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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Flat Feet

14 replies

normanthehairdresser · 11/12/2009 20:36

I have just noticed that DS, 3.6, is walking with his ankles turned slightly inwards and feet absolutely flat to the floor - ie where the arch should be, the inner side of his foot is meeting the floor.

Do all toddlers do this and grow out of it, or is it possible he has a mild problem? He's a pain about walking though generally energetic - had put it down to laziness but suddenly wondering if his feet are causing him genuine discomfort.

He was in shoes 2 1/2 sizes too small when he came to us at 20 months so I just wonder if that could have caused anything.

Grateful for advice!

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starlight99 · 11/12/2009 20:39

www.bofas.org.uk/PublicArea/PatientAdvice/Flatfeet/tabid/103/Default.aspx#I%20have%20flat%20f eet.%20Will%20my%20children%20have%20this%20too?

Hi norman
my dd is 2 and has completely flat feet so I was concerned like you.
However, I found out that the arch only develops between the ages of 3 and 10.

Original poster

normanthehairdresser · 11/12/2009 20:44

Thank you! I'd just done a google search and found some similar sites, so am reassured.

Sounds like the trick is to get them to stand on tiptoe, and if you can see the arch, nothing much to worry about?

Does it cause your DD any discomfort?

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zanz1bar · 11/12/2009 20:57

My Ds now 4 has very lat feet.

I got the HV to have a look and was sent to a specialist at the county hospital for a check up at 3 1/2 years old.

No action taken, just to keep an eye on him if he complains of any foot or leg pain.

Now at nearly 5 he can run, walk , jump fine.

My first thought when I noticed his flat feet was I ahve to admit one of relief....The army can never have him!

moomoomalarky · 12/12/2009 12:31

My dd does this - have just noticed too! She's 2.5 and her feet roll slightly inwards when she stands and walks but also her legs don't look quite straight as her knees touch when she stands but then her feet are apart iykwim not sure whether to worry or not about this??

My ds still has flat feet at 5 and so do I so maybe it's a family thing

singersay · 12/12/2009 13:27

i hate flat feet as a child and my parents took me to a foot specialist and they gave me insoles that i wore for a while.

i'm 23 now and don't have any issues what so ever.... its fixable, don't worry

AvrilH · 12/12/2009 13:33

not always fixable, but not such a problem given proper insoles

the problem is that, without them, you put a lot of pressure on the knee

lazyemma · 12/12/2009 18:27

I'm a totally flat footed 31 year old (really - the guy at the running shop I was fitted for trainers at said I had the flattest feet he'd ever seen) - is no big deal, I'm a very active person and it hasn't caused me any problems at all.

Original poster

normanthehairdresser · 13/12/2009 21:47

Thank you for all the advice everyone. Much appreciated.

Am pretty sure he has an arch when he flexes the foot, so not too much to worry about. It's good to be reassured though.

I hadn't realised the Army wouldn't take flat feet. That is a definite upside for me too

OP posts:

auntymel · 14/12/2009 00:19

My ds was slow to walk and when he eventually did we noticed his feet were very flat and his ankles turned in. Being a very anxious first time mum I insisted on seeing a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon!
The surgeon explained that his feet were completely normal and that there are various weird looking stages of kids feet/gait development. Interestingly he told us was there is a higher incidence of flat footedness in the west as we wear shoes. An enormous study was carried out in India which showed that if kids didn't wear shoes they had no incidence of being flat footed by 6yrs. So the surgeon recommended that ds should be bare foot as much as possible and get him to tip toe. As time has gone on his feet definately look less weird!
Hope this helps.

SparklyGothKat · 14/12/2009 00:25

My DD1 is very flat footed and her ankles roll. She has Cerebral palsy, but don't think they are linked. She has splints which support her feet and have an arch in them to push the foot up. She has been moaning lately that her feet hurt with the splints and the arch bit, but I know that without them she will put pressure on her knees.

Dorchies · 16/12/2009 20:35

Flat feet is completely normal in children - arches normally develop between 5 and 7 years. Even if feet are still flat after this age, it's unlikely anyone would do anything about it unless there is related pain. If there's some pain (ankle, knee or hip) then insoles might be appropriate. Some children who are "low tone" may have pronating feet (rolling in feet) and it may mean that gross motor skills may be difficult (but not always). Supportive shoes can help, or boots rather than shoes. HTH

ProdigalMomma · 10/05/2010 15:49

Searching for this as DD at 2.6 has just been fitted for another pair of shoes (now 8E) and the assistant measuring her, & supervisor drew my attention to her walking with right ankle going inwards and suggested I take to GP to check it out.

Is this really necessary? Or would I be paranoid mother if I did?

She's also been wearing little ankle boot things over the winter - so could it just be her feeling greater movement/freedom from the move from boots to shoes?

mintyfresh · 10/05/2010 18:57

No harm in getting it checked out. Could be hypermobility in her ankles in which case GP might suggest some extra support although my DD has this (along with flat feet) and she just wears well fitting shoes with good ankle support.

ProdigalMomma · 10/05/2010 23:47

thanks mintyfresh - will watch how she goes with the new shoes for a couple of days first though... I'm thinking they may have taken her as older as she's so tall and speaks reasonably well, which could be a factor because obviously toddlers have funny little walks...

ah well, as DD is contentedly sleeping in big bed I shall attempt to catch some zzzz

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