At Dexter’s 9 month review with the health visitor she raised the issue of his feet. He seems to have a tendency to stand on his toes rather than plant his feet squarely on the floor. Whilst talking we both tried to ignore the monstrosity that is his Jumperoo which sat less than 30cm from her elbow.
In fairness, we love his Jumperoo. This plastic fortress gave us some much-needed hands-free time in Dexter’s early days. He LOVED it.
As he’s got a little bigger, he’s less interested in it. I put it down to the fact that’s he’s inherited his mummy’s bum and we’re less adept at squeezing it into the seat. That’s not to say he doesn’t fit in there, far from it, it’s just become a two person job; Craig will lower him in, and I’ll lay on the floor and pull his chubby legs through. Couple this with a few memorable nappy disasters, he seems less excited by the prospect of thrashing about in his make-believe jungle.
As I sat musing, the health visitor shot a look at the Jumperoo that spoke volumes - she might as well have accused it of tripping over her grandmother. She went on to say that she didn’t recommend introducing babies to bouncer’s as they encouraged ‘bad habits’. I found myself justifying it’s existence in my house and downplaying the role it played when we bought it: “It was just so I could crack on with the washing-up / prepare his lunch / hang out the washing - only ever for ten minutes at a time”… I didn’t dare mention that Dexter had in fact fallen asleep in it on a few occasions…
In any case, she recommended that we start encouraging Dexter to stand as much as possible. This is easier said than done as Dexter hates it. We also have wooden floors and they can be slippy for little feet. In a bid to tempt him we set up his ELC Wooden Toddle Truck to distract him from our true intentions.
Having read some disparaging reviews about trolley-style walkers and the potential dangers (tots flying over the handle bars or clipping their tiny necks when they stumble) I wasn’t keen on the idea but it seems to have worked well. Obviously, Craig or I have to physically hold Dexter when he’s playing, and prevent the trolley slipping out from under him. As this means mummy or daddy are ‘playing the game’ with him, he seems to really enjoy it.
The thing is, Dex is just 10 months. His little cousin only started walking at 17 months! It feels like I’m rushing him and it doesn’t seem fair. Although I can appreciate that he favours his toes when standing, and had mentioned it to Craig before the health visitor brought it up, I don’t think I should be forcing his feet flat to the floor. Introducing the trolley as a bit of fun mummy and daddy time is fine, but I don’t want him to get frustrated with us. He doesn’t even make an effort to pull himself up yet! Surely when he does he’ll work out that he needs to lay his foot flat on the floor anyway…
Has anyone else had comments from Health Visitor’s about tippy-toes? Did you make any efforts to re-correct it?
I don’t have any experience with health visitors and ‘tippy toes’ but have you thought about putting him in a walker? I used to do that with Max if I needed to get on he’d sit in it and play with the buttons .
As for Health Visitors, well, I took Max to his 13 month check up and she was HORRIFIED to find out I was using baby toothpaste on him! Said our chlorine levels were to high or something in our area and to use NORMAL toothpaste. So I did then when I mentioned it to my hygienist she went nuts and told me to put him back on baby toothpaste immediately as adult toothpaste has too much fluoride in it and will give him white spots!
Everyone has their opinions, no wonder its so difficult at times to know what’s best for our babies, follow your instincts with Dexter’s tippy toes is my advice.
That’s insane! That’s not a little mistake, it’s a huge one - I’d have been livid.
Thanks hun - I’ll trust my mummy radar and stop the standing practice. He can only manage about 5 minutes before his little face goes red and starts shaking from the strain. He’s perfectly happy on his tummy for now x
My little girl is 9 months old and she favours tip toes on her right foot. I mentioned it to the health visitor and she basically said not to worry about until she’s 12 months old.
We also have a jumperoo and the HV said she wishes she could have one in adult size for herself!
I’m not worried too much, the little one isn’t really interested in standing yet. I’m certainly not about to force the issue with her.
I’d just play it by ear for now. Chances are they’ll stop doing it once bearing their full weight for any amount of time.
Got to love those Jumperoo’s. You should have seen the look of disdain on her face! I think his Jumperoo has actually done him some good as he’s holding his head better and exploring more with his fingers. The standing will come in his own time. I quite enjoy having him shuffle around on his bum - seems I should be making the most of the time whilst he’s not running around!
Don’t get me started on health visitors, I think they are there to make us feel we aren’t doing the right thing. Here’s my take on it. When my DS1 was small. I couldn’t breastfeed so he went onto formula and very quickly he was on the “healthy baby” one. Conse.quently he ballooned fairly quickly and with no hair was soon looking like Phil Mitchell! When I took him to be weighed he was always near the top of the range. When he was weaned as a paranoid first mum I got really hung up on what I should be feeding him and was often in tears at the clinic. Eventually one of the “old-style” health visitors (the ones that go by experience rather than follow the official line) told me to stop worrying, as soon as he started walking he would slim down. Guess what, that’s exactly what happened. He is now 6, eats like a horse but has the physique of a whippet. I was a lot more relaxed with the second one. He is 3 1/4 and still not potty trained, but am I going to worry myself to death about it? No, the nursery doesn’t seem that bothered and I’m sure it will come together over the next few months. You are lucky in that via blogs you can get the experience and viewpoints of others real mums, I wish as a first time mother I could have gathered those.
Thanks lovely. I thought it was mean as he hadn’t even learnt to take his full weight on his feet yet (I still have to help him stand) and he’s making no effort to pull himself up at the moment. He started crying when she tried to force his foot down and I thought it was cruel.
If a child always walks on tiptoes then the Achilles Tendon at the back of the heel can shorten and then it becomes impossible for them to put their foot flat.
A problem can arise when a young child spends a lot of time in bouncers and babywalkers standing on tip toes before they can actually ‘walk’ unaided because all the bits of the foot are very soft and pliable and if things form incorrectly then it’s very tricky and can take ages to alter it afterwards. As long as his ankle joint is mobile and makes a right angle between his leg and foot then there shouldn’t be an issue. Once he decides he wants to pull to standing then make sure he puts his heels on the floor as he walks - you may well need to encourage him to do this.
Your Health Visitor was bending his ankle to check that it can be done as normal, and she would have been far better off if she’d bothered to explain any of this rather than just making you feel bad!
PS. I’m not a Health Visitor - I’m a Mummy…..and my no.2 son decided to start walking on tiptoes at age 9 - he looked ridiculous. He’s thankfully trained himself out of it now
Thanks my lovely. Finally an explanation that makes sense. He’s able to roll his ankle around so I guess for now we’re okay. He does go flat footed when he’s mucking around with his walker too so I’m happy his tendon is flexible. I’ll make a note to encourage him more when he’s shown an interest in standing / walking.
The HV explained none of this! Thanks! x
I don’t know why Health Visitors don’t seem to explain anything any more, it’s just not helpful. I’m sure there are some great Health Visitors out there who spend the extra 3 minutes, but it does seem that increasingly they’re getting a very bad reputation and leaving parents bewildered and feeling a failure when it’s just not true.
x
I’ve not seen mine for over 2 years - I think she’s forgotten we exist!
I walk on my toes. My Mum kept taking me to the doctor but he kept saying “It’s just the way toddlers are” and didn’t do anything until I was 7. Had operations on both feet and then again when I was at senior school on the right because it didn’t work. Nothing worked and I still have a lot of problems with my feet which makes walking long distances very painful and my balance is so rubbish in 3 years I tore ankle ligaments and then broke my leg. Wish they had done something sooner as this might have been prevented. OK not saying it would, but there’s a possibility. Now thinking I might need calipers at the ripe old age of 42. Open to discuss this if anyone wants. Would have to contact blog owner for my email address but anyway I don’t mind.
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for what my advice is worth I would say ignore ignore ignore. our health visitor got me into a complete flap when R couldn’t weight bear at her 10 month check. she had us referred to pedeatrics and got us all completely stressed out. the peads were great, they asked when I and DH walked and told us not to worry (especially as she was chatting in full sentences). and guess what - she walked within a month of DH and I at almost 18 months. sure she hit her walking milestones late but you’d never have known it by the time she was 3.
I think Dex will be a little late on everything too (he certainly has been so far). I’m in no rush to have him walking though - that’s a can of worms waiting to happen!