Toddler walks on tip toes?

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So my little girls almost 3 and is still walking on her tippie toes, I’ve done a little reading on it but wanted to see if anyone else has had their child do this until quite late on.

She walks eveywhere on her toes it’s worse in the house but she struggles to do it so much in shoes although she tries.

I’ve read it is sometimes to do with the tendons not developing/relaxing properly in the heel but should’ve calmed down by now.

Got a docs appointment booked but it’s not for a couple of weeks so just seeing if anyone else has got experience with this.

This may be way off the mark so apologies if you’ve ruled this out, but my friends daughter did this until she was approx 5 and it was connected to her autism. More common in girls apparently.

I have to say that I remember my little brother walking on tip toes a lot when he was small, and it was also connected to his autism.

I have always walked on my tiptoes and don't have ASD, just feels more comfortable.

My first thought was autism too. Does she have any other tendencies like flapping her hands or not making eye contact? Of course it could well not be that at all and as you say, could be to do with the physical development of her feet. I hope you get some answers at the appointment. Good luck!

Does your toddler have tummy/digestion issues? Does she sometime strain stool or contort/bend in a funny way. Just asking because a niece did this, toes slightly inward too, and had serious formula allergies as a baby and tummy pains for years. Shes fine now though and not autistic.

It is one of the signs of autism (my nephew did this and was subsequently diagnosed- but had many other obvious features of autism too).

If you have no other concerns on that front it could just be a physical problem which can hopefully be a resolved - not all kids who tiptoe will be autistic, just as not all autistic kids walk on their tiptoes.

My friend has done this all her life and her 3 year old now does it too. Has been referred as it's something to do with tendons. My friend and her daughter don't have any autistic tendencies or anything, it's purely a physical thing.

Thank you all. Yes I read about it being connected to autism, from what I’ve read she doesn’t show any of the other signs at this stage but I don’t really know enough about it to be sure. She’s very affectionate and makes good eye contact, she’s devoping well in all other areas mentally and physically.

I was expecting it to be tapering off by now but she’s more on them than ever so definately time to get it checked I think, thank you.

This is a big autism sign, although it's certainly not conclusive. My boy still walks on his tiptoes at 11 years old and he has autism.

Autism in girls can present very differently (apparently). If your DD is speaking, communicating well, prefers people to objects, has no obsessions (like lining up toys, opening and closing things/spinning things) and is generally on par with her peers, I wouldn't worry too much. But definitely don't rule out autism either.

It's not a terrible diagnosis, but it does help if the child has intervention early on. So if it is autism (it might not be!) it really is best to give it a really good thought before dismissing it.

Hello, one of my children did this. She was at her worst in the house with no shoes on, but would do it outside in shoes sometimes too! Doctor said she would most likely grow out of it and to keep an eye. The nursery had other ideas and raised concerns about it twice, despite being told I had got it checked out. To be honest they made me more worried about it.

Turns out the doctor was right, she completely grew out of it and it was just a habit. Fingers crossed its the same for yours.

I think she was about 6 or 7

My brother did this until he was in his teens! Unlike other PPs though, he doesn’t have autism. Completely anecdotally, he was always very much shorter than his peers and (he’s 40 btw, so a while ago!), everyone in the family just assumed it was a habit he formed to be eye level with his friends. But others (school basically) said it should be checked out. He himself knew he did it but couldn’t explain why. He still did it right up to A Levels. But when he got back from Uni in Plymouth a few years later, and after a massive growth spurt, he no longer did it. He was 6’ 4” by then.
I guess the only answer for you is to get it checked out for your peace of mind.

My 3.5 Yr old DD does this and has no signs of Autism (my bother is autistic and didn't toe walk), the GP referred her to the hospital who ruled out any structural issues and believe its more a habit than anything physically wrong.
She can walk flat footed if reminded but within a few steps is back on her toes.
She will do it both in and out of shoes but can't get as high in shoes, getting a pair that has a very firm sole is recommended.

It may not be a tendon issue now but the concern is if it continues it can I itself cause problems with muscles and tendons getting tight and shortening.

There are some exercises you can do to prompt putting the feet flat, such as marching getting the knees high and stomping down to march.
Walking like a penguin carrying an egg, this is heel walking with toes off the floor.

Toe walking can be an indicator for several different conditions/for several reasons including idiopathic toe walking (ie toe walking for none of the other reasons!) I would ask for a paediatric physio referral as they may be able to rule somethings out and give advice :)

My daughter is 10,and has had physio and been seen throughout toddlerhood for toe walking. We used to do stretches which did help,as did supportive shoes to help keep her feet "planted", also stopping the kneeling to watch tv,and keeping a pair of supportive shoes for "home" instead of going bare foot. The next option they gave us when she was about 5 or 6 was to put her in casts or wait it out. She has now almost grown out of it,but is suffering with tight muscles and shortened Achilles. I would recommend a physio appointment and starting basic stretches with her. Also she is not autistic. She does do dance now which I thinks also helps.

my son still does this and he's in his 20s, no autism and just a habit

My boy is 28 and Still walks on toes but he is also on the autistic spectrum.

Three generations of women in my family are/have been tiptoe walkers. All autistic. Women with autism do make eye contact, are affectionate, can empathise and have good imaginations. Some women with autism are very intelligent - think top 0.5%. And we are still autistic. Which your daughter might not be - but you probably should find out a little more about women's autism, just in case.

Does anyone in your family have Charcot Marie Syndrome? (spelling?) I did this and so did one of my dcs. Not autistic. We both have this and you have a 50% chance of passing it on. Fear not, it usually just involves having funny feet and being a bit clumsy!

I know someone who did this as a child, it was a shortening of the tendons and they needed surgery to correct this. Walk fine now as an adult.

Some kids just do it - I think though that it can prevent the tendons from developing/stretching properly, rather than be caused by it?
My friend's son needed an operation to sort it out as he'd been doing it for years. He's 18 now - he's not autistic and walks properly now !

My almost 4 year old son still does this but he also constantly falls a lot, running into things, bumping into things, mostly runs a lot even when asked not too, the nursery has mentioned motor skills coordination problems, he can kick and catch a ball ok though has anyone else had similar issues

I'm hypermobile and walked on my tiptoes most of my childhood. I stopped as a teen, but only because I was self conscious about it. I still walk on tiptoes in the house when I'm barefoot now.

Does she have any other symptoms of hypermobility?

I know 2 children who've needed surgery for this see a physio asap

Hi 👋
in the same boat with my DD who’s 18 months . How’s your daughter now ?