Posting for traffic - my toddler’s feet, this can’t be ok?

[Derlei]

Apologies but I’m really worried about something and could do with advice from anybody who can relate to this.

My little boy is nearly 20 months old and is still not walking. He has been delayed in a lot of his developments - E.G. never crawled but has bum shuffled since about 11 months old.

He is pulling up on furniture competently, climbs stairs and pushes his walker to walk for minutes on end, and has been doing so for about 4 months. Just in the last week he has started to let go of the walker to clap for 10 seconds or so but as soon as he realises he’s standing freefall he clambers for the walker or drops onto his bum.

GP and HV just think he is being lazy and that he will do when he feels like it , however, I’m concerned at the obtuse angles of his feet. These pictures were taken today : they’re both almost 90 degrees. Surely that must be painful for him? He doesn’t give any impression he’s in pain when he’s on his walker or standing against furniture, but he is getting increasingly ratty and temperamental, which I thought may just be the usual toddler behaviour to expect

Is this likely to be why he’s not walking? We are seeing a paediatrician on the NHS but the earliest appointment was April. Is it concerning enough to warrant going private to get him assessed for hyper mobility?

This is really stressing me and DH out and Google is just so confusing

Looks like a stance to steady his balance to me, but if you're worried go back to your gp again and ask for a referral. It may take a while though.

I'm pretty sure all toddlers stand like that - they're like little penguins until the hip muscles get stronger and 'pull' the legs straight.

You could pay to see a paediatric physio privately but I'm not sure what they could offer. Might put your mind at rest though.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/leg-and-foot-problems/

I think i stand like this. Never had a problem walking. If you are worried go back to the HW or GP.

I tried to get a picture but he won't stay still but my 21mo stands like this, he tends to straighten up a bit when he toddles but rolls a bit on his feet. He's been walking since 18mths and we and GP have no concerns. We've had him & his brother checked out as I have an inheritable joint disease so I'm paranoid my kids will have problems in the future.
So it might just be how he stands atm to help him balance they aren't the steadiest on their feet when they are young.
My eldest walked really young so I was a bit concerned when DS2 took a long but my friend whose daughter didn't walk until 2 reassured me.
Get him checked out but sometimes they just take their own time to get there

HV not HW

DS2 used to stand like this and it freaked me out at first too! GP said no issue though. He's 5 now and doesn't stand like this any more, hasn't for years but no idea when it stopped. He runs round perfectly normally so I can say GP was right in that instance. If you're worried though, keep pushing and show them photos or videos if that helps get across your concerns maybe?

I thought all toddlers stood like this

I think it’s just for balance?

Looks perfectly normal to me

He is overpronating a little bit there. His developmental history suggests he may be on the bendy side. Ask your gp to refer to a paediatric physiotherapist.

Does he have any footwear ? He needs some supportive boots that come high on the ankle and have an arch support.

Try not to worry. He will get there in the end. They all do, even the very hypermobile little ones.

My ex used to stand like this, urgh.

You can generally tell if they're hypermobile if their ankles roll over when they walk, or their legs sort of kick out, that's what the pead told me when my son was assessed (he's hypermobile in all of his lower joints) you can bend my son's leg almost 360 degrees with no pain

Allied with the dev delays I would say you're right to be concerned. Ask paed about hyper mobolity. Take photos as above but with bare feet and shorts so lower limbs and feet can be seen clearly.

Thank yiu for the reassurance, exactly what I needed. I had no idea this was normal, anyone I’ve ever asked seems to be like “hmm never really noticed before” - probably because their DC have hit their milestones on time. When I’ve picked up DS from nursery I’ve sometimes had a quick glance at the way other toddlers are standing there and don’t recall seeing any feet that were pointing out to the same extent as my DS’s.

Ask for a physio referral.

I'll come from a different point here, but I really don't mean to worry you at all and you should be reassured by the majority of answers here.

My dd had feet very like this, and I was constantly asking people and told it was ok. She still wasn't talking at 2 and the health visitor referred us to paediatric physio, who then referred us to orthotics.
She was basically hyper mobile and her feet were turned inwards, and she needed to wear paedro boots, and finally took some steps a couple months later!
She is almost 9 now and still wears ortho inserts for her shoes to keep her feet straight, if she doesn't wear them she can still walk ok but the wear on one side of her shoes is unreal.

For reassurance, I would definitely check with HV, you'll have a 2 year review coming up soon anyway, won't you?

Good luck, and I hope it is just one of those things.

Ugh terrible typos sorry! Obviously wasn't walking.

Have his hips been thoroughly checked? I was a very slow walker and then had an uneven gait ( different, I know) and had undiagnosed dislocated hips.

And I hate hearing babies and toddlers described as ‘lazy’ as if they have a character flaw due to their development stage. Challenge any hcps who use this type of language. If you are concerned they should be, too.

Good luck, and incidentally I’m sure he is fine but you deserve to be taken seriously.

My DD stood like this, bum shuffled instead of crawled and wasn't walking consistently until she was almost 2, she insisted on holding your hand and just dropped to the floor and shuffled if you let go. She had her 2 year review last week and HV has no concerns. She's ahead in all areas except gross motor and we're confident that now she's finally walking she'll soon catch up.
Bum shufflers usually walk late, I'm sure he'll be fine.

I think most toddlers stand like this, and it sounds as if he is nearly ready to walk. Both of mine bum shuffled and were late walkers

My grandson used to stand like that and he was really careful about trying to walk because he didn't like falling over!
He spent a lot of time sat on his bum and didn't do much crawling.

He's now a strapping teenager who's favourite past time is ice skating!!

My dd was pigeon toed and we got a referral to paediatric orthopaedics. Apparently she is slightly bow legged, which she'll grow out of. In the meanwhile we only buy boots or high tops for her, give her ankles a bit of support. It's worth getting a referral, I think.

I agree with AF, DS2 is hypermobile and has no problems now at 6. If he's hypermobile, a get a GP referral to a paediatrician, who can refer you in turn to a physiotherapist. DS2 had special boots made.

It does look to me as if he’s pronating. My DD’s feet do that and she’s very hypermobile (only just started walking and she’ll be 4 next month). Physio referred her to orthotics and she has supportive Piedro boots, which keep her feet in the right position. I’d go back to your GP and ask for a podiatry referral.

It's worth asking but I got fobbed off at that age. I was told nothing gets seriously checked unless the child isn't walking at age 2. Mine walked 3days before their second birthday...