1. Intoeing
Another name for pigeon toe is intoeing. This condition occurs when the toes point toward each other instead of pointing straight ahead. It is a common occurrence in very young children and comes primarily from three causes. Most of the time the child outgrows intoeing by the time the he reaches school age and it's of no consequence to the child's health but a normal part of their development.
2. Curved Feet Are One Cause
If you see the bottom of the baby's foot curve inward then the baby has metatarsus adductus. This is not a dangerous situation or one that usually requires any type of treatment but came from the way the child developed in the womb. Pressure and placement on the developing fetus allowed the bones in the foot to grow curved. The good news is that nine out of 10 children outgrow the curve once the foot has room to develop properly outside the womb. If you worry about the baby's feet there ask your doctor about stretching exercises. For those one out of 10 children that don't respond to Mother Nature to straighten the foot, casts correct the problem and redefine the shape. If your child still has curved feet at four to six months, consult the doctor about the situation.
3. It's in the Shin
A twist in the bone between the knee and ankle, the tibia, also creates intoeing. This is internal tibial torsion. It is most noticeable when the child starts to walk. The knees point straight ahead but the feet point inward. Most babies have a twist in the tibia that eventually straighten in the first year, but some don't get straight enough and a pigeon toed walk is noticeable. The legs continue to straighten as the child grows so most doctors don't recommend treatment. Doctors used to prescribe braces or special shoes, but ceased when these expensive items proved useless. Surgery to cut and rotate the bone outward is available for severe cases.
4. The Thigh Bone Twist
When the problem is a twist in the thighbone, the femur, the knees also point inward along with the feet. The name for this type of intoeing cause is excessive femoral anteversion. If a twist in the thighbone doesn't get better by the time the child reaches its second year it is no cause for worry. The situation actually may look like it is getting worse due to the loosening of the muscles and ligaments as the child walks. Eventually most children outgrow this and the bone straightens. In truly severe cases there is surgery available to cut and turn the bone.
5. Just a Little Clumsy
The worse problem most pigeon toed children face is clumsiness. Many times the child falls or trips more frequently than other children their age. The child usually outgrows the pigeon toes and there are no long lasting effects for most children with intoeing.
