Bow Legs in Infants: What Parents Should Know

An infant's legs may curve outward so the knees remain apart when the ankles are near each other. The appearance can change as the child grows, stands and begins walking. A clinician can distinguish a developmental shape from bowing that merits investigation by examining alignment, movement and growth.

The medical term for bow legs is genu varum. The curve may involve the thigh bone, shin bone or the relationship between them. Clinicians look at whether both legs have a similar shape, where the curve is centred, how the feet point and whether the hips, knees and ankles move freely.

They also consider growth, nutrition, birth and medical history. Photographs taken while the child stands naturally can help show change over time once standing is established; forcing the knees or feet into position can give a misleading view.

Allow ordinary floor play and age-appropriate movement in a safe space. Shoes, braces, exercises or supplements should not be started solely to change leg shape without an assessment, because management depends on the cause rather than appearance alone.

At routine visits, mention any change in symmetry, walking pattern or willingness to bear weight. If movement skills need support, paediatric physiotherapy can assess strength, balance and functional mobility while coordinating with the child's medical team.

Book a review if one leg looks more bowed than the other, the curve becomes more pronounced, growth seems uneven, or bowing persists beyond the pattern expected for the child's developmental stage. Pain, repeated falls beyond the child's current skill level, or difficulty standing also deserves assessment.

Seek prompt care if the child suddenly refuses to use a leg, cannot bear weight after previously doing so, or has swelling, marked tenderness, fever or a recent injury. Those features call for evaluation of the new symptom rather than observation of alignment at home.

Ask where the curve is coming from, whether the two sides are developing similarly, and how progress should be monitored. Useful follow-up questions include whether examination alone is sufficient, what changes should trigger an earlier visit, and whether a physiotherapy or orthopaedic assessment is appropriate.