Question
Why do babies walk on their toes? My baby is now eleven months old, enjoys crawling and standing next to things, then walking, but tends to walk on the tips of their toes. Why is that? When do babies usually start walking? They haven’t started calling out to people yet, so when do you generally expect them to start speaking?
Answer
It could be a habit of the child, but it’s also not ruled out that it might be talipes equinovarus. Talipes equinovarus, also known as congenital talipes equinovarus, is a form of cerebral palsy. It refers to the condition where babies stand with their toes touching the ground and legs crossed, medically referred to as a “scissor gait.” This is often caused by underdeveloped brain function and can be indicative of various factors such as neonatal hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy, intrauterine developmental abnormalities, and preterm birth, leading to motor and posture abnormalities. Talipes equinovarus is not something to fear; early detection and timely treatment can result in healing for most children.