It may be due to the position the baby had in the mother's womb. Occasionally, problems with the ankles, knees or hips can cause pigeon toeing. Pigeon toeing is usually first noted by the parents. Sometimes a healthcare provider will notice this at a well baby visit even before the child starts walking. The healthcare provider may need to take x-rays to look at the ankles, knees and hips.
Most children outgrow pigeon-toes and require no treatment.
Occasionally, a healthcare provider will recommend certain stretching exercises to be done at home. These are usually done during feedings when the infant is young and involve repetitively and gently moving the foot to a straight position. This may be enough to straighten out the foot. If these exercises do not work, the healthcare provider may recommend surgery. However, this is very rare, and is not considered until the child is at least five or six years old.