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Original poster

getting into a complete state about DD's tiptoe walking and unsteady gait, can anyone calm me down?

53 replies

Everhart · 09/03/2015 19:26

She is only just 2.
she walked on tiptoes for a few weeks when she was about 18m old but it stopped.
Now she has started doing it again (for the past 3/4 weeks, roughly) and I have noticed an unsteadiness to her gait, I think partially caused by the tipteoe walking (ie it's hard to stay as steady on tiptoes as when on flat of foot) but also maybe slightly independent of that too. She has always been what I would call a 'clamberer' ie she sort of flings herself onto me is I'm sitting on the floor and almost falls, in a controlled way, sideways onto me when she wants a bit of a clamber - I thought this was just affection (I've always been a clambering sort of cuddler myself) but she does it with others too. Eg I have a nice mother's help who takes her to a music class once a week and she says DD does it with her too - sort of flings herself onto her rather than just either sitting or standing - and though DD likes her, I don't think it's purely an affection thing there.

She is developing absolutely on cue in other ways - verbally very strong and she speaks clearly for her age, her manual dexterity seems good compared with others her age, and she seems very on-track with her understanding/empathy etc, albeit that she is an epic thrower of tantrums especially when teething or tired.

But this wobbly, uneven gait thing is getting me into a state, I am remembering a girl I knew at school with some form of cerebral palsy, I think it was, and the way DD sometimes walks reminds me of this girl from school.

Could it be something similar?

I have just today booked an appt with GP but obviously can't get an appt til next week - it feels like a long time for me to play, stupidly, Dr Google and get worried about stuff... DH is away all week so it's just me and I'm getting worked up :(

fwiw it tends to happen more when she's tired, and she has been VERY tired for last few weeks as she's had a very nasty virus and hasn't slept too well either.

And also - she is capable of walking on flat feet but seems sometimes to 'choose' not to iyswim.

I'd say at the mo she walks on tiptoes roughly 70% of the time, when she was doing it when she was a bit younger it was more like 50%.

Also she does it when wearing shoes, too, though slightly less.

I know I just need to wait for the GP appt but I'm really getting into a state here, have always had health anxiety of my own but this is the first time I've really been pathologically worried about DD :(

Sorry for being a bit pathetic.

OP posts:
sugarplumfairy28 · 09/03/2015 20:38

This sounds a bit like my DD. She is forever walking on tip toes, in shoes out of shoes, running, walking, dancing. She is generally a bit clumsy on her feet sometimes but I'm not sure if that's got anything to do with the tiptoes.

I haven't really thought of it as a problem though. Try and keep calm, and stay away from Google until you've seen the GP.

MrsTawdry · 09/03/2015 20:40

Did you have a difficult birth? Is that why you're worried specifically about CB?

I have to say that I do understand getting anxious like this...I've done it with both of my own DDs. But they DO all develop in different ways....one may be very strong verbally but not so great physically...another might ride a bike with no stabilisers at three but not be able to understand the concept of sharing till they're 6!

A slightly clumsy walk at 2 is not in my mind something to really worry about...though you're right to have her checked out if only to stop you worrying!

Is she ok with fine motor skills? Talking?

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 20:43

Thanks sugarplum!!
I think the thing that is starting to make me panic (and research every terrifying thing under the sun on bloody Google) is this habit of sort of slinging herslef about, mostly when she's tired, rather than just sitting still... It's hard to describe but it's like she's controlled falling - she just sort of topples herself around, doesn't fall or anything close to it, but doesn't just markedly change from standing to sitting, it's more fluid iyswim.
That, plus the tiptoe walking and the slightly lopsided gait, is all starting to make me think there might be a more sinister underlying cause.
That said I have a friend whose sister has always tiptoe walked and there was no issue with her whatsoever apart from aching legs from all the tiptoeing, she is mid-30s now and is fine.
Googling is just stupid, I know, but I am here alone and can't seem to stop doing it :( DH would tell me off if he knew!!!

OP posts:
blendedfamilygrinch · 09/03/2015 20:44

Do you have a HV OP? Friends were referred for physio by their hv for their dd at 18months when she tiptoed. She had v tight heel tendons & through wearing splints & physio this has been resolved. Could be worth a try if you have drop in hv.

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 20:46

MrsTawdry - thank you so much!! - no, not a difficult birth at all - planned C section that was v straightforward... does CP have a link with birth trauma, then?
She seems v good with fine motor skills, as fas as I can tell... dexterity is good, she plays a lot with sylvanian families and they have TINY pieces and she loves handling them and putting things into eg her little tiny toy cars etc. Verbally she is very good, a very large vocabulary and pretty clear with most words apart from mangling some long and unfamiliar ones.

OP posts:
Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 20:48

blendedfamily, our HV was useless, sadly, when DD was born - popped round once, told me DD had a very small head but "I wouldn't be TOO worried..." and then buggered off, cancelled the follow-up by text message!! Not ideal HV behaviour for an anxious new mum!!

That said, DD has her 2year check-up in a couple of weeks so will ask about it then, as well as at the GP appt.

I have heard of this tight tendons thing... I think DH has it to some degree but didn't know it could affect kids this young...

OP posts:
MrsTawdry · 09/03/2015 20:49

Yes CP is often linked to birth trauma. My Dd 2 is 7 now and is VERY flingy. She always has been...clambering, falling over etc...she's just that way inclined. Is your DD always on the go? Very busy?

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 20:51

MrsTawdry -yep, that's my DD - very very busy and always on the lookout for something to 'do' or investigate... she loves what I would could 'rough' play with DH, clambering all over him and properly flinging herself onto him for cuddles, with me the flinging is a different sort of thing and is more like she's sort of plopping herself down with tiredness... that said, she does get VERY tired (not the greatest sleeper and wears herself out by being so busy) so the plopping down could just be toddler exhaustion, I guess...!!

OP posts:
0ddsocks · 09/03/2015 20:52

My dd is a toe walker, has always been since she started cruising - she's 3 now. At her 1 year check I mentioned it, and at her 2 year check and both times they said she'd probably grow out of it. She still hasn't so I've made a doctors appointment for Thursday.

She has always hit milestones, but seems quite clumsy to me, always falling over it seems, but she's my pfb so I'm not sure how much is normal at 3 regards clumsiness Hmm

MrsTawdry · 09/03/2015 20:56

I really don't think it's easy to miss CP OP and from what you say, I'd bet that she's just fine. Only just 2 is quite little still and many aren't steady at that age.

My friends DD is 2.4 and she's still needing a hand on steps and she's easily knocked over too....also a bit staggery at times.

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:00

MrsTawdry - staggery! That's the word I've been looking for! Staggering is what she does when she's tired or unwilling to do something/be somewhere... sort of staggers and throws herself back or sideways onto my lap, if I'm sitting on the floor.
I guess I'd assume there would be other indicators with something like CP - eg language delay etc - but getting in such a pickle here I'm not being rational I know Blush

Oddsocks, it;s hard to know what's normal isn't it??! Glad to hear they said it's something she shoudl grow out of, I hope you get answers at your dr appt!!!

OP posts:
fusspot66 · 09/03/2015 21:03

Can you put her in wellies for a week or 2? It's hard work to tip toe in wellies and might break the habit if thats all it is. Also, are you and OH tall? Does she have to reach up to hold your hands?

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 09/03/2015 21:05

My DD does the toppling/falling/generally just being all over me thing too. She's 16 months. I've never noticed any other babies doing it, she doesn't seem to sit or stand still but is constantly sort of launching herself at me. So no advice but watching with interest.

fusspot66 · 09/03/2015 21:06

My DC are 8 & 4 and still hurl themselves at me. Fat lip? Elbow in the breast anybody?

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:06

oh, the wellies idea might help... part of me does htink it's just a habit as she doesn't seem to do it quite as much when she isn't thinking about it ie if she's distracted by dashing off to get something or running around after her big cousin, she does it less, then she'll pull up and almost stop, as if she's remembered she prefers it the other way, and starts tiptoe/staggering again...
I'm tall, DH not very tall... she does do it a lot when hand-holding, though - mind you she does it just as much when walking on her own...

OP posts:
Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:07

Thing is it also just looks really uncomfortable to me - she is really up very high on tiptoes and it looks exhausting, throws her off balance etc...

OP posts:
Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:09

GotToBe - exactly - I've never noticed any other toddlers/babies doing it either!! And my Mother's Help is v experienced with little ones and says she's never seen it before (partly what made me start to think it was something to worry about...)

OP posts:
MrsDeVere · 09/03/2015 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:20

Thank you Mrs DeVere!
I am worried I will look (as I am) like a totally neurotic basket case if I say that out loud at the 2 year check and at the GP... :(
I didn't know that about CP, actually... I'm horribly ignorant about it in general, in fact, I just keep remembering this girl at my school who was (in vile fashion) picked on for her 'funny walk' :(

OP posts:
3579little · 09/03/2015 21:26

Don't panic but definitely ask your health visitor they can refer to physio who will have a look.

This is what happened to one of mine at 2.5. Always falling, walked on tip toe, very unsteady. Diagnosed by physio as very hyper mobile. I was very relieved I imagined a degenerative illness. Still not a good walker yet at over 3 but I try not to worry.

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:32

3579 - thank you! I have never heard of hyper mobility... DD's wrists do seem to click a lot when I hold her hand - is that something you're familiar with?

OP posts:
penny13610 · 09/03/2015 21:33

DS1 was a tiptoe walker, still does it sometimes (he is 23 now).

Original poster
Everhart · 09/03/2015 21:34

penny :)

OP posts:
itsnothingoriginal · 09/03/2015 21:42

She may well be hypermobile - is quite common. Does she 'W' sit ( legs go out at 90 degrees when sitting on the floor)? That's quite a classic sign.

My DD has mild CP and is quite unsteady around her trunk area due to low tone. Obviously she's affected for life but physio has mentioned that some kids just have lower muscle tone than others. Bum shuffling rather than crawling can be a sign of low core muscle tone. Most kids compensate with building up their strength so becomes virtually unnoticeable in time. Obviously this is all just guess work but all questions you could ask if you mention to GP or HV...

forago · 09/03/2015 21:45

I posted a thread about this this time last year. My DS was 6 then and had always toe walked and was quite unstable/wobbly/always tripping over etc. However I knew he must have hypermobility as when he was born his toes all stuck out at odd angles and I realised at 4 that he could bend all his thumbs and fingers right back against his hands.

anyway, to cut a long story short, we got referred to a specialist, confirmed hyper mobility syndrome/EDS. Luckily it is not severe and with some physio he now walks flat most of the time, can hold a pencil and write fine now and does seem to be "firming up" a bit. The specialist said it is important not to let them exclusively toe walk into adolescence as it is much harder to treat and can cause permanent gait problems, but at 2 I am sure it will be fine.