Toe walking is normal in children below the age of 3 years. A child toe walking past this age this be taken to a doctor or physician for assessment. This is because toe walking for children above the age of 3 years is associated with medical conditions or neurological immaturity. In many cases, toe walking is treated with conservative treatment options but in some cases, surgery is required. As a parent, you should be attentive to your child’s walking style and how to stop baby walking on tiptoes.

Toe Walking Definition and its Causes

Toe walking means walking on the tip of a toe. While toe walking, the heels do not touch the ground hence the flat foot position is not maintained. This often occurs when a child is cruising barefoot.  

When a baby starts walking, toe walking becomes a common practice. Eventually, many outgrow it as they become older but a small percentage continue with it. After the age of 3, this practice is not considered normal and it’s at this time when a parent should be concerned.

In children, toe walking the following are some of its causes:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Sensory issues, which make a child uncomfortable while walking on flat feet
• Achilles, making a child uncomfortable and sometimes unable to step flat on the ground
• Cerebral palsy
• Periventricular leukomalacia

If a child is not diagnosed with any of the above causes and does not have any underlying condition, then it might be idiopathic toe walking. This means toe walking developed out of habit hence there is no apparent reason behind the child’s toe walking. With the right care, this type of walking will eventually go away.

When to Notify a Doctor

Toe walking is normal for babies, but it reaches a point when it requires a physician or doctor’s intervention. In most cases, this happens at the age of 3 years.

• Kid has stiff muscles
• Delayed or loss of some motor skills
• Child constantly toe walks
• Instability hence a child has trouble bearing weight on her feet
• Child has stiff muscles
• Child lacks coordination

How to Stop Baby Walking on Tiptoes

Children might find it fun to tiptoe. Although a parent can decide to let a child outgrow toe walking, sometimes it’s important to stop this behavior as soon as possible. This is because if the child continues to do so for a very long time, the arch of her feet might develop that way. In case it develops that way, the only way out would be to have foot surgery. Prevention is better than cure.

As much as we will be focusing on how to stop baby walking on tiptoes, there are strategies to reduce toe walking.

1. Positive Reinforcement 

Whenever your child walks flat-footed, tell her you are proud of her, praise her or even reward her with something even if it’s a cheap toy. This encourages the child to repeat walking flat-footed since she will not be recognized if she toe-walks.

If she toe walks, touch her gently on the shoulder and remind her to walk nicely. She will remember what she gets in exchange and will have a normal walk.

Positive reinforcement is all about rewarding the appropriate behavior. In this case, walking flat-footed is the required behavior. Whenever a child walks flat-footed, reward her and this will encourage her to walk flat-footed.

Avoid yelling, shouting, or reacting negatively to a child when she toe-walks. Doing so will strengthen the behavior hence try as much as possible to use positive words and reactions.

2. Walking on Slopes 

Another way you can stop a child from walking on tiptoes is by encouraging them to walk on slopes or slides.

It’s impossible to toe-walk on such inclined or slanted surfaces. This will force the child to stand on his flat feet to that she can be able to climb and be stable.

3. Check the Shoes 

Children mostly toe walking while barefooted. To stop this behavior, get your child shoes. These are not any type of shoes, but heavier ones or boots.

The reason for wearing such kinds of shoes is because they will find it difficult to tiptoe while wearing them. Though they can do it while in light shoes, heavier ones make it harder.

Boots or heavier shoes can also be worn indoors even if it’s for some time, to curb the behavior.

4. Sit to Stand 

This is an effective exercise in preventing toe walking in babies. It’s the same as getting your child to do squats.

By doing so, the child will have to put her feet flat on the ground. It’s challenging to do squats with your toes, especially for a child hence one will have to engage her entire feet.

You can also do squat walking with the assistance of a scooter board. In this case, a child will have to propel herself forward or backward using her feet.

5. Walking up the Stairs 

Stairs can come in handy in ending toe walking.

Unlike grown-ups, children find it challenging to toe walk up the stairs. Due to this, encourage children who toe walk to go up and down the stairs.

Toe Walking Treatment 

Children eventually outgrow the toe walking habit. If a child is still toe-walking at the age of three, you as a parent should be concerned since it may no longer be a habit.

If a physician, pediatrician, or doctor has determined that walking in a child is due to physical issues, various treatment options might be recommended.

These treatment options include:

• Use of splints or leg braces
• Physical therapy
• Serial casting
• Calf stretches
• Ankle-foot orthosis
• Surgery

Conclusion 

Even though toe walking is common and there is no reasonable reason for being worried, parent(s) should be attentive while bringing up their children. In addition, you should know the signs of a child needing more attention. Sometimes toe walking as a habit can be confused with it being a serious physical problem.

Know when you should be concerned, and ask your child if she feels any pain in her leg or foot. By doing so, you will be able to know what you are dealing with at an early stage.

Surgery is the last resort after the failure of all other toe walking treatment options. Always remember to notify your child’s doctor if you notice unusual behavior from your child.