18 month old walking on toes - could this be one of the first signs of autism?

[SapphireSunday]

Hello. FTM here to a 1.5 year old DD. She started walking at 12 months and since about 14 months will sometimes switch between flat footed ‘normal’ walking and walking on her tip toes. She only seems to do it inside, maybe about half of the time. She will put her heels down when I ask her to but then go back up on her toes again. When she runs, walks outside in shoes, she walks flat footed.

People have started to comment (not in a horrible way but saying things like oh she walks on her toes, she’s going to be a ballet dancer etc). I had a Google and all sorts of big diagnoses like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and most commonly autism popped up. So now I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know much about autism or these other conditions but she is healthy in all other regards. Nursery have no concerns and she meets all the milestones on the ASQ for her age. I’ve also done the Mchat which she passed.

Could anyone offer any advice about next steps (no pun intended!) if she keeps doing this? Should I raise it with the GP/HV? Any stories of toddlers who did this and just grew out of it or is it always something scary?

Thanks for reading :)

Toe walking is completely normal. Both my 5 year old DD and now 7 year old nephew did this. Both completely developmentally normal, no sign of autism and both grew out of the toe walking

My DD did this at the same age and had grown out of it by about 2.5 years old. She is now nearly 5 and shows no signs of autism or neurodiversity. If the walking on tip toes is the only sign of autism she has and you have no other concerns then I really wouldn't worry, she will most likely grow out of it. If you want to talk it through then speak to your health visitor and they can advise further based on assessment of your child.

Mine did this too! Totally NT nearly 4yo 😊

HCP here It's totally normal, especially if they only do it occasionally. Most kids grow out if it. All of mine hav occasionally toe walked.

Some don't groe out of it and may need intervention but even then it can be totally unrelated to anything else - Google idiopathic toe walking this is much more likely in the absence of any other issues

Both mine had spells of walking on their toes as toddlers. Both as neurotypical as you can get.

My son's autistic, he never walked on his toes. There are far many more signs to autism than walking on toes.

Although he's now 6 and does walk on his toes when deep in thought or excited. He also turns his feet in, shuffles, walks on the sides, drags feet and sometimes hops. But as a young toddler he just stomped everywhere as most children do.

Oh god, i still walk on my toes - didn't realise there was a link to autism or anything else!

Its a completely normal variant

DD has recently had an autism diagnosis, she never walked on her toes rather she was heavy on her heels.

Any little concerns you have pop a note in her red book, that way should you need to go for an assessment in the future you'll have the details. DD is 13 now and whilst she was 'quirky' her signs of her ASD didnt really became obviously apparent untill she started secondary school. Having to think back to baby and toddler hood during her assessment was tricky and I wished I'd kept a record of the little things.

Hcp too
This is very normal for under threes. They have to get their core (tummy) muscles strong which helps stop them toe walking. More common in bum shufflers rather than crawlers, but still very common. Most outgrow it.
Reminding her and sometimes shoes with lights enciurage heels down

My son toe walked and had to be referred but it turned out he had hyper mobility, in his hands and feet primarily. He had issues holding a pen at school (it kept pinging out of his hand!) and had to have physio to walk flat, but all good now as a teenager, although he does have some ASD traits, but don't cause him much trouble, and he's really good at guitar and piano!

My oldest DD did this . She certainly doesn't have autism. She is 22 this year. It was a little quirk she did for a short time. She later did ballet. Honestly don't worry about it. Enjoy your little one before you know it they grow up leave for uni and there are other things to worry about x

My autistic kids have never toe walked but one has tight hamstrings. Maybe mention it to the doctor because of her hamstrings are tight they refer to an occupational therapist who can show you stretching exercises.

It's not a red flag symptom

Hi
hope you see this post
my daughter is the same 1.5 year old and toe walking ? Have you found out the cause in the end ? X

Hi! She is about to turn 3 and we never found a reason although I'm positive she is just fine! She still does it occasionally in the house but mostly walks flat footed now. She is neurotypical as far as we know - although she has just started ballet and rather loves prancing around on her toes in her tutu!