Why Does My Baby Walk On Her Toes?
When your little prince or princess begins standing and taking those first unsteady steps, it is common for them to walk on tiptoes. This is especially true if your little one has spent a lot of time in baby holding equipment, such as exersaucers, baby walkers, or jumpers. All of these devices unintentionally promote the tiptoe position and can cause your baby to develop tightness of the Achille’s tendon (back of the ankle).
Without taking a deep dive into the anatomy and structure of your baby’s foot and ankle or spend valuable time reviewing typical growth and development, here are a few common reasons your baby may be on her tiptoes:
- tightness in the Achille’s tendon is a common reason for your baby to stand and walk on her toes. When the Achille’s tendon (at the back of the heel and commonly tight in women who wear high heels) is short, the heel can not touch the floor.
- overly sensitive skin on the heels is seen in some children who may, but not always, have other diagnoses, such as ADHD, autism or autism spectrum, or those with generalized sensorimotor problems. These children do not like feeling the heel touch the floor.
- hypertonicity (high muscle tone in the legs and feet) as is often seen in children with cerebral palsy, stroke, or other similar conditions involving the brain or spinal cord. This can include babies exposed in utero to drugs.
PLEASE NOTE: It is common for some children to walk on the tiptoes and the reason is never diagnosed. This condition is called idiopathic toe walking meaning toe walking of unknown pathology.
Regardless of the reason for your child’s tiptoe walking, you should talk to your child’s doctor. He or she may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon and/or a pediatric physical therapist. A thorough evaluation will provide the answers you need and what to expect.
As with many things related to children, intervening early offers the best outcomes. Need to know more about early intervention services in your area? Click here.
Have other concerns about your baby? Click here to receive my FREE Tips for Concerned Moms and get some answers.
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