Not Every Child Simply “Grows Out of It”
One of the phrases I have heard far too often in children’s health is: “Don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it.”
Sometimes they do.
Sometimes they absolutely do not.
And that distinction matters.
With the rollout of the Federal Government’s new Thriving Kids program now underway, there is understandably a great deal of discussion about how children with developmental delay and autism will access support in the years ahead.
Thriving Kids began rolling out from 1 October 2026 and is intended to provide support outside the NDIS for children aged eight and under with developmental delay and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with low-to-moderate support needs. Full rollout is planned by January 2028. (NDIS)
For podiatry, there is a very important conversation sitting underneath all of this.
A child walking differently does not automatically mean something needs to be “corrected”.
Equally, dismissing every gait difference as something they will simply grow out of can mean genuine problems are missed.
If your child walks differently, tires easily, struggles with footwear or has ongoing lower limb problems, “they will grow out of it” is not always enough.
“They’ll grow out of it” is not a diagnosis
Over the years I have heard this reassurance from plenty of well-meaning health professionals.
I have also heard it from qualified podiatrists who, in my view, sometimes appear to fall back on the phrase when their practical experience or knowledge base is a little thin.
That is not meant as criticism for the sake of it. Paediatric assessment is difficult.
Children change.
Growth changes them.
Neurology changes them.
Strength changes them.
Confidence changes them.
Their footwear changes, their activity changes and, particularly in children with autism spectrum disorder or ASD, sensory and motor-development issues can change the entire clinical picture.
The skill is not in finding something unusual. The skill is deciding whether it matters.
- Is the child in pain?
- Are they falling more than expected?
- Are they tiring excessively?
- Are they avoiding sport or playground activity?
- Are footwear problems limiting participation?
- Is the gait difference stable, improving or becoming more pronounced?
- Does the child actually require treatment, or do they simply need monitoring and reassurance?
Those are very different questions from simply asking whether their feet “look normal”.
Podiatry has a legitimate place here
It was great to see my old friends at the Podiatry Association getting in and having a wise word or two on this.
The Australian Podiatry Association made a formal submission to the Thriving Kids inquiry arguing for podiatry to be properly included in future support and funding models, highlighting our role in assessment and treatment of children with developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The proposed national model itself identified podiatry among the professions that may contribute to targeted early-childhood supports. (Podiatry Australia)
That matters because podiatry is not simply about feet.
For many children, particularly children on the autism spectrum, we are dealing with mobility, balance, gait, footwear tolerance, lower-limb function, fatigue and the ability to participate comfortably in everyday life.
I see these children clinically.
And right now, many of their parents are frightened.
They have often spent years navigating systems, appointments and assessments before finally finding professionals who understand their child and provide support that genuinely helps.
It feels like a one step forward, three steps back world for them right now.
They talk about being thankful they have finally found the help they need, but are now worried it is about to be stripped away from them.
That anxiety should not be dismissed.
The sensible middle ground
Not every child with an unusual gait needs orthotics. Not every child needs treatment.
Sometimes the best clinical decision is to watch, measure and leave things alone.
But equally, “they’ll grow out of it” should never become a convenient substitute for proper assessment.
Good paediatric care requires judgement.
It means recognising normal variation while also recognising the child who is struggling.
And with major changes occurring around disability and early-childhood support, getting that distinction right has probably never mattered more.
Brenden Brown,
Podiatrist aka “Dr Foot”
A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Care
Penrith, St Marys.
Founder of A Step Ahead Foot + Ankle Care in Sydney, and former president of the Australasian Podiatry Council, Dr Brenden Brown (A.K.A Dr Foot) is a wealth of knowledge on how to take care of your feet, including 
