28 Month Old Limping

I think you should take him to the MD. You know in your heart what is normal for your son. If it's nothing, GREAT! But if it's something you should take care of it sooner rather than later. The on-call nurses do their best over the phone to triage given the info they have, but MDs or nurses have to see and touch to truly diagnose. They may even need to get an Xray or other films to know what's gone on.

I'd try to get an appointment today. Hope it's nothing! Good luck.

Hi Rachel,
My child did the same around 20 months. After seeing the Pediatrician, they too concluded he must have twisted it. There was no swelling, no marks, no signs of pain, just the heartbreaking limping. It lasted exactly 7 days then he was back to himself never to complain of it again. Sounds like your child may have done the same. Good to get it checked out but try not to worry too much, if something was broken, most likely there would be swelling or at least pain when examining the area. Keep us posted.

Hi Rachel,
I agree with the other mom who posted the response "go with your mommy gut". If you are certain a sprain or boo-boo hasn't happened then please, go an get a simple hip / leg x-ray. I hesitated about posted my response but .. here goes, and I DO NOT want to scare you, my very close friend had a little boy who developed a tumor in his hip joint and "the limp" took a bit too long before getting diagnosed and x-rayed. When it did the tumor was too large and became untreatable. I have twin baby girls who will be 2 next month. I am a mom too, my friend misses her son.

Hmmm, that's an interesting one. Sounds like you've done all of the things I would do, too. Have you asked him if he stepped on anything that hurt or asked him questions to try to draw out anything unusual over the last week or so? Did any routines change recently where he may just be more tired or subdued than usual?

It may be that he hurt his foot a little and is now experimenting with what it feels like to walk on a different part of it. Kids can be the great experimenters sometimes. But keep watch and trust your gut.

If you think something is persisting, then I would get it checked out in a day or two. But give it time. If it were something dire, you would hear more complaints from your son by now. However, if it recurs periodically or he complains of it more, I would definitely check it out.

One time our 12-year-old complained about his knee intermittently during soccer season (several years ago). We didn't think anything of it at first and all the things we checked didn't seem to hurt. But he complained intermittently over several weeks. My gut said it was worth checking further. We ended up having an orthopaedist check it out and our son had some issues on his growth plate of his knee. Nothing serious but something recognizable by a doctor.

Trust your gut. If it persists, then it doesn't hurt to have it checked out. But also trust your gut if you think it is something small that will pass.

What a coincidence, my daughter, 28 months, just did this same thing. One morning she just started limping. I asked her several times throughout the day if her leg or foot hurt and she said no. She seemed really lax about it, while she's not always like that. I had my friend take a look just to see if I was missing something and we couldn't figure it out. The next day she was fine. Hopefully that's your case too.

U know your child if you think some thing is wrong then have him looked at. I had them tell me to wait till the morn for my daughter when i new she had a ear infection. I took her to the ER at 9pm because i new some thing was not right. Well she had a double ear infection. It would have been a very long night if i had not gone. so use youyour mommy gut. good luck.

Did you ask him if he has a booboo? If he is limping it could be lyme disease especially if he isn't acting like himself. Limping is usually a good indication of it from other parents on this website. check him temperature and bring him in for a check up if it continues.