Pigeon Toed Toddler

Sarah - posted on 01/02/2013

hi my daughter is 15 months about two months ago i really started to notice im not even sure what its called but people reffred to it as bowlegged i took her to the doctor last week very upset crying because ive been noticing it alot here latley im really worried they are sending me to i think i ciropracter monday she walks kind of on the side of her foot her legs bow out ????anybody know anything about this i just cant take her having sergury i really want answers

Blair - posted on 12/05/2012

My son also is pigeon toed. I didn't notice until he was 14 months old and started walking. We took him to a foot specialist and they made inserts for his shoes and he was worn them everyday for nearly a year and i have seen no difference. I can only hope he does grow out of it.

Elisa - posted on 05/25/2010

my daughter is almost 4 and she still walks like that, well one foot kinda points in more then the other.when she was little i thought she would grow out of it but nope. i mean it has got better and its even better when she wheres shoes.

Carrie - posted on 05/24/2010

I have a 21 month old pigeon toed toddler also. He has had physicl thearpy since he was 11 months old. I have been trying to get my GP to do something about it but he says that he will grow out of it. I am trying very hard to get physical thearpy to suggest orthodics or braces. It can be very frustrating so hang in there and don't give in.

Jemieka - posted on 05/24/2010

Hey Emily,
I actually has incredibly pigeon toed when i was younger, and had to have specially developed shoes made for me from a podiatrist until i was about 4. I'd suggest you take her to the paedatric podiatrist and get their opinion. Not correcting it now, can be really detrimental to the rest of their everyday life. Good luck!

Kimberly - posted on 05/24/2010

My son is also pigeon toed. It isnt terrible, probably not even bad enough to require surgeries or casts, but concerning, no less. He stumbles over his huge feet all the time (size 6 1/2's). My doctor said to wait until he's 3. If by 3 he hasnt outgrown it, then we'll look into more options... I think it may have something to do with how they learned to walk and how soon they learned to walk. Matts been walking since 10 months, maybe they just werent ready yet?

Crystal - posted on 05/23/2010

My daughter is a pigeon toed toddler too. I asked her docter about it he checked her legs and feet out and said that I had nothing to worry about. He blamed it on her "loosey goosey" girl joints as he said, that they just turned easily and that i should discourage her from sitting with her legs out to the side of here where they made a W and encourage her to sit indian style. He also told me that the more she walked the better it would get

Goory - posted on 05/23/2010

My daughter is 21 months old and is pigeon toed also. I talked to the doctor and her said that it is okay as long as they do not limp or have pain. They can be pigeon toed until 5 years of age.

Kelli - posted on 05/23/2010

My daughter is 3 years old and I took her to the doctor cause she also walked with her feet turned in. the doctor told me it will correct itself. And so far her liitle feet are correcting itself it is sometimes they go in not all the time like they did.Also Ihad a physical therapist look at her and they said they will correct thereselves. So be patient. Just keep a eye on it.

Tina - posted on 05/23/2010

our 11 yr. old was pigeon toed as a baby and we took her to a ortho dr. and they said it would straighten out by the age of 5...if not then they would do something but a childs legs grow so much as infants and toddlers that it usually fixes itself by age 5.

Sallie - posted on 05/21/2010

My 21 month old is also slightly pigeon toed, but this only really stands out when she is tired or running. I work in a doctors surgery and no one is concerned as it's fairly common and generally they straighten out. It's tough work learning to use little legs :) I sometimes think we forget that we had to learn all of these things ourselves and it was tricky :)

Ruth - posted on 05/21/2010

My daughter is pigeoned toe and has the tendency to fall a lot. I brought it up to her doctor and he said it is not uncommen to have a pigeon toed toddler. He also said that it usually straigtens itself out between 2 to 4 yrs.

Emily - posted on 05/15/2010

Thanks everyone for the advice. I have been back to the GP (he said I could bring her in after 6 months) and he says while it is still a pronounced in-toeing, she is steady on her feet and should out grow it. He said it will help once she is potty trained and doesn't need nappies any more. I'll take her back in another 6 months but I'm assuming she will be alright. As a Mum though, it's hard to know when to worry and when to accept things as they are. Thanks for all the advice.

Christine - posted on 05/13/2010

My 21 month old Son is also pigeon toed and he is a toe walker, but he is fast and not very clumsy... his father had to wear braces and special shoes at his age, but our Ped says they just don't really do that anymore, it isn't a big deal he'll grow out of it.

Yvonne - posted on 05/12/2010

My oldest, who is now almost 9, was a bowlegged and pigeon toed toddler. He was very clumsy and always covered in bruises on his legs. I was very concerned about him because even at 2 1/2 they still had not self corrected. Not only was I concerned that he was going to get hurt or worse, I was also upset by the stares and comments I got when my son was at the playground. (In shorts with legs covered in bruises...) My sons doctor said he would do surgery or braces and corrective shoes if I was that concerned but he did not recommend it. He finally talked me into waiting another 6 months. By my sons 3rd birthday his legs were almost completely straight and he was able to walk a lot better and was not nearly as clumsy.



One thing that i can remember he suggested was to keep him in shoes. The weight of the shoes helps the muscles learn how to walk properly or something like that. I hope everything works out for you and your daughter. Good luck!

Daria - posted on 05/12/2010

Hi there! Don't have the same issue (I was born pigeon-toes and bowlegged, tho, and put into special shoes and casts on my legs), but as a ballet teacher, am wondering if there aren't some exercises you could try. My little guy is the same age as your daughter. Try sitting on the floor with her legs in front of her, and roll her legs in, then out all the way, then in, then out, and try to make her hold it for a second. I have NO CLUE if this could work or not, but I figure if you can start waking up the muscles that will be needed to correct it, you should be ahead of the game.... give it a shot. And hey, there are some small dance schools that cater to two year olds, so maybe when she turns two you can enroll her? It might not help, but may let her feel more in control of her body. One other thing I do with three year olds (i know, i know, big difference in age, but maybe you could try) would be to put stickers on the arch of her shoe (on the outside), and practice walking 'showing you her stickers'. She can even try it herself if you put a mirror on the floor. I know that would promote 'turnout', but maybe it'd help her get her feet pointed in the right direction. Let me know if it works, and best of luck!

Bonita - posted on 05/11/2010

when my son first started walking he was really bowlegged and pigeon toed, he had x-rays done and everything was ok, but after months went on by his legs straightened out a lot, he just about 21 mo old now too, he still a little pigeon toed but not enough for me to worry, i think it might be hereditary cause his dad walks pigeon toed too LOL, hope this helps in some way, take care - Bonita

Carrie - posted on 05/24/2010

I have a 21 month old pigeon toed toddler also. He has had physicl thearpy since he was 11 months old. I have been trying to get my GP to do something about it but he says that he will grow out of it. I am trying very hard to get physical thearpy to suggest orthodics or braces. It can be very frustrating so hang in there and don't give in.

Crystal - posted on 05/23/2010

My daughter is a pigeon toed toddler too. I asked her docter about it he checked her legs and feet out and said that I had nothing to worry about. He blamed it on her "loosey goosey" girl joints as he said, that they just turned easily and that i should discourage her from sitting with her legs out to the side of here where they made a W and encourage her to sit indian style. He also told me that the more she walked the better it would get

Ruth - posted on 05/21/2010

My daughter is pigeoned toe and has the tendency to fall a lot. I brought it up to her doctor and he said it is not uncommen to have a pigeon toed toddler. He also said that it usually straigtens itself out between 2 to 4 yrs.

Yvonne - posted on 05/12/2010

My oldest, who is now almost 9, was a bowlegged and pigeon toed toddler. He was very clumsy and always covered in bruises on his legs. I was very concerned about him because even at 2 1/2 they still had not self corrected. Not only was I concerned that he was going to get hurt or worse, I was also upset by the stares and comments I got when my son was at the playground. (In shorts with legs covered in bruises...) My sons doctor said he would do surgery or braces and corrective shoes if I was that concerned but he did not recommend it. He finally talked me into waiting another 6 months. By my sons 3rd birthday his legs were almost completely straight and he was able to walk a lot better and was not nearly as clumsy.



One thing that i can remember he suggested was to keep him in shoes. The weight of the shoes helps the muscles learn how to walk properly or something like that. I hope everything works out for you and your daughter. Good luck!