My baby is standing on their tiptoes and not putting their foot down flat — is this okay?
⚡ Short answer: Toe walking is a temporary phase seen in many toddlers up to age 2, and most outgrow it naturally.
Anonymous
bir anne · Development
When they stand up, they don't put their full foot down — they always stand on their tiptoes. Will this affect their walking later on?
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Toe walking is a temporary phase seen in many toddlers up to age 2, and most outgrow it naturally. In this age group, the real concern isn't that they never put their foot flat, but rather if they're constantly and rigidly standing on their tiptoes.
Whether this affects later walking depends on two factors: (1) whether your child can touch their heels to the ground (for example, if you gently nudge them from behind, does their heel contact the floor?) and (2) whether there's any tightness or restriction in their joints.
According to current pediatric thinking, if your child can occasionally put their foot flat and there's no significant shortening of the Achilles tendon, this is typically just observed without intervention up to age 2. However, if they're still walking on their tiptoes after age 2, an evaluation by a physical therapist or pediatrician would be helpful.
For now, it's enough to observe whether they can touch their heel to the ground occasionally. If they're constantly on tiptoes and their heel never touches down, I'd suggest mentioning this to your pediatrician.
⚕️ Health note: This answer is for general information only; it is not medical advice. Every baby is different — for decisions about your baby's health, consult your pediatrician.
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