What is W-sitting?
W-sitting is when a child sits on their bottom with their knees bent and feet positioned outside of their hips. If you’re standing above your child, you will see their legs and body make the shape of a W.
Often children move in and out of a W-sitting position while they’re playing. It is okay for a child to move into a W-position as a transition position (for example when going into and out of crawling). If your child does this occasionally, it may not be a big concern. There are risks with W-sitting for long periods of time or W-sitting so often that it’s a child’s go-to sitting position.
What does W-sitting indicate?
In the w-sitting position, a child makes a wide base with their legs and relies on that rather than using their core posture muscles. They may begin to use this wide base to make up for a lack of core strength. Your child may also sit in the w-position if they have problems with flexibility in their hip muscles.
Why is it problematic to sit in this position?
When children W-sit for longer periods of time, they are at risk for the following issues:
- Limited trunk/core strength
- Lack of trunk rotation and cross body movements (which could impact development of bilateral coordination for gross motor skills like running or skipping, or bimanual coordination for fine motor skills like cutting and manipulating fasteners)
- Lack of hand preference
- Increased muscle tightness in hips, knees, and ankles: If the muscles are tight, they may inhibit normal motion, affecting your child’s developing coordination and balance. The muscles that are affected include the hamstrings, hip adductors, and the Achilles tendon.
- Can cause in-toeing in standing and walking
- Hip dislocation
What can you do about your child’s W-Sitting?
- Verbally remind your child to “fix their legs” or “sit properly” whenever you see them sit in a W-position.
- Couple this verbal reminder with showing them other ways to sit. Initially you may need to physically (and gently) help position their legs into an alternative position. Encourage your child to try these positions:
- Legs crossed – Child sits on their bottom, crosses their legs, bends their knees and tucks their feet underneath. Sometimes referred to as “criss-cross applesauce”. A similar position is “ring sitting” or sitting with bottoms of feet together like a butterfly.
- Legs in front – Child sits on their bottom with their legs straight in front of them.
- Legs to the side – Child sits on their bottom and bends their knees so both legs are lying in one direction on one side of their body.
- In prone- Have your child play on their stomach propped up on their elbows for an added bonus of strengthening their back, neck, and arms while they play.
- Offer your child a small chair or stool as an alternative to sitting on the floor.
Encouraging play-based movement and offering plenty of time to play outside is also beneficial (screen-based play doesn’t build strong muscles). If your child’s w-sitting persists despite your efforts to discourage it, or if w-sitting coincides with consistent clumsiness, development of a limp, muscle weakness, or delayed gross or fine motor milestones, check in with your pediatrician or a pediatric physical or occupational therapist for guidance.