Should I be concerned if my three year old is toe walking?
Our three year old occasionally walks/runs on her toes. The preschool has commented that toe walking can be a sign of sensory problems. Should we be concerned?
There is absolutely no reason for concern. Occasional toe walking is completely normal in toddlers and young children. It is more common in children with compact muscles (think gymnast) than in more lanky children (think ballerina,) but it is not a sign of sensory or any other problems. As long as your daughter is able to stand with her foot flat, heel on the floor and is able to walk with her heels down some of the time, the toe walking will gradually disappear as she gets older. Children who persist in walking on their toes all of the time after they have been walking for a year should be evaluated by their pediatrician to see if the heel cord (tendon at the back of the heel) is tight.
