toddler walking on tiptoes?

[FrostyFancies]

DD 20mo was towards the late end of hitting her milestones, laid back I think

She started walking at 18 mo so has been walking for a good couple of months now, but ive noticed the past few weeks she has started to walk on her tip toes, both bare foot and wearing shoes. I didnt take much notice of it at first but she has started to do it increasing more often, to the point where shes always on her tip toes.

Is this something I should try to discourage? Or is it a normal toddler phase? She doesnt seem to be in any pain which might be causing her to do it and her shoes fit her correctly, just worried about any damage she may be doing to her feet.

DS started walking at around 10 months, but when he was 19 months he started walking on his tiptoes. It only lasted for a few weeks, so maybe it's just a new skill they like to try out?

Thanks PeazlyPops, think that may be the case. Il just keep an eye out and see how long it lasts for, she may get bored of it soon!

I did this when I was little. My mother sent me to ballet classes when I was 4. Turned out I was good at dancing.

Sometimes it can be an indicator of hyper mobility, especially if she walked late. Did you get her checked by a GP? Worth it to rule it out.

Did you use a walker with her. It may just be habit.

My DSis did this and I'm sure it turned out to be her Achilles that hadn't grown properly, so it was painful (although she had never ever complained) to walk flat footed. Just keep monitoring, if concerned book an appt. HTH. :)

Was your dd premature?

Interestingly prem babies often walk on tiptoe - not sure they have ever found out why.

Our 20mo does this too. Just think it's fun, I think. No indication of anything else being wrong.

Loads of toddlers do this. You don't need to discourage it - if there's a problem it will be picked up at a later stage.

My next door neighbour's little boy has just had an operation to correct it, but the other dozen kids I've known who did it had no problems at all.

Ballet lessons help apparently.

Thanks everyone, glad to know its relatively common and nothing to worry about, and that DD may be a talented ballet dancer

Just to answer a few questions - we didnt use a walker but did use a jumperoo, although she was only in it for the recommended short periods. I think (I hope) that because she has only recently started to do this means that its not a habit from using it.

She arrived at 37 weeks, so although a tiny bit early shewasnt prem. She was an undiagnosed breech though but she has had hip scans which showed nothing untoward.

Will just keep monitoring for now (and maybe look into ballet lessons ) thanks

It could be tight tendons in the ankle? DS and DB both had this when younger and both had minor operations to correct it (both were still walking on tiptoes at aged 5 though so at this stage I wouldn't worry about it too much).

I think if she were to walk on tip toes from the very start then it may be something that maybe should be investigated. But if your DD is anything like my DS she has found a brand new skill and is just showing off. My DS started walking around 18 months also, and started tip toeing around 3/4 months later. As long as she doesn't constantly walk on tip toes then I wouldn't worry about it.

TBF my DH did this and at 51 still rarely touches the floor with his heel; very much toe forward. And doesn't look particularly odd. He's very sporty and fast too. DS does it to but not quite as markedly. Harmless I think.

My daughter walks on her tiptoes a lot, as does her dad. When she was two Gp referred her to a podiatrist who told us not to worry - lots of kids that age do it, but come back if she is still doing it when she is five. Hope that helps.