Does Your Baby’s Foot Look Curved? Understanding Metatarsus Adductus

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If you’ve noticed that your newborn’s foot curves inward like a comma or crescent moon, you’re not alone—and you’re probably feeling a mix of concern and confusion right now. As a parent, discovering something “different” about your baby can be overwhelming, especially when you’re still navigating sleepless nights and learning how to care for your little one.

The good news? What you’re seeing might be Metatarsus Adductus (MTA), one of the most common congenital foot conditions in newborns. Even better news? When caught early, MTA is highly treatable, and your baby can go on to walk, run, and play just like any other child.

What is Metatarsus Adductus?

Metatarsus Adductus, sometimes called MTA or metatarsus varus, is a condition where the front half of your baby’s foot curves inward toward the other foot. If you look at the bottom of your baby’s foot, it might look like a bean or banana shape instead of straight.

Here’s what’s happening: The bones in the front part of the foot (the metatarsals) are angled inward at the midfoot joint. Meanwhile, the heel and ankle remain in a normal position. This is different from clubfoot, which affects the entire foot and ankle.

MTA affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies, though some studies suggest it could be as common as 7% of all births. It can occur in one foot or both feet, and it’s slightly more common in firstborn children and twins.

What Causes MTA?

The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but most experts believe MTA develops because of how your baby was positioned in the womb. Babies are growing in a relatively tight space, especially toward the end of pregnancy, and sometimes their feet get “molded” into this curved position.

Factors that may increase the likelihood include:

• First pregnancies (less room in the uterus)
• Twin or multiple pregnancies
• Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios)
• Breech positioning

It’s important to know that you didn’t do anything to cause this. MTA is a positional condition related to how your baby developed in utero, not something you could have prevented.

How Do I Know If My Baby Has MTA?

Many pediatricians will notice MTA during the newborn examination at the hospital or during early well-baby checkups. But parents often spot it first. Here’s what to look for:

Visual signs:

• The front of the foot curves inward
• The outer edge of the foot is curved instead of straight
• The bottom of the foot looks like a bean or crescent shape
• There may be a wider gap between the big toe and second toe
• The heel and ankle look normal

Flexibility test: Gently hold your baby’s heel steady with one hand and use your other hand to see if you can straighten the front of the foot. If the foot can be moved into a straight position relatively easily, your baby has “flexible” MTA. If the foot resists straightening, it’s considered “rigid” or “non-flexible” MTA.

This flexibility matters because it helps determine the best treatment approach.

What Should I Do Next?

1. Don’t panic. Take a deep breath. MTA is common, treatable, and not painful for your baby right now.
2. Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician. They can perform a physical examination to confirm whether your baby has MTA and assess its severity and flexibility.
3. Ask for a referral to a pediatric orthopedic specialist. While your pediatrician can diagnose MTA, a specialist will create the treatment plan and monitor your baby’s progress.
4. Ask questions. Come prepared to your appointments with questions like:

• Is my baby’s MTA flexible or rigid?
• Do both feet need treatment?
• What treatment options are available?
• What’s the expected timeline for correction?

Understanding what MTA is and recognizing the signs early is the first step toward getting your baby the care they need. In our next post, we’ll dive into why early treatment matters and what treatment options are available.