You asked

My child walks on her toes a lot - is this something I should be concerned about?

When your toddler is still in the cruising stage, holding on to furniture as he or she moves around the room, then it’s perfectly normal – most children do this at this stage.

Some children even retain the habit after they’re walking properly – particularly little girls with big dreams about being a ballerina.

However, if your child is always walking on tiptoes, and seems unable to walk with his or her feet flat, then there could be an underlying condition that may require medical intervention.
A short Achilles tendon is one possible explanation for why your child walks on tiptoe, but usually, the cause is a condition known as a motor disorder like diplegia, which is a mild form of cerebral palsy.

This is why it’s best to refer to your doctor sooner rather than later, so that you can get the right diagnosis, and find treatment if necessary.

On the other hand, there are many children who have what is known as idiopathic toe walking, which is where the cause is undiagnosed, although it may be linked to developmental difficulties, or even autism.
 
Whatever the cause of the toe walking, if it is based on a medical problem, there are options available to you in terms of treatment, and you should certainly speak to a medical professional, sooner, rather than later.

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