h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm 31 and have webbed toes. My second and third toes are webbed about 1/2 way up. This has never bothered me, I always thought it made me unique. Until I was about 12, I actually thought everyone had webbed 2nd and 3rd toes, I just never actually checked it out. I just had a new daughter, and she has daddy's toes. My wife and I are debating if we should have the toes separated. I never thought the webbed toes were too strange so I'm against the separation. My wife thinks our daughter will be very self-conscious about her toes and would want them separate. I need help from the women of the world with web toes; should we have my daughter's toes "fixed"?

Hi, I'm a 17 year old with webbed toes as well. My 2nd and 3rd toes are webbed and is about 50% up my toe, my right foot has just a little bit of web ness to it. I can really relate to your own personal experiences, growing up I to was ashamed I wouldn't take off my socks. But as I got older I realized that it was rather cute. No one noticed it anyway, not many people examined my feet, I would always have to point it out to them. I love my toes, in fact as I said before, they are so cute and I would never change it. And I always let everyone know about my toes, and they never have a problem with it, in fact they are rather intrigued. My opinion is that you shouldn't separate your daughters’ toes. It is very special to have webbed toes. In fact the scares from having them separated is probably more noticeable than her toes being partly conjoined. If your daughter does feel the need to have her toes separated when she is older it can be up to her, but likely she won't feel that way forever. For you stated that you thought during your experiences you never said that anyone bothered you about it, and no one has ever bothered me about it, it's highly doubtful that she'll get any problems either. Besides, I truly believe she grow to liking her toes the way they are.

I am a 26 year old female and have my 2nd and 3rd toes webbed. I highly recommend getting your little girl's toes fixed. My entire life, I have been embarrassed of my toes, but have always been afraid to have the surgery. When I was in kindergarten, I wore sandals to school; one of the kids saw my toes and everyone made fun. The teacher sent me out in the hall so that she could yell at them and tell them not to make fun of me. I have spent my whole life hoping that no one notices them. Please get your daughter's toes fixed.

Hello,
This is my first post here. The topic "webbed toes" brought me here. I have a child who has webbed toes. The second and third toes on each foot. He wants them fixed. I've taken him to two docs and they said the risks were great. Reading between the lines, they said, this isn't covered by your insurance company as it doesn't effect his health. It comes under the catergory of 'cosmetic'. Maybe he'd like to go to a psychologist to help him 'deal with the deformity'.
Who has had the operation? What are the risks? What kind of doctor does the surgery? How long does it take to recover? Is the operation more noticeable than the fused toes?
I'd like to know. I'm getting conflicting information. Some docs say, hey, no problem. Others say, not so fast. It's complicated. Who is right?

No! Leave them! Webbed toes are neat! I'm 16 and my 2nd and 3rd toes are entirely webbed, and I love them. They're totally unique, cute, and in an odd way, they give my feet personality. If I had a kid born with them, I'd leave them so if they decide later they don't like them, to have 'em seperated. You never know, she may love hers as much as I do
~Erica

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Hi,

I have webbed toes on both feet with my second and third toes. When I noticed them when I was a child I asked my parents why I was different and they said that they asked the doctor when I was born should they separate them and the doctor said no that the only thing that happens is that she will be a good swimmer. I am a good swimmer and am now 23 years old. I have always had good experiences with my webbed toes, everyone has always been curios and amazed and I was never self consious. Now I don't even think about them and when I do tell people they think it's great. Don't get your daughters toes separated. I've heard that it can be complicated if there are nerves formed and it can have a mild paralising effect on the foot. She will be proud of them when she is older. Avril

Hi,

I have webbed toes on both feet with my second and third toes. When I noticed them when I was a child I asked my parents why I was different and they said that they asked the doctor when I was born should they separate them and the doctor said no that the only thing that happens is that she will be a good swimmer. I am a good swimmer and am now 23 years old. I have always had good experiences with my webbed toes, everyone has always been curios and amazed and I was never self consious. Now I don't even think about them and when I do tell people they think it's great. Don't get your daughters toes separated. I've heard that it can be complicated if there are nerves formed and it can have a mild paralising effect on the foot. She will be proud of them when she is older. Avril

This is for Erika (researcher 197882):
You have webbed toes, don´t you? I would like to talk to you. Could you please send me your personal email?
[email protected]

I'm 22 and have my 2nd and 3rd toes webbed about 75% of the way up on both feet. I've always been ashamed and embarrassed to show anyone my feet. I'm still reluctant to this day to show anyone. As a matter of fact the only people in my life who know are my parents, my very best friend, and my wife. And I don't see any way in the near future that I'll feel any different. However I don't see how anyone can have their babies toes separated. IT IS THE CHILD'S DECISION AND PARENTS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THEIR CHILD IS OF A MATURE ENOUGH AGE TO MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT THEM SEPARATED. My daughter was fortunate enough to be born "normal". I worried the entire time my wife was pregnant that my daughter would be born like me. But if she was I would have waited until she was atleast in her teens to make the decision herself. I think its the only respectable and fair thing to do.

I'm 22 and have my 2nd and 3rd toes webbed about 75% of the way up on both feet. I've always been ashamed and embarrassed to show anyone my feet. I'm still reluctant to this day to show anyone. As a matter of fact the only people in my life who know are my parents, my very best friend, and my wife. And I don't see any way in the near future that I'll feel any different. However I don't see how anyone can have their babies toes separated. IT IS THE CHILD'S DECISION AND PARENTS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THEIR CHILD IS OF A MATURE ENOUGH AGE TO MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT THEM SEPARATED. My daughter was fortunate enough to be born "normal". I worried the entire time my wife was pregnant that my daughter would be born like me. But if she was I would have waited until she was atleast in her teens to make the decision herself. I think its the only respectable and fair thing to do.

I don't have webbed toes myself but my girlfriend does. She has her 2nd and third toes webbed about half way up on her right foot. I've seen a few other people over the years with webbed 2nd and 3rd toes, I guess I kind of look out for them because of my girlfriend, and judging by all the postings in this conversation, webbed 2nd and 3rd toes aren't that rare.

What I want to know is, has anyone got other toes webbed? Many years ago, I went to school with a guy who had his big toe and his 2nd toe on his left foot completely joined, including the nail, so it was like one huge big toe and just three smaller toes! This looked really weird although I don't think he was embarrassed about it, I never actually spoke to him about it, but I couldn't help staring. Has anyone out there got two toes joined together, including the nails?

I'm a little older than you ... mid 40,s, with a brilliant 20 year old daughter. Like you, I have toes joined, and again like you, assumed that this was normal until I was about 12 years old! My daughter has inherited my toes and says that she wouldn't have it any other way! ... as far as she is concerned it has given her something unique that is often used as a conversation piece!

As an aside to the initial question, I'm of the genuine belief that this condition is MUCH more common than you would believe. On a purely personal basis, I've come across several people (within the last few months!) ... that is people that I've met on a completely random basis ... who haved webbed toes! On EVERY occasion their reaction to this condition was positive / fun / treated as something that they were happy and proud about! Curiously enough, ALL of these people were female.

AND FINALLY ... the condition is apparently known as sindactylism (though I can't guarantee my spelling!)

I am a 21 female and my 2nd and 3rd toes are also webbed. I have always loved it and would always show it off. People I show them to think its cool. About a year ago I met my boy friend and we also has webbed toes. I don't think you should do anything to the toes. If one day she wants to do id she can or if you see it has become a problem then do it but there are many problems with "fixing" webbed toes.

Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm 16. I stumbled upon this website when I was researching webbed toes on the internet. My 2 and 3rd toes on my right foot are completely webbed (including the nail). Like a few other people I haven't even thought too much of my webbed toes growing up other than being something unique. I hadn't known anyone else with toes like mine, and I was actually suprised when I seen this site with so many people that do have webbed toes. The initial reaction from people when they see my toes is that they think its cool and interesting...but there are a occasional person that are grossed out. Lately, just moving to a new place, I am hesitant to show people, not knowing their reaction, and for the first time in my life feel self-concious about it. I loved the fact that Erica was my age and really liked her toes, and I was wondering if i could talk to her again (so erica if u see this message can u please e-mail me at [email protected]). But my suggestion to the father that is wondering about seperating your daughter's toes, is let her decide on her own. My parents did, and I'm glad. Everyone feels different about the subject, but since she's the one that has to live with it, let her decide when she's ready.
Thanks, Melissa

I am a 17yr old (just coming out of the time of life where i would probably be most anxious about physical abnormalities) and have never even considered my two sets of two-50percent-webbed toes as anything to be ashamed of. This might sound strange but i actually point them out to people, you might say i show them off
- not one person in my life has ever noticed them without my first having to tell them.
When people see them, for the main part people say things like "thats really unique" or "cool". Granted one or two people have said things like "ew" or "weird" but those times it has only been before i take my socks off and actually show them.
Why?
Because once people do see them there is actually very little grossness about them. Looking at my toes in comparison to others' normal toes which tend to be rather gangly, seperate and awkward in my eyes, mine seem to bend in a nice direction because of their webbedness. I actually think my feet are very attractive

I am 26 year female. And the 2nd and 3rd toe on both feet are joined and I wouldn't change it. One time my sisters boyfriend drew a line with a marker down the middle of the one foot so it would appear seperated. He thought it was funny. Forgetting about it I went out with friends and a buddy of mine just bursted out laughing. He asked me why I was trying to hide and disguise my wierd toes. I didn't know what to say, I did always feel a bit different but it never bothered me. He told me its what made me so awesome and seperated me from everyone else. He said I was pretty silly to try and hide it and shouldn't let it bother me, it was what made me... me. In all honesty I don't flaunt it to the world but I am not hiding it at the same time. Don't get her toes seperated, your just making her feel like there was something wrong with her. My folks said that if it bugged me I was more than welcomed to change my feets but that would mean changing who I am. I like how I was 'supposed' to be put together... even if it includes a webbed toe!

I am 26 years old and have webbed toes on both feet (2nd and 3rd toes). My left foot the toes are joined almost all of the way, and on the right foot about 75%. I have always been very self conscious of my feet and am still ashamed to show other people my feet. I think that being a female, it is harder to hide my toes due to the fact that sandals are very popular for women. I would love to have my toes separated, but it scares me at the same time. I wish that my parents would have just made the decision for me when I was a baby. My grandfather had webbed toes, so my dad thought it was cool that I had the "webbies" too, and therefore wanted me to keep them. (My mom wanted them separated just like your wife wants to do). My husband and I just had our first baby (a girl) in February, and she does not have the webbed toes. I was so relieved - in fact - it was the first thing I asked my husband when she was born! Good luck.