Thoughts? My son's pediatrician never checked how my son walks and he ...

[snowqueen]

has been walking since the day after his birthday. He is now 16 months. He had 2 well visits since then. I read that pediatrican should be checking a child walking at each visit because it can detect possible neurological problems.

Quite frankly, Im a bit concerned about this. I just want to know other people's experience.

Thanks in advance! (By the way, if someone could recommend a good shoe for my son's age, that would be great. )

[sapphire_chan]

I have never heard of checking walking regularly. I know that in the presence of other concerns, continuing to walk tiptoe or toeing in is a bad sign. But that's like after age 2. Hang on I'll Google... Yeah, the concern is after age 2 when the tendons should've stretched out.

A good what?

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by snowqueen

has been walking since the day after his birthday. He is now 16 months. He had 2 well visits since then. I read that pediatrican should be checking a child walking at each visit because it can detect possible neurological problems.

Quite frankly, Im a bit concerned about this. I just want to know other people's experience.

Thanks in advance! (By the way, if someone could recommend a good for my son's age, that would be great. )

Reccomend a good... what?

Is there there something specific you want the doctor to see? Is there something concerning you?

Yes, if checking a child's gait is part of the age-examination then he should have checked it. So next time your son is in there for an exam you could bring it up, "My understanding is that my son is supposed to be observed walking during these exams. Is that so? Would you take a look, please?"

[snowqueen]

Oh, I am so sorry! I edited my post when my son was having a tantrum in the background, I got really distracted. I mean to say "recommend a good shoe" LOL!

Sapphire, has your child's pediatrician checked your daughter's walking at any point?

The only reason why I am concerned is that when I was in labor, I was pushing for 5 hrs. Ds was crowning, but I ended up with a csection, and they took forever just to get the room ready for surgery. I read of people having increased risk of problems with their children when they pushed more than 3. I might be a little paranoid, but I didn't get the best OB as I later found out.

When I read that pediatricians should check walking at each visit because it can detect neurological problems, this just got me thinking. I do have to admit, I am an over worrier.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by snowqueen

Oh, I am so sorry! I edited my post when my son was having a tantrum in the background, I got really distracted. I mean to say "recommend a good shoe" LOL!

Sapphire, has your child's pediatrician checked your daughter's walking at any point?

The only reason why I am concerned is that when I was in labor, I was pushing for 5 hrs. Ds was crowning, but I ended up with a csection, and they took forever just to get the room ready for surgery. I read of people having increased risk of problems with their children when they pushed more than 3. I might be a little paranoid, but I didn't get the best OB as I later found out.

When I read that pediatricians should check walking at each visit because it can detect neurological problems, this just got me thinking. I do have to admit, I am an over worrier.

Don't go looking for trouble! If you don't actually see anything wrong then don't worry about it.

You could also simply explain to the pediatrician exactly what you explained here. Ask him to tell you what he's heard about that. Maybe he can give you some reassuring information.

It sounds like this has been weighing on you for 16 months now. Have you ever had all your question answered about the circumstances of your labor and delivery?

I've said to my doctor before, 'Could you please educate me about this? I've heard so-and-so, what can you tell me about it?"

[peaceful_mama]

I asked my ped to check mine at 15-16 mos. because of toe-in and he said it's not even a concern unless he were still doing it closer to 3. I don't know if he would've checked otherwise.

[aurora_skys]

The best shoe is no shoe. Shoes impede your childs natural foot development and will influence his gait unnaturally. That said, when your child is in a situation where he will be needing shoes, always go for moccasin types with thin, super flexible soles. Brands Mini Star and Robeez are great for this. The sole is just a piece of leather, your kids foot is allowed to flex normally, unhindered by a rigid sole.

For more info check here,

http://greenmomhappymom.com/soft-soled-shoes/

http://www.platypaws.com/Info.htm

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by snowqueen

Oh, I am so sorry! I edited my post when my son was having a tantrum in the background, I got really distracted. I mean to say "recommend a good shoe" LOL!

Sapphire, has your child's pediatrician checked your daughter's walking at any point?

Nope, neither of the pediatricians she's seen since she started walking have mentioned it.

Does your ds fall over more than other toddlers his age? Walk with a noticeable limp? Seem to have trouble putting his feet flat on the floor? That's the sort of thing I'd ask the pediatrician about.

Oh, and I was surprised at how flexible the Circo toddler boys shoes are. I was able to easily bend the soles with one hand. My dd is in toddler boys' shoes because the girls' shoes were all absurdly stiff, while the boys' shoes were nice and bendy.

[TeaJunkie]

The pedi didn't check DS's walk/gait, but that might have been a question on the "autism screening" questionnaire we had to fill out. Like the others, I would mention your concerns to the pedi and I'm sure (I'd hope!) they would be more than willing to discuss it with you.

Our favorite shoes for DS at that age (and to this day) were Pediped. Some stores carry them, depending on your area, and you can also find some good deals online depending on the time of year. They aren't cheap, but I don't consider them expensive because we only buy one pair in each size. They are durable!

[pianojazzgirl]

We don't do well-baby visits with ds, but the ped never checked dd's gait at that age (or any age).

Mama, if something is really bothering you just ask about it. Save yourself the stress. (I am a worrier. A big worrier. And I know from experience that it is really so much better to just ask and get reassurance than to stew over something for ages).

The shoes I had for ds at that age were the Robeez ones for bigger kids (I forget exactly what they're called but the flexible soled ones for walkers), and I really liked them.

[Norasmomma]

When my DD was that age her doc at the time just observed whatever she was just observed and I was asked questions about her development. I don't ever remember having her watched with her walking, but that dr relied more on my observations.

Now with my son we go to a different doc and she likes to actually see the baby in action so to say, she's wanted to see DS pushing up on his tummy, get into crawling position, I could see her being one to want to see his walking.

IME I've had 2 totally different WBV with the different drs, so I could see how they do things differently.

Also I pushed for 3 hours with my DD, and had a subsequent c/s. I never read anything about that having a marked effect on my child and at least in my personal situation it did nothing to my DD's development. Do you have any reason to concerned? His age of walking is well within the normal age for doing so.

Also on the shoe recs, I have to say you may not always be able use moccasin type shoes, I live in the country and with DD she was normally barefoot or wearing Robeez, but sometimes(especially since she turned one in the fall) she had to wear regular shoes due to the environment outside we had her wear flexible runner type shoes. There are some good softer soled shoes out there Pedipeds, and Robeez now makes their Treadz.

[Storm Bride]

I use a family physician, not a pediatrician (think it might be a difference between countries, as I don't know anybody who uses a ped). I've done the well baby visits with all my kids, and they've never checked the way they walk.

[Llyra]

I remember when my kids were babies, pre-walking, being asked to stand them up supported, so our ped could see that they were bearing their own weight on their legs. And once they were walking, she asked me when they started, and asked me if I had any concerns about their feet or legs. The only time I said yes was with DD1, because of her in-toeing, and THEN the doc asked to see DD walk. But with the other two, as long as I had no concerns, nobody needed to see them walk.

I wouldn't worry about it at all, not one bit. If there was a problem that a ped could see, you'd be seeing it, too. But if it's really weighing on you, you could ask-- it can't hurt. Carrying these worries around can really wear you out. I worry about DS in that way-- because he was born blue and needed help breathing, and we don't know how long he went without oxygen during my difficult c-section. (He was Twin B and transverse, so it was complicated to get him out.) I worried when he seemed to reach milestones late, and it was very reassuring to talk to our pediatrician about our worries.

[Rosehip]

My ped has never explicitly had the kids walk to assess gait. However, I will say that nurses & doctors are always looking at & assessing patients, in even the most casual encounters. I'd be quite surprised if neither a doctor or nurse (likely both) at the office had taken note of your child walking - in & out of the exam room, around the waiting room, while she or he is writing up notes, etc. More than likely they have, and noticed nothing amiss.

Of course, if you have any concern, bring it up.

[eepster]

The pediatrician always just asked if DS was walking and running and climbing stairs (except during the visits where he was running all over the exam room trying to climb stuff.)

Nobody paid close attetion to his gait till we had an evaluation done with a developemental specialist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist b/c DS was having issues at school. He does have flat feet, so they px'd orthotics, which have helped him stand still without bumping into other student while standing in line.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by eepster

He does have flat feet, so they px'd orthotics, which have helped him stand still without bumping into other student while standing in line.

That's interesting. Ds and I both have flat feet. I admit, it did get easier to just walk in a straight line after I got orthotics.

[Alyantavid]

Why don't you ask him to?

We don't do well checks anymore, but I don't remember them checking my kid's walking. I do remember them having him run down the hallway but he was older, like 2-3.

[snowqueen]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. I will ask the pediatrician at the next office visit.

[TiredX2]

Moved to Toddlers

[prancie]

Feet make the best shoes! my 2.5 year old walks and runs barefoot on any terrain. when you have to have shoes soft soled shoes are the best choice, try soft star shoes