My Baby's Feet Turn Outward (Out-Toeing)
The short answer
Out-toeing (feet pointing outward) is common in babies and toddlers and usually resolves on its own. It is often caused by the position of the legs in the womb. Most children outgrow out-toeing by age 2-3. If it persists, worsens, causes tripping, or affects only one foot, evaluation is recommended.
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
By Age
What to expect by age
External rotation of the feet and legs is common in babies and often related to womb positioning. As your baby grows and becomes more active, the rotation typically decreases.
As your baby starts standing and cruising, you may notice the feet pointing outward. This is common and usually resolves as leg muscles strengthen and the bones gradually rotate inward to their normal adult position.
Mild out-toeing when walking is common in new walkers. If it is getting better over time and your child walks comfortably, no treatment is needed. Significant out-toeing that causes tripping should be evaluated.
Most out-toeing resolves by age 3. If it persists, especially on one side, or if your child has flat feet, hip pain, or difficulty running, a pediatric orthopedist can evaluate.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Both feet are equally affected.
- Out-toeing is improving over time.
- Your child walks comfortably.
- There is no pain or limping.
- Out-toeing is only on one side.
- Out-toeing is worsening.
- Your child trips frequently due to foot position.
- Sudden onset of out-toeing.
- Pain, limping, or refusal to walk alongside out-toeing.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Physical Concerns
My Baby Walks Pigeon-Toed
Walking with toes pointed inward (pigeon-toed or in-toeing) is very common in babies and toddlers and is usually nothing to worry about. It often corrects itself as your child grows and their bones and muscles develop. Most kids outgrow it by age 8 without any treatment.
My Baby's Foot Turns Inward
Metatarsus adductus (foot that curves inward) is common, affecting about 1 in 1,000 babies. Most cases are positional from womb positioning and resolve on their own by age 1 without treatment. More rigid cases may benefit from stretching exercises or, rarely, casting. Your pediatrician can assess the flexibility of the foot.
Toddler Flat Feet (Pes Planus)
Flat feet in babies and toddlers are completely normal. All babies are born with flat feet because the arch has not yet developed, and a fat pad fills the arch area. The arch gradually forms between ages 3-6, and most children develop normal arches without any treatment or special shoes.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.