Worried about DS's (14 months) feet.

[broguemum]

Posted in behaviour and development but am posting here too...

DS, who is 14 months, started walking about four weeks ago. I know that if he is walking there can't be anything that bad wrong with his feet but he walks with his toes curled under him a lot of the time and I can't get many styles of shoes onto his feet except those that undo with velcro all the way along the top and these are expanded almost to the limit.
I also can't get any wellies or boots onto him unless they are three sizes too big.
Has anyone else experienced this?
The main reason I am worried is that my brother has bipedal talipes (sp?) i.e. club foot on both feet and I am worried that DS might have a minor foot deformity. At the moment I am inclined to wait and see for a few weeks before going to see the doctor but wondered if anyone out there has had a similar experience that turned out to need medical intervention to correct? If so, I would love to hear from you. TIA.

I would take him to the gp. It's possible that the tendons are too tight. I'll bump in the morning for you as others can help.

thanks scrooged.

If there is anyone else out there who could help I'd love to hear from you.

When you say they curl under, is he just trying to grip with his toes as he walks, or is it when he isn't walking too?

It's when he stands and when he walks and sometimes he doesn't do it at all. I've just been watching him for a bit and he does it more when he is standing still - as if he is trying to grip the floor.

If its not all the time, it may well just be a transitional thing - learning to keep his balance - dd2 did it for a while, and is fine now.

Never hurts to get it checked out, though at 14 months there's a possibility they'll just say 'come back in a couple of months if he's still doing it' which is what they did with us

He may also have a high instep, which I think is normal for a lot of babies. Ds doesn't fit ankle boots at all, they rub him terribly. He needs easily openable velcro shoes, otherwise the top of his feet get sore.

Thanks Elibean - I think I will take a trip to the doctors with him.
How old is your DS TeenyTinyToria? It's interesting to hear of another baby who is not able to get into ankle boots. Maybe I just need to accept that he is built like an OX!

He's 21 months, very stocky with chunky wee thighs lol! Not in the slightest bit fat, but sturdy is the word I think.

This is quite an interesting link about children's shoes, and mentions that ankle boots are bad, and that children learning to walk may curl their toes to grasp the floor. Might be of some use to you.

My dd (3) had talipes on both feet, which got sorted out early. She does still have high insteps,and tends to curl her toes over, which the physio tells me is a symptom shared with talipes. In other words, these symptoms might or might not be associated with talipes.

I would discuss it with your doctor. If it is talipes, getting it treated early is really critical. So you might want to ask for a referral to a paediatric physio.