I had a charge who stopped walking. He would take a few steps and fall over. This happened right as the parents left for work. He was also crying way more then normal and acting odd. The parents kept saying he is sad. I knew something was wrong. They left and I just told the little boy 18 months at the time I know something is wrong and we will fix it. He stopped crying . He had a double ear infection, bronchitis and a respiratory infection.

Knowing your charge is critical. I new by his cry it was more then him being sad.

Look for discolored toes in newly walking toddlers.

My toddler charge was fine one morning but would only cry when I set him down to walk. He was dressed when I got there so I hadn't seen his bare feet - than God I thought to take off his shoes and socks and look at his little fat feet - his second toe was discolored (bruised) and clearly broken. He has good parents who told me his toe was not discolored when they put his shoes and socks on that morning and I believe them - it must have happened right before he was dressed and they didn't notice because he is always fussy when you dress him.

I came in one Mon to find my normally bubbly charge a crying wreck. He refused to put weight on his foot and was incredibly clingy. I asked the parents and they said he had injured his foot the previous Sat...I insisted on an x-Ray (which I took him in for) and sure enough it was fractured. Sigh. And his parents really were attentive and loving! I just have more experience with children and maybe read more from his behavior than they could? Still, it was odd to me that they hadn't even called the dr about it.