Shoe shop suggested DD see a doctor about the way she walks

[Artichokes]

DD is nearly 17 months. She has been walking properly for about 7 weeks. Today I took her to get new shoes and as she walked across the shop the assistant said she puts too much of her weight on the inside of left foot. Looking at DD I can see what she means but it is not that obvious and don't they all walk a little strangely at first.

Does anyone have experience of their LO putting weight on the inside edge of her foot? Would you take a child to the doctor about the way they walk when they have only been waling 7 weeks?

My cousin works in a childrens shoe shop and has occasionally advised customers to have their childens feet checked by their doctors.

If your DD has only been walking for 7 weeks, then it seems a bit early.

My DCs have both been diagnosed with foot problems (flat feet) DD got special insoles, DS physiotherapy. But they are 5 and 3yo.

Saying that, it would not hurt to have her checked. Shop assistants do see a lot of feet.

Are you in Scotland? I wonder if it was my cousin.

Thanks Kinder. I am in London so it probably wasn't your cousin! I suppose it would not hurt to get her checked - I just hate to think of wasting the GP's time.

I would take your dd to see the doctor, you could just say that the woman in the shoe shop was concerned and had suggested that you take your dd! My son has flat feet and has special insoles in his shoes!

Does she walk wonky in bare feet or just in shoes? It may be her way of balancing whilst she gets used to being upright iyswim.

But do get her checked out - it won't take long .

FWIW I asked an orthopaedic surgeon what the best treatment for flat feet is and he said that it is walking bare foot as it helps to develop the arches as the muscles have to work more. That is by the by.

Most children have flat feet before the age of 3. One test is if you can get them to stand on tip toe (get them to reach for something) the arch should appear. There are lots of other sneaky tests you can do too but I have had too much wine tonight to remember them all!

Is putting weight on the inside of your foot a sign of flat feet?

I think she walks wonky in bare feet and shoes. Oddly the shoe shopwoman suggested she should always wear shoes, and ones with support up to the ankle, rather than going bare foot.

The physiotherapist told me that the best thing for them is to let them walk around bare feet.

My paediatrician also advised me let them go barefoot as much as possible for the first few years.

When she has shoes on then they should support the ankle, but she should only be wearing shoes when she is outside.

Oh, and don't worry about flat feet. As Thegrowlygus mentioned, there is no rush to do anything until they are 3yo.

Sorry, did not mean to worry you further by talking about flat feet.

I went to get my dd shoes when she was just standing unaided and I was sent away again as apparently popping her in shoes too early stops them from learning to walk properly. They need to be able to walk reasonably well before they have shoes or it's the shoes that are keeping them upright. I'm no expert though.

My DD1 turned over on the inside of both her feet. I noticed this when she first began to stand, and it did not improve when she began to walk.Turns out she is hyper mobile, and she needed to have arch supports for 18 months. Both my GP and HV were USELESS,by the way, and did'nt even regognise her (very) common condition. I had to push hard to see a Child Podiatrist, who diagnosed her in seconds! Most children with foot problems are missed these days - (no 2yr check anymore etc). If your DD is very flexible, then good, supportive shoes are helpful. Incidently, do most children really have flat feet? Both mine had arched feet from birth - weird!

My dd has lovely feet - so far. But I am a bit biased and I did keep her barefoot or just in socks forever when she was a baby.

My DD was born with positile talipes, which was sorted out within a few weeks of birth by daily excercises. However when you looked at her from behind you could tell her ankles go over slightly.

We were advised by a podiatrist (there is a children's shoe shop in Hoddesdon which is run by a podiatrist) and our paediatrician for her to wear ankle boots as a toddler. She is 10 and still needs good supporting shoes, or her feet ache.