Walking on tiptoes is quite common between 10 and 18 months, when children are learning to walk. In some children it simply becomes a habit – this is called habitual toe walking or idiopathic toe walking (no known cause).
However, if a child is walking on tiptoe on one leg only, other causes may be sought, for example: one leg shorter than the other (leg length discrepancy); an overactive calf muscle; severe pain in the back of the calf muscle; or severe heel pain.
It may be that orthotics or a shoe raise will provide a solution and allow your child to walk in a comfortable heel–toe fashion. We would be glad to offer advice in a complimentary consultation at our shop; it may be that orthotics will help. (We do not make shoes for younger children, whose feet are still growing.)
