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

[Everhart]

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.

oooh, hello minipie, you used to give me fab advice on the sleep boards (have name-changed since then) so nice to 'catch up'... v much hope you get an answer to your similar issues... :)

Oh hello! Good, I feel less guilty about shameless hijacking then I have the biomechanics appt on 30 march so will see how it goes. if you make progress let me know!

DD2 was a toe walker and also did the 'flinging' thing. I raised it on here (was 'discussion of the day'!). That was almost 15 years ago.

GP said she had very tight tendons, and if it didn't sort itself out she would need to wear weighted shoes. You may find that this latest episode corresponded with a height gain?

She also hated walking anywhere (constant requests to 'carry me') and was an awful sleeper.

Anyway, we spent ages (years) constantly reminding her to put her heels down ('Heels DD2') and eventually it worked.

She's also mildly hypermobile - which seems to have helped the gymnastics.

I was actually discussing this with her last week - she still stands on tiptoe a lot, says her friends always tease her about it , is an avid gymnast and climber, is massively fit, is on track for A*AAA at A level (not that it's relevant but thought I'd get in a shameless mum boast) and is delightful - if only she'd stop flinging her arms and legs around constantly!!

I understand your worry and you're right to get it checked out asap, but just thought I'd let you know that it's not always a problem