W-Sitting in Children: Is It Harmful or Normal? W-sitting was used to be correlated with hip dysplasia, which is the name of the disease caused by abnormal hip joint formation. But the good news is, recent studies have indicated that there is no relationship between W-sitting and hip dysplasia. So for parents, it is clear that their child might not be dealing with such an issue for now. But child therapists suggest that parents not allow their children to sit in a W pattern. Now the question is: is it harmful or normal? What is W-sitting in Children? It is also known as reverse tailor sitting or frog sitting. W-sitting is when a child sits on their bottom with their knees bent inwards and feet outside their hips. Toddlers usually choose this position, as it is comfortable for them during playtime. It offers them a strong base to keep their body stable without putting effort on their muscles. Not just that, children with less core or trunk strength also prefer to sit in this position for the same purpose. If your child child move in different positions while playing and does not choose this particular position while sitting, then there is nothing to worry about. W-sitting: Causes That You Need To Know Poorly developed postural muscles: As the wide base serves as a base of support, a child stops using their core and trunk strength; consequently, over time, and it can lead to poorly developed postural muscles that will later be responsible for developing good posture during desk work, climbing, and writing. Limited trunk rotation: Since W-sitting implies that the child sits in a manner that allows them not to turn towards the opposite side to reach the body, the position is characterised by coordination of movement of the two sides of the body and development of the two sides of the brain. As they don’t use their core muscles as much, they don’t develop them properly either. What should you Do about this? Encourage your child to sit in different positions like criss-cross, kneeling, squatting, both legs bent with feet touching, both feet on the same side while knees bent, or legs straight out in front. Rather than telling them to fix their sitting pattern, practice the other pattern with them. For them, this will be like a game, and they can easily indulge with you. If your child can, practice some yoga with them. This is a good habit, as it will help them to relax their leg muscle, and also protect your child from w-sitting. Promote floor play, which includes puzzles or active sitting posture; this will help you to learn about their sitting pattern, and you can also improve this also. Contact Us Website - Cradle Children Hospital Phone +91 83770 10161 Conclusion Start with improving your child’s sitting posture at home. As a parent, it is really hard to know that your child is dealing with a developmental issue. But your one right decision can prevent long-term problems. The next step is visiting Cradle Children Hospital is the right decision, because a physiotherapist can help you to improve movement and posture problems. They have years of expertise in this field and know how to handle a child. Even if your child is introverted, nothing to worry about; child physiotherapists know how to communicate with children so that they can resolve the issue without compromising their comfort. To learn more, you may visit us @ https://cradlehospital.com/w-sitting-in-children/