How 'W Sitting' Can Impact Development

Did you know the way your child sits can impact his or her development? Sometimes you will see children sit in a “W” formation, which consists of them sitting on the floor on their bottoms with knees bent and rotated on the floor behind them.

This position is typical for children under 12 months, as they will transition in and out of it when beginning to learn to walk. However, it does become a concern when “W” sitting is your child’s primary way of sitting, because core muscles are not fully engaged. Without a stable core, a child’s shoulder and wrist stability may be weak, and this may affect fine motor development, which is crucial in the early childhood years.

Why is “W” sitting discouraged?

This position limits active trunk control and development of core muscles for sitting.

It can limit trunk rotation and crossing the midline of the body.

It may also delay the integration of infant reflexes which could lead to bunny hopping or butt scooting instead of crawling. This can lead to coordination problems later in life with developmental milestones such as skipping, bike riding and swimming.

It can cause problems with decreased stability in the trunk and hips which creates weak core muscles.

It creates future orthopedic issues with your child’s hips, knees, and feet.

It creates tightness in the hamstrings, hip adductors, internal rotators and heel cords.

As a parent, what can I do to prevent “W” sitting?

Here are some alternative ways to encourage your child to sit:

Tailor sitting (criss-cross their legs)

Ring sitting (round sit without ankles crossing)

Long sitting (legs out front)

Feet sitting (kneel with feet together and sit on feet or tall kneel)

When you notice your child “W” sitting, encourage him or her to sit like one of the suggestions above by using a verbal cue such as “fix your feet” and/or modeling for your child.

If your child refuses to sit in a different position, encourage him or her to sit on a chair, a bench/stool, or a pillow instead. Remember, the longer the habit is allowed to occur, the harder it will be to break in the future.