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2 year old walking on tiptoes

8 replies

LethalToddlerElbows · 25/09/2023 08:18

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. Ever since she started walking at 13 months she has occasionally done so on her toes. It’s not all the time, maybe 25%. A few people told me she would likely just grow out of it but she turned 2 in August and is still doing it.

Google tells me it could be a sign of autism however I don’t have any other concerns in this regard (and HV and GP aren’t worried) so I guess we wouldn’t even qualify for an assessment.

Basically nobody seems worried but I can’t shake this feeling that it isn’t normal and I should be trying to sort it.

Has anybody got any experiences please?

OP posts:
Cupofteaandcrackers · 25/09/2023 08:28

I have 3 dc (2 with asd). One dc did this till about 3 years old (only child who doesn't have asd). She just slowly stopped doing it. It was noted on her 2 year check but only advice I was given was if still doing when 4 to go to gp. She's a teenager now and no long-term issues.

AbacusAvocado · 25/09/2023 08:31

You can find exercises online to try to do with her - her hamstrings may be tight (or may become tight if she keeps doing it) so exercise can help.

But it’s basically “normal” until they’re about 4, after that you should see a Gp

TheLadyofShalott1 · 25/09/2023 09:01

I haven't got any experience of this but I have just looked it up myself and it appears that it can be a sign of some neurological disorder, but that many children grow out of it. However if it has become a habit to them, it can take a while for them to grow out of it, and there is a potential that it may cause their hamstring to shorten if it continues for too long.

There were numerous references to exercises that you can do with your child to help them stop walking in duch a way if it has just become a habit. As your DC is only walking like that for about 25% of the time it shows that they can walk normally - without it hurting them - so I don't think you should mention it to your child at all.

I wondered if you could make up a 'game dance' with them that you try to fit into their day most days, for about 5 minutes or so. Put some music on that your child really likes, and make up a heel led dance, so maybe you could do a few steps that start on your heels then roll forward on to your feet, then keeping your feet flat, bow to your partner (your DC obviously), and then they have to do what you did. It is by necessity a very simple little dance that maybe you and your DC can enhance as you go along.

Also, if you could go on some short walks outside with them, and once you are walking along you could suddenly say " oh, shall we practice the walking bit of our play dance?", and then you both do some heel led steps, then make them into a couple of heel led strides, then back to normal, and then do some tiny weeny heel led steps, and then you both finish your walk walking as you normally do, whilst maybe counting how many chimneys you can see, or satellite dishes, or birds on roof tops, anything so that your DC doesn't become obsessed with how they are walking.

I am sure that you can come up with much better ideas, or look some up on the net. After gently encouraging your child for a few weeks to walk 'normally' more frequently, you will hopefully be in a better position to judge your child's walking. If you are still worried go back to the GP, without your DC if possible, and ask them to refer your child to a paediatrician, and then take it from there.

Good Luck Op, and as your little one doesn't walk on their tip toes all of the time, and that you don't have any other developmental worries to do with them, I don't think you need to worry too much. 🌻🌻🌻

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Oblomov23 · 25/09/2023 09:07

Please talk to your GP about this. At least get it noted in her medical records. That's important. A lot can be done to try and encourage heel-to-toe walking, arms out for balance, for example.

Justonedayatatime11 · 25/09/2023 11:54

Please do talk to your GP. My tiptoe walker is now nearly 10 and still can't break the habit, despite physio and 6 weeks of casting on both legs. It's now very difficult for her to put her feet flat and her hamstrings are so tight. Please don't be fobbed off by being told they'll grow out of it!

LethalToddlerElbows · 26/09/2023 10:16

Thanks for the replies. I will contact the GP. I've been asking her to put her heels down when she does it and she will, but it's like she's forgotten 10 mins later and will do it again.

OP posts:
Claire123ee · 15/10/2024 21:19

LethalToddlerElbows · 26/09/2023 10:16

Thanks for the replies. I will contact the GP. I've been asking her to put her heels down when she does it and she will, but it's like she's forgotten 10 mins later and will do it again.

Hi any improvements? ☺️

JollyHostess101 · 15/10/2024 21:36

I did and still do- I vividly remember physio sessions when I was little to try and get me to stop obviously didn't work!

Wasn't diagnosed with anything at all but much later in life had a weird running injury so saw a private sports injury specialist who took one look at me walking into his office and said "you have short calf muscles I bet you were in trouble a lot for walking on your toes as a child"

It's not caused me any issues at all!!

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