Last reviewed: September 29, 2026

Usually yes. Most toddlers are bowlegged, and many young children then become knock-kneed. Both usually straighten on their own as the child grows.

Bowlegs are normal until about age 2 and usually straighten by ages 3 to 4. Knock knees then appear and usually settle by about ages 6 to 7, although the legs may not look fully straight until ages 9 or 10. Girls tend to be slightly more knock-kneed than boys, and this continues into adulthood. The difference is small and is part of normal anatomy.

Normal bowlegs and knock knees do not need braces. Braces, corrective shoes and exercises rarely help, and they may hold back a child’s physical development and cause needless stress.

A few children have a different condition, and they should be seen by a doctor sooner. Warning signs are bowing that gets worse after age 2 or lasts past age 3, only one leg affected, severe curving, knock knees after age 7, pain, or a child who is short for their age.

The most common cause of abnormal bowing is Blount disease. It is a problem with the growth plate at the top of the shinbone, and it occurs in toddlers and in teenagers. In the United States it is most common in Black children who are heavy, and extra weight is strongly linked to it. Another cause is rickets, a bone problem caused by too little vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus. In older children, knock knees that do not correct are also linked to extra weight.

Treatment for Blount disease depends on age. A brace may help some toddlers, although doctors disagree about how well it works. If the bowing keeps getting worse, surgery is usually recommended by about age 4. Braces do not work in teenagers.

Several kinds of surgery are available to straighten the legs, for Blount disease and for severe knock knees. Which one is used depends on the child’s age and how much growing is left.

In general:

  • Bowlegs in a toddler and knock knees in a young child usually need no treatment.
  • See your child’s doctor for bowing that is getting worse, only one leg affected, pain, or short height.
  • If your child has surgery, keep every follow-up visit until growth ends.

Drafted with AI assistance from published sources, reviewed and edited by Babak Sheikh, MD.

Sources:

This is general information about what published research shows. It is not medical advice and it is not about your situation. Reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship with me. I am a retired orthopedic surgeon and I do not see patients. Talk with your own doctor before changing anything about your care. If something feels suddenly or seriously wrong, get medical care promptly rather than waiting.

This page is provided as is. I make no guarantee that it is accurate, complete or current, and medical evidence changes. Use of it is at your own risk.

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