Ok a lot to cover here but first for you during this trying time. There is nothing worse than having unanswered concern about your little one. My DD (14mths) has a one leg an inch shorter than the other so I have some experience with both child authopods and peadiatric physios. So here goes:

1. Get a second opinion. No physios will treat a child let alone a toddler without an x-ray. You will definately need an x-ray and you will need a doctors referal. Your DS is too old/big now for an ultrasound as the results wont be conclusive. I would also be looking at a referral to a paediatric authopaedic specialist, a lot of doctors wont give this prior to x-rays and a physio assessment but you might luck out. The way I look at it is peace of mind is priceless.

2. You CMHN can give you a referal to a paediatric physio and they can actually do a basic assessment. Waiting lst can be long but considering your sons age it would be more of a priority than my DD was for her referral as she wasn't behind age goals when her problem was discovered. What I can tell you they will say is to stop the 'w' sitting asap as it is harmful to hips, knees and ankles. I am lucky with my DD that her communication skills are good because we are at the point were we say "are you sitting the good way or the silly way" and she will correct it, then of course she gets a clap. To encourage 'correct' sitting you can sit your son in the correct way and then play pass the ball so it is a game. Another tip from my physio was to say when you sit down you need to see your toes, where are your toes?... just make it all a game.

3. Good News: Side walking/couch surfing is actually really good for the muscle development in your son's hips, legs and knees. Don't be disheartened that he is doing this.

4. If you have access to a pool get your son there at least once a week... even just playing in the water stimulates muscle use and it is also a good place to practise step (about waist height in water) as the gravity resistance is less so movement is easier.

5. It is a doctors job to educate their clients, basically some doctors seem to think this is only important for patients undergoing a proceedure where "informed consent" is a legal requirement but the actual law means that any doctor must inform their client so that the client understands what is wrong, what a treatment is for, what a medicine will do and any possible side effects. Doctors are just people who understand and can pronounce big latin words, yes they are educated to a level in a field above most of us but that doesn't make them any less human or any more godlike. I never leave a doctor or specialist unless I am confident I understand what has been said AND I will say "I'm sorry I don't understand what you just said could you please explain it again opr differently".. a good doctor will do just that.

Wishing you all the best, but remember you son may just be a perfectionist and not want to do anything walk wise until he is certain he can do it properly.