In-Toeing
In-toeing is very common in children, and most grow out of it on their own. Very few children require treatment. In fact, in-toeing is of little consequence even if it doesn't fully resolve, because it does not cause tripping or arthritis. Many professional athletes have in-toeing.

Causes
Children in-toe because of a curved foot, a twist in the shin bone, or-a twist in the thigh bone.

A curved foot is the most common cause of in-toeing in children under the age of 18 months. The sole of the foot is bean-shaped, but if the foot is flexible, it tends to cure itself.

Curved Foot (Metatarsus Adductus)
If the baby sleeps on its stomach, however, the feet may curl under and this can worsen the problem. Stretching the foot and holding it in a corrected position is usually successful. Doing this at every diaper change is recommended. If the foot is stiff, special shoes or a cast are needed.

No

Twisted Shin (Internal Tibial Torsion)
A twist in the shin bone is common until age three or four. Children are born with a twist in their shin because of the way they lie in the womb. It usually resolves on its own.

Some children have more of a twist in the leg than others, which can be aggravated by sleeping with the foot turned in or by sitting on the feet. Sitting with the legs turned out may help.

A brace can be used in children under age two if the twist is not resolving on its own. However, the brace is expensive and most doctors feel that it only speeds up the normal process of the leg turning straight.

If the problem is severe and hasn't gone away by age six or seven, surgery may be recommended, but that is very rare.

Twisted Thigh (Femoral Anteversion) A twist in the thigh bone, where the knee and the foot turn in, can cause in-toeing. It is more common in girls, especially those between the ages of three and seven. It is also more common in children with ligamentous laxity (double joints). In fact, sitting like the letter "W" can aggravate the problem.

A twist in the thigh bone almost always resolves on its own. Special shoes and braces are not effective. Even if the twist persists, most children will stop in-toeing by age eight.

Out-toeing
Out-toeing from the feet is not uncommon in children under the age of 18 months. It is usually due to ligamentous laxity (double joints) and nearly always resolves on its own. Rarely, the leg bone is turned out, which may require a brace. Another common cause of out-toeing is a hip muscle contracture that turns the hips (and feet) outward. This usually resolves without treatment. Out-toeing can worsen if children sleep on their stomachs with the feet turned out.

Tripping and Falling
Children trip and fall a lot because their gait is immature and they are in the exploratory phase of walking. For instance:

• They have a wide-based gait and put their feet down flat, causing the toe or shoe to catch the ground.
• They have less ground clearance than adults.
• To go faster, they must take more steps because they can't take longer steps like adults, and that makes them fall even more.
• They don't walk in a straight line. Instead, they twist, turn, over balance. and fall.
  As toddlers, they walk with their knees flexed which causes intoeing.

Generally, tripping and falling is common and disappears by itself without any need for treatment.

Children trip because they do not automatically lift their toes up.