15mo with wobbly ankles - get it checked out?

[BigBadBear]

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. My 15mo DD2 has just started standing, and I'm not sure whether I should be worried or pleased. Her feet and ankles have always been very bendy, and now when she stands her feet are often at very odd angles and her ankles can sometimes almost be bent right over.

I don't remember this with DD1 (now 4yo), who walked much earlier than this. I'm not concerned that DD2 isn't walking (she crawls very happily and very fast!), more that she may have a problem. I have started putting her in soft shoes to give her feet a bit of rigidity and (although it may be coincidence) she does seem more confident with them on in that she now pulls up to standing quite happily whereas before she would often cry.

Any ideas? I've read on MN about hypermobility and muscle hypotonia, but don't know if this would affect any other joints or muscles. And if there is a problem, who should I take her to see? HV? GP?

I would go see a GP just to make sure or drop at your well baby clinic. to have a chat with HV or
I would put old fashioned shoes on though like this

Hope somebody else have more advice, one of my friend just let her little girl grow out of it but I wouldn't be comfortable with that if it were my own. She walked around 2 when her muscle became strong enough.

sorry I copied and paste with a wriggly DD2 on my knee

Thanks mous. I'll keep an eye on her and think about boots.

I'm only worried because she sometimes stands on her ankles or even the tops of her feet (so they are bent over). It doesn't feel right to me.

hmmm, If that is the case and with the crying when standing, I would definitely get it checked BBB, there might be something simple like ortopedic shoes or massages to help her now.
If she teaches herself to walk like that, she might overcompensated with some muscles or an awkward position, and end up with back/hips problems that will be more complicated to fix.
Go to the GP.

I really would recommend you get her checked out. I'm not for one minute suggesting there is something wrong - but I know from bitter experience that incorrectly aligned feed and ankles can lead to problems in later life. After suffering back pain since my teens (am now 40 something!) and more recently knee pain, I was referred to a podiatrist by my doctor who informed me that basically the mechanics of how I walk is all wrong and probably has been since I started to walk and that is what causiing my knee pain and almost certainly has contributed to my back pain - wish I'd have seen him 30 years ago!! Get her checked out just to be on the safe side - insist on seeing a podiatrist - don't be fobbed off by your GP! Hope all is well :)

That should read 'feet and ankles' :)

I have a DD with hypotonia and lots of hypermobility - hips, ankles, knees mostly. She has always needed good ankle support in her shoes to help with walking - Startrite are good for this and some Clarks styles. She also has physio for the reasons LeMousquetaireAnonyme suggested as her gait may become an issue because of her weak muscles and joints. I don't think it will be such a major issue in your DD's case (my DD certainly wasn't crawling fast at 15 months!) but worth getting it checked out.

Thanks everyone. I'm starting to think that there could be a link to the constipation she suffered from for months (though it appears to have resolved now), so will get her checked out and maybe get her fitted for some books with ankle support. She is doing really well though, and has suddenly started crawling up the stairs having never shown any interest at all before-everyday she gets better and her ankles seem stronger, so hopefully she is doing some strengthening by instinct!

DD has hypermobile ankles and hips and her physios and orthotist all absolutely love the boots I managed to find her in Mothercare over the winter. They no longer have the girls' version available, but have the boys' here (The girls' one was grey/silver with little flowers on - We've just ordered her some of the brown ones too though). They are really great for stabilising the ankles and providing support - and they're cheap too!

Well, I went to the HV clinic today - she tried to fob me off with "watchful waiting" but then referred DD2 to podiatry when I gave her a baleful look. Thanks for the boots recommendation Galena, I'll wait and see what they say if and when we get an appointment.