My Baby Has High Arched Feet
The short answer
High arched feet (pes cavus) are less common than flat feet in babies and should be evaluated. While some families have naturally high arches, in children, pes cavus can occasionally be associated with neurological conditions. A pediatric orthopedist can assess whether the high arches are a benign family trait or warrant further investigation.
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By Age
What to expect by age
Very high arches in a baby should be mentioned to your pediatrician. They may check family foot structure and assess your baby's neurological development. If high arches run in the family, they may be benign.
If high arches persist and are accompanied by tight muscles or unusual gait patterns, evaluation by a pediatric orthopedist is recommended. Many children with high arches function perfectly normally.
As your child begins walking, observe whether the high arches affect balance or gait. If your child walks comfortably, high arches may simply be their foot structure. If they have difficulty, supportive shoes may help.
Persistent high arches that are progressing, painful, or affecting walking should be evaluated by a specialist. Conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease can present with high arches and deserve early identification.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- High arches run in the family.
- Your child walks and runs comfortably.
- No pain or balance problems.
- Both feet are equally affected.
- High arches are very pronounced.
- Your child has difficulty with balance or shoe fitting.
- High arches are worsening over time.
- High arches with foot drop or progressive weakness.
- Pain or significant functional limitation.
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 Has Flat Feet - Is This Normal?
Flat feet are completely normal in babies and toddlers. Nearly all babies are born with flat feet because a fat pad fills the arch area. Arches typically develop between ages 3-6 as the fat pad decreases and foot muscles strengthen. Most children with flat feet have no symptoms and need no 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.
My Baby Is Walking on Their Toes
Toe walking is extremely common when babies are first learning to walk and is usually nothing to worry about. Up to 5% of children toe walk at some point, and most outgrow it by age 2-3. It only becomes a concern if it persists past age 2 or if your child seems unable (rather than unwilling) to put their feet flat.
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.