Parents didn’t think much when toddler had a ‘funny walk’—it later uncovered a heartbreaking diagnosis
It is crucial to be careful about toddler development and growth, especially during the initial years. Parents need to be mindful of delays or unusual minor details and consult a pediatrician in case something’s wrong and act fast. A mom named Ashleigh Blumthal shared how she thought her daughter was “walking funny,” Newsweek reported. While the parents thought it was just her being a toddler, they later realized that there was something more serious and worrisome about their daughter’s walk. They then discovered an unexpected diagnosis.
The mom recalled that their daughter started walking later than usual. According to Piccallio. Dr. Amie Dougherty, who holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, revealed, “Typically, walking happens between 11 and 18 months.” However, it can vary from individual to individual. She added that if a child isn’t able to stand or walk by 16 months, parents should consult a doctor. "At that point, with early intervention, the baby may still achieve the milestone on a normal timeline," she explained. When Blumthal’s toddler began to walk, the parents noticed it seemed off.
Sharing in a video, the mom revealed a glimpse of her walk. Initially, they thought it might be a typical “toddler walk” or that she was doing it out of fun. They soon realized the walk seemed consistent. "As parents, we all carry fears about our children's health and safety, but you never truly believe something will happen until it does,” Blumthal noted. Their mums urged them to get her checked out and that’s when they learned something terrifying. “It wasn't just her being a toddler,” the mom poignantly said. The parents learned that their daughter’s hips had not developed properly and that she would require surgery to fix the problem.
"I think I was in shock through much of it," Blumthal said. The toddler was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and spent the next few months in a half-body cast. According to Cleveland Clinic, the condition is one wherein the bones in the hip joint don’t fit together correctly. It is a rare condition that affects one in 1,000 babies every year in the United States. In another video, Blumthal revealed that it was unknown whether their child had hip dysplasia from birth or if it developed over time. However, they were upset that they couldn’t catch it earlier. “The earlier the better because the body is still forming,” she said.
@ash.theworkingmama The most heartbreaking realization that our daughter’s hips didn’t develop properly and that she was going to need hip surgery. 3 months in essentially a half body cast, and possible future surgeries…. And yet our girl was still happy and found ways to get herself where she wanted to go. Check your kid’s hips!! #hipdysplasia #hipdysplasiajourney #hipdysplasiawarrior #hipdysplasiaawareness #hipdysplasiababy #spicacast #spicacastlife #spicacastbaby #hipdysplasiajourney ♬ original sound - Mike Sybrid
The little girl’s right hip was around 30-40% “out-of-socket.” However, the left had a rate of 100% due to which the surgery was the only way out. When she got the surgery done, the little girl had struggles that broke the parents’ hearts. "She barely slept, grew frustrated that she couldn't move and was often cranky and in tears," the mom recalled. Out of her cast and now resiliently recovering, the mom has learned to be vocal about seemingly trivial changes when it comes to babies. Sharing the caveat with fellow parents, Blumthal said, “If you have any concerns at all, send a video to your doctor.”
You can follow Ashleigh Blumthal (@ash.theworkingmama) on TikTok for more content on parenting.