Great answers!
Just to add one thing...when the feet are in that position, the shin muscles are streched and also it can alleviate some cramping of muscles in the lower back. Straightening out the feet from that position can sometimes cause pain in either of those areas, as well as in the feet themselves. Ask the pediatrician to check both, since the baby can't describe where it hurts, exactly enough.
The cause of cramping can be something as simple the baby sleeping in a fetal position and not moving enough during sleep or possibly needing more mattress support to something involving the pituitary gland. The latter test is also very simple; not to worry about.
An unsteady gait on toes would be normal at that age however since the baby doesn't seem to be comfortable walking any other way, he should be improving his gait. Since not, have the pediatrician run an inner ear test and check the baby's foot arches. Neither is serious once treated.
What you want you to look out for is different leg lengths and any nutritional deficiencies. You can measure the baby's legs (from hip to ankle) yourself. If you find a difference ask for a back x-ray. Some vitamin deficiencies can indicate a food allergy. If the body can't process certain vitamins from foods, that also can cause muscle cramps.
I've worked with some kids who had some developmental problems in growth that were corrected simply by wearing a temporary brace. They allow a shorter leg to 'catch up' to the growth of the longer one, if the cause is either from the back or the pituitary gland. They walk and run with no problems because of early detection. So, don't get scared if you find the baby's leg lengths are different. Medicine knows how to correct it. It would just be for your own information to measure them yourself before having an x-ray suggested to you.
Because these are the baby's often considered crucial development years, (and I always recommend this anyway but would stress this moreso for a baby), I would get two opinions so the cause can be corrected with the first treatment method and ask as many questions as you need to until you feel the cause has been explained thoroughly to you.
Another thing I always recommend, though children's medicine is very high quality is, if any medication is prescribed, look it up at fda.gov before agreeing to it. Not all doctors can daily check for newer medications but all will agree to patient requests for the most current version of something they recommend. - Just incase your appointment falls in between when something is prescribed and something is updated and the peditrician's office does their regular check for the newest meds you'll know it's ok to ask. Pediatrician's are really some of the best doctors but, you'll feel better knowing should the baby be given a medication to take for any time longer than 1 month.
Best regards,
yp
