aren’t too worried it seems like a very typical thing that lots of toddlers and children do.

I've name changed as my sister is on Mumsnet and might see this.

I had this as a toddler and my mother's reaction was to send me to ballet lessons, which I still do as an adult! I'm not suggesting you do that, as I read in a baby book some years ago that it's something you should mention to your health visitor just in case' and whatever the risk of concern was, is comparatively rare.

I still do it sometimes, even now, but far far less often. It's more like a bad habit, my mother was always telling me off when she spotted it. I do have amazing balance as side effect.

So get it checked but try not to worry.

@ForeverBaffled thank you for the response, especially since I replied on such an older post. So pleased to hear your son is doing so well. I do worry, but sometimes it is hard to differentiate between a real worry and being anxious. I am trying to relax about it (and other things), and your post is certainly reassuring - thank you!

@angeIina , ty, will mention to health visitor

My son tip toed, sometimes still does at 3.
Whilst we are going through the process of an autism diagnosis it actually isn't one the flags that they are concerned about.
But like I say it's rarely he does it now.

Hi
hope you read this post .. how’s your son now ? ☺️

@Vittoria123 he’s a very happy and healthy 6 year old now! He has slight hypermobility but nothing awful and he’s active with no issues. He does occasionally still tip toe walk but very rarely and I ask him not to. Just a habit thing.