Shoes for toe walkers

[snowydrops]

DD1 walks on her tip-toes a lot, we've had this looked into and she was seen at the hospital last year and told to come back this year (appointment in August) if no improvement (which there hasn't been). She's 4.

Anyway I am looking for show recommendations that might help her, she has no physical problem but it's just a habit (so Dr says), which I am sure it is as she is fully able to walk on her heels but choooses not to mostly.

We currently put her in Dr Martens which are OK (still can walk on toes..) but expensive and I am wondering if there's anything else out there anyone can recommend. She is a lot worse in pumps / trainers so I know the Dr M's do help a bit but wondering if there's anything better,

Thanks

Have you thought about getting her shoes with squeakers in them?

Like these?

They only squeak when the child puts weight on the heel when walking. They encourage toe walkers to walk properly and it helped my nephew who was a toe walker. I also had them for DD but just to make her easier to track when out and about.

My DS did this right up until he was five years old, he's now 14 and walks fine. He saw a paediatrician twice and no physical problems were found and told us it was habit. We got his feet measured regularly and put him in Clarkes shoes.

Thank you, FuckOffJersey can I ask how old your nephew was when doing it / wearing them? We have heard of these shoes but I'm worried she's too old for them and will find them annoying? Also she would need to wear them to school , design of them doesn't matter but are they loud enough to be an issue at school?

Thanks

Provided your daughter can get her heels down I wouldn't worry too much. Most children outgrow toe walking. In your position I would get her good quality shoes that comfortable. Is your daughter at school yet? Boy shoes tend to be better quality, but it might be impossible to get a little girl to wear boys shoes. Good quality trainers might be better for a little girl. Flashing light trainers encourage a child to put their heels down.

Snowydrops my newphew was around 2 when he got them. His tiptoe walking was attributed to being in a baby walker too long so not sure if that made a difference. I'm not sure how long it too him to get out of the habit because we only see him twice a year (they live overseas) but I know he was walking fine by the time he was over for his 3rd birthday.

You can remove the squeakers from the shoes and put them back in again. I would say perhaps not the best idea for school as it might get distracting for the teachers or other children, the squeak isn't loud but you can hear it. It might be worth trying for after school or weekends.

What age is your daughter? I think they are aimed at toddlers rather than older children.

Ah just noticed you said she was 4. They might still be OK at 4 but it would depend on her personality. I think my daughter would have still have happily worn them at 4 but not at 5.