Walking on toes?

newmommy74 · March 2011

Should I be concerned that Coop loves to constantly walks on his toes? He is 2 in May and although I think it's cute when he does tippy toe around - should I have any concerns? He doesn't do it all the time, and can with ease run around flat footed so I'm not sure if this is just something that a toddler does or that I should actually be concerned.

Does anyone else's little one's do this also?

*Bloom2be* · March 2011

I don't have any experience with an almost 2 year old yet of course, but Hudson almost always walks around on his toes (he's not walking yet .. just around furniture and stuff). I also noticed my friend's son who is also almost 1 does this. I wouldn't be concerned if he easily runs and walks flat footed too..maybe he's just trying to be taller lol!

Mrs.Kiltlifter · March 2011

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. My guess is that the tendons in his heel and foot have not stretched out completely yet or have not completely formed. Both my nephews did this. You see tip toe walking a ton in body builders/weightlifters and it is due to the lack of elasticity of the tendons in the foot and heel.

pinktulips · March 2011

As long as he his walking with his heels on the ground sometimes, he is fine. If you are really worried, you can give his little calves a masssage before bed, and gently stretch his feet by flexing and pointing them - gently,

kristalovesjared · March 2011

Ella does that too if she doesn't have shoes on. She just turned 1 and I am not worried about it yet. I was going to ask the pedi at her 18 month appt if she is still doing it.

ChubbyCheekiesMom · March 2011

From what I've read (and I've read a lot about this) that it's actually a new skill learned. As long as he can stand flat footed there is no worries. Tristen learned how to walk on his toes, and did so until he was close to 2. He doesn't really walk on his toes anymore, he will stand on his tip toes sometimes or dance. I was pretty concerned about it, so I did a lot of reading. I didn't do anything to stop him from doing it, no massaging or anything. IF it's a tendon issue then he would be uncomfortable, and wouldn't stand flat footed.

But I read on some site (can't remember which) that it's actually considered a small milestone.

There are concerns of tip toe walking in children, but there has to be other indicators to go with it. And like I said as long as he can stand flat footed I'm sure it's fine.

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2011

It can be a problem if they walk mostly on their toes. But if you think he's just doing it for fun and can easily walk and run with his heels on the ground I wouldn't worry. Cooper has started walking on his ties recently and you can tell he just thinks it's fun. Like sometimes he also walks around backwards. Or with his eyes closed. Just experimenting. For early walkers it can just be how they balance easily. But if they've been in exersaucers a lot and they can reach flat footed, that can affect their tendons so they aren't able to stand flat. That's why it's important to make sure They can stand flat footed in saucers or bouncers. But anyway, if your Cooper can walk flat and usually does, I wouldn't worry.

tst1998 · March 2011

I actually did this as a kid. I walked on my toes *all the time* until I was 5 or so. Our pediatrician had my mom have me practice walking on my heels to balance it out. And my mom signed me up for ballet because she figured I was on my toes all the time anyway. Of course, that was 30+ years ago, so whether that logic still holds, who knows. Smile

I still have trouble with my achilles being tight. I don't know if I walked on my toes because they were short, or if they don't stretch now because I walked on my toes. It hasn't caused me any trouble except when I was rowing in college I wasn't quite as flexible as I needed to be.

newmommy74 · March 2011

Thanks Ladies! He definitely runs and walks flat footed the majority of the time so I guess I shouldn't be too concerned then from what PP have said. I went to school with a girl that did it ALL the time and everyone use to tease her so I guess that's in the back of my mind too!

Thanks

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