It is quite frequent to see tiptoe babies. It is a characteristic habit of children who begin to walk, considered normal until about two years.
When the feet are at rest the baby rests them completely on the floor, contacting fingers and heel at the same time, but when he starts to walk he only does so with the front. He may do it because he is pleased to do so, because he plays with his body or because he is experiencing new ways of walking.
It is not an evolutionary stage that all children go through, but some children do. Most of the time it's just that and it doesn't respond to any problem. It is known as "Idiopathic tiptoe march", that is to say of unknown origin.
However, in any case you should consult with the pediatrician who will examine the mobility of the foot in case it is due to a shortening of the Achilles tendon or if there could be a problem in the child's development. If the walking on tiptoe remains constantly after three years, it could be a symptom of some type of neurological disorder.
In Babies and more Barefoot children, more intelligent (and above all, happier)Baby's foot
To understand why you walk on tiptoe we must first understand how the evolution of the feet in babies and children is. When born, the baby's foot is flat. The arch is covered by a layer of fat that gives it that aspect of plump feet.
Approximately one year after the baby begins to take its first steps, but its foot is cartilaginous, the ligaments are elastic and its bones are not yet formed.
As the fat layer grows, the ligaments and bones become stronger and the arch begins to be defined. Around three years the foot has completed its development.
In this process the foot is getting ready to be able to hold the baby, adjust the balance and achieve the verticality of his body. The baby is likely to tiptoe, all the time or sporadically, until he feels safe to support the entire foot.
Why the baby walks on tiptoe
As we said above It is not always due to a problem. Before diagnosing an idiopathic tiptoe gait, a neurological evaluation of the child is advisable to rule out a disorder.
One of the reasons why the baby walks on tiptoe may be due to the use of walkers (taca-taca) or jumpers. Both accustom the child to contact the ground only the front part of the foot. In most cases this custom disappears by itself.
Another explanation has to do with primitive reflexes. The child may still retain the Babinski reflex, one of the primary reflexes of babies. By stimulating the sole of the foot, the big toe moves towards the top of the foot and the other toes fan out. It is one of the primitive survival reflexes with which we are born but disappear to give way to more mature reflexes as the child grows.
Babinski's reflex is inhibited when the baby crawling or crawling, around seven or eight months of age, when pushed with the tip of the feet to move forward. If the baby has skipped this evolutionary phase it may be still keep the reflex active, without inhibiting, and therefore walk on tiptoe.
It may also be due to some sensory processing disorder. These children have sensory integration problems and may have extreme sensitivity in the soles of the feet. They remove their socks constantly, they can't stand footwear and they reject the contact of the sole of the foot with the ground.
Another possibility is that behind the march on tiptoe there a neurological disorder or some disorder such as autism or asperger syndrome. It is also associated with diseases such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, etc. Children who start to tiptoe late or do so on only one limb should be evaluated more carefully.
In Babies and more Seven reasons why our child may take time to start walkingWhat can we do to help the child who walks on tiptoe
The feet are a very important part of the body for the growth and development of the child. There are some things we can do to help the child.
- We can start by stimulating the baby's feet since he is a few months old to prepare them for the crawling and walking stage. Massage, walk barefoot, play with your feet.
- Perform stretching. Along with the massages, it is recommended to gently stretch the calf area by flexing and stretching the foot.
- Walking barefoot on different surfaces such as sand, grass, etc. Experiencing new sensations in the soles of the feet will help stimulate them.
- Wear appropriate footwear. The baby's first shoes should be soft and flexible, but at the same time with a certain degree of firmness to fulfill the function of protecting, providing balance and stability.
- In the event that the problem is due to a shortening of the Achilles heel, the child traumatologist will indicate the best treatment to follow, which can range from splints to an operation.
At some point in its development many babies walk on tiptoe. It is common that most of the time it has no major consequences. In any case, it is necessary to consult with the pediatrician, and if after two or three years the child continues to do it constantly it is convenient to make a more thorough evaluation.
