Is It Normal for Toddlers to Walk On Their Toes? – Shoe Recommendations From a Shoe Fitter
When parents notice their toddlers walking on their toes they wonder if it’s a phase or a sign of something more serious. Toe walking is relatively common among toddlers, and understanding when it is normal and when it might require attention is crucial for your child’s healthy development. Many families are concerned because their medical professionals brush them off saying the child will simply outgrow the condition. While this is true for many children, many others continue toe walking into their teenage years.
Why Do Toddlers Walk On Their Toes?
There may be a variety of reasons, ranging from sensory processing preferences to neuromuscular or neurological conditions. If your medical professional doesn’t know the reason why your child toe walks then it’s diagnosed as idiopathic.
Toe walking is relatively common among toddlers who are just learning to walk. It’s a phase that many children go through as they develop their walking skills.
When parents notice their toddler frequently walking on their toes, intervening sooner rather than later can be crucial. It’s not just about correcting a walking pattern; it’s about considering preventing future complications that as the child gets older will be a lot harder to manage.
When Is It Time to Worry?
Most children outgrow the habit of toe walking as they gain better balance and coordination, typically by age three. However, when children are three years old or older and continue to walk on their toes beyond this point, parents may want to consult a pediatric orthopedic specialist.
The Complications of Persistent Toe Walking
Persistent toe walking can affect your child’s walking gait and posture as they grow. This could lead to muscular imbalances and may require physical therapy or medical intervention to correct. Toe walking can cause stiffness in the Achilles tendon, tightened muscles and tendons. Early detection and treatment can mitigate these risks.
If proactive strategies are effective, there might be no need for interventions like surgery or casting. These methods are typically seen as last resorts and could come with their own set of challenges.
How to Correct Toe Walking in Toddlers with the Right Shoes
Choosing the right shoes for your toddler can be an effective first step in managing toe walking, and it can contribute to their overall physical development. I am passionate about fitting children’s shoes as I truly believe that the correct type of shoes can be life-changing. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older.
I work for a specialized children’s shoe store and we get referrals from medical professionals to fit toddlers who walk on their toes in shoes that are rigid at the front instead of overly flexible, to help discourage toe walking.
The Role of Proper Footwear to Help Prevent Toe Walking
You might find that some of the features I recommend contradict what most people recommend toddler shoes should provide, but trust me that these features can work wonders to help prevent toe walking:
1. Avoid shoes that are too flexible: Your toddler’s shoes should be rigid at the front instead of overly flexible. This will make it harder for your toddler to get on his or her toes. I want to clarify that his feature doesn’t mean that the shoes should be heavy. The shoes should be lightweight but rigid at the front instead of overly flexible.
2. Find Shoes with a Stable Base of Support: Some toddlers raise on their toes to help improve their poor balance and coordination. Shoes that provide a stable base of support can help put your child’s feet in a more stable position and improve your child’s balance and stability.
3. Look for Shoes with Firm Heel Counters: A firm heel counter provides stability and support to the heel, encouraging a more natural walking pattern. A well-structured heel counter can help align the foot properly and reduce the tendency to walk on toes. This feature is crucial in promoting a balanced and stable gait.
Does Your Toddler Need High Top Shoes?
Not necessarily. I have noticed that a lot of medical professionals prefer high-top shoes over regular sneakers, but in reality, there is not much difference between these two. High top shoes can be effective as long as they provide the stable base of support and are rigid at the front instead of overly flexible.
The Best Anti Toe Walking Shoes for Toddlers
Please note that how effective these shoes will be for your toddler directly depends on the reason why your toddler toe walks. The reality also is that what works really well for some toddlers might not work as well for others. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
1. Shoe Style 990v6 by New Balance
This is one of my go-to shoes for tip toe toe walking children. The New Balance 990v6 provides firm heel counters and a slightly elevated heel that can help shift the weight from the toes to the heels, promoting a more natural walking pattern.
Key Features
- You can order the 990v6 with laces on the New Balance website, Amazon, or Zappos.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
- Also available in pink and navy blue.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
2. Shoe Style Gabi by Memo (Orthopedic Shoe)
These orthopedic anti toe walking shoes offer a high, supportive heel and a firm outsole that helps in stabilizing the foot and encouraging a heel-to-toe gait.
Key Features
- You can order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon.
- Fits medium and wide feet.
- Also available in a Mary Jane style and a version for older kids called Memo Polo.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
3. Shoe Style Elliott by Stride Rite
This Stride Rite bootie includes a structured heel and supportive midsole, which can help guide the foot toward a more typical gait. This shoe is offered at a more affordable price point.
Key Features
- You can order the shoe style SRT Elliot by Stride Rite on Amazon or Zappos.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
4. Shoe Style Tracks by Timberland
This Timberland sneaker/boot offers robust support with a high ankle collar and a firm sole. This shoe is very rigid at the front to help discourage toe walking.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos or Amazon.
- Fits medium and wide feet.
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
5. Shoe Style Hoops Mid 3.0 by Adidas
The Hoops Mid 3.0 by Adidas is a stylish sneaker with a supportive high-top design. It offers excellent ankle support, making it suitable for children who need help transitioning from toe walking. The shoe is also rigid at the front to help discourage tip toe walking.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Hoops Mid 3.0 by Adidas on Zappos.
- Fits medium and wide feet.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
6. Shoe Style Grand Court 2.0
This stylish Adidas sneaker offers a padded collar for added support and excellent ankle support. The shoe is also rigid at the front to help discourage tip toe walking.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Grand Court 2.0 by Adidas on Zappos or Amazon.
- Fits medium and wide feet.
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size.
Would You Rather Receive Specific Shoe Recommendations?
A personalized approach can make a significant difference in addressing toe walking effectively. You can either contact me via email or through the comments section below. It would be helpful to know if you have been told by your medical professional whether your child’s toe walking is due to a neurological or neuromuscular condition, and whether your child has flat feet or not.
The Importance of Wearing the Correct Shoe Size
Getting the size right can’t be stressed enough. A shoe that’s too small or too large can alter your child’s gait and may exacerbate toe walking tendencies. The most important thing is that you don’t attempt to leave too much growing room in your toddlers’ shoes as this will actually make it easier for them to go on their toes.
Many medical professionals get frustrated when they see a child wearing the correct pair of shoes but in the wrong size. For this reason, I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your toddler’s shoe size from home. In that resource you will find out whether your toddler has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
Families Testimonials – Find Out What Other Families Have to Say
Many families have found success in addressing toe walking with the right footwear. Here are some testimonials from parents who have seen positive changes:
Can Orthotics Help Prevent Toe Walking?
The correct type of orthotics can definitely be part of the solution. This is something that your pediatric podiatrist or physical therapist should be able to recommend, but in my experience, carbon fiber orthotics can be extremely helpful in preventing toe walking. There is also an orthotic made by littleSTEPS that has proven to be really effective to prevent toe walking.
Orthotics can provide additional arch support, encourage proper heel-to-toe movement, and potentially help in retraining the foot muscles for children who persistently toe walk.
How to Stop Tip Toe Walking in Toddlers – Watch Video!
This video covers everything that we went through in the article and it will also help you visualize what features the shoes must provide to help treat toe walking.
In summary, is quite normal for toddlers to toe walk occasionally, especially when they’re learning to walk. The situation usually corrects itself as walking skills improve. However, consistent toe walking should be monitored—as it can lead to further complications.
I also suggest looking into physical therapy, which has been shown to improve toe walking by strengthening muscles and encouraging proper gait. Toe walking exercises for toddlers and wearing the correct types of shoes are both very effective and non-invasive approaches.
I have a 19 month old who isn’t walking independently yet. When I walk him or he’s cruising, he walks on his toes and eventually let’s his right heel down, but not his left. He’s not flat footed, and his ankles need support. He has the the Stride Rite Elliot buy that doesn’t stop his toe walking. What do you recommend?
I have a 19 month old who isn’t walking independently yet. When I walk him or he’s cruising, he walks on his heels and eventually let’s his right heel down, but not his left. He’s not flat footed, and his ankles need support. He has the the Stride Rite Elliot buy that doesn’t stop his toe walking. What do you recommend?
Hello,
Your son might be walking on his toes as he might be trying to balance, since he is still learning how to walk. I would wait until your son is fully stable before investing in a different pair of shoes or orthotics.
Please follow up with me in a couple of months to see if your son’s toe walking improves. If you want to intervene right away please contact me via email so we can discuss our next steps: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com