Is “W” Sitting Bad For Your Baby’s Hips?
It's a widespread belief that children should always be discouraged from “W” sitting, causing many parents to be worried anytime their child sits in this position…
The thing is, “W” sitting can be fine – as long as it is one of the many sitting positions that your child chooses. If your child demonstrates a variety of sitting positions, you do not need to address “W” sitting.
A child’s thigh bone (femur) has a slightly twisted shape to it. Some children have more of a twist than others. This twist can be one reason why “W” sitting may be more comfortable than other sitting positions. The twist naturally decreases in most children as they grow, without intervention. Additionally, you can have some peace of mind knowing that research shows “W” sitting does not cause hip dysplasia (dislocation of the hip joint).
Knowing When To Suggest Other Ways Of Sitting
If “W” sitting is the primary way your child chooses to sit, it can sometimes lead to an imbalance (tightness and/or weakness) of the hip muscles and ligaments. Muscular imbalances of the hip can be a cause of long-term postural problems. “W” sitting can also be a sign of decreased trunk strength and can limit your child’s ability to weight shift, change positions, rotate their trunk, and perform cross-body reaching.
If your child chooses “W” sitting most of the time…
Try this:
Encourage your child to vary their sitting positions.
Ring sitting, side sitting, long sitting, and criss-cross sitting are all great alternatives that you can suggest. You can demonstrate these sitting positions without directly telling your child to “stop ‘W’ sitting.”
If your child reports that any sitting position is painful, do not force them to sit that way. If pain is present, discuss this with your pediatrician and/or physical therapist.
A physical therapy evaluation can help determine whether weakness of the trunk could be contributing to a preference for “W” sitting, and whether there are muscular imbalances of the hip present.
Recommended Reading:
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/2_MeetingAbstract/770/3843/Hip-Dysplasia-is-Not-More-Common-in-W-Sitters
https://hipdysplasia.org/w-sitting-and-hip-development/
P.S. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for skilled physical therapy intervention. While I am a physical therapist, I am not your child's physical therapist. If you have questions or concerns about your child's health and/or development, please contact your pediatrician.