4 minute read
KIDS’ HEALTH
Sitting pretty
Does your kid sit with their knees forward and their feet spread wide to either side? It’s called “ W-sitting,” and some say it’s bad for kids’ hips. But is it?
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A LMOST EV ERY K ID does it, at least now and again: Th ey sit with their knees forward and feet spread out on either side of them beside their hips, creating the shape of the letter “W” with their legs. For years, the harm—or lack thereof—of this way of sitting, which seems particularly unnatural (not to mention painful!) to adults, has been highly debated. Parents and experts alike have long believed that W-sitting could cause long-term issues related to kids’ hips or gait. In fact, the last time Today’s Parent included an image of a child sitting this way, the editors received letters from readers who accused the magazine of promoting an unhealthy sitting position.
But is letting your kid W-sit really all that bad? Should parents discourage and gently correct their kids when they see them playing or watching TV this way, or just leave them be? Here’s what the experts say.
Why would a kid want to sit this way in the first place? W-sitting, also referred to as sitting in the W position, is sort of “the opposite of sitting cross-legged,” says Charles Price, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Fla.
Kids, particularly between the ages of two and eight years old, gravitate toward this position because, to them, it feels natural, says Price. It offers them a wide base of support when they are playing, and for many kids, it feels perfectly comfy.
When you’re young, your hips and thighs both tend to have an innate twist to them, which eventually “untwists” as you get older. In newborns, the twist in the thigh bone is about 45 degrees, explains Price; whereas in adults, it’s about 20 degrees. That’s why most kids who W-sit will eventually grow out of it, usually by age 10.
What the experts now believe Timothy Carey, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon with the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ont., says it’s common for him to hear from parents who are concerned that their kids sit in the W position.
No surprise there—it has a pretty bad reputation. In the past, it was widely believed that W-sitting could be responsible for creating or worsening conditions like hip dysplasia and intoeing, which is when the feet turn inward instead of pointing straight ahead when walking, often referred to as being pigeon-toed. And although even Price himself believed this to be true in his earlier years of practice, he says the newest research has repeatedly shown that this is not a serious concern.
Head and shoulders, hips and toes Hip dysplasia, also referred to as developmental dysplasia of the hip, in young kids is a condition where the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball portion of the upper femur. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute assures parents that W-sitting does not impact developing hips, and it similarly does not contribute to the condition if your child already has it.
A 2019 study based out of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles came to a similar conclusion. Researchers observed 27 children who underwent radiographs measuring their hips and pelvic bones and found that regardless of the positions the kids sat in, there was no significant difference in the measurements of the hips. These findings suggest that there is no greater risk for children who W-sit to develop hip dysplasia than for those who don’t. Price, who is also medical director at the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, reminds parents that children generally don’t sit still for long periods of time, moving around frequently as they play, so even if your kid sits in this position for a few hours total, it’s a small percentage of the day as a whole.
As for intoeing, Price says W-sitting neither causes it nor worsens it. It tends to resolve on its own. However, if your kid is still intoeing at the age of 10, you may want to consult with your paediatrician.
The final word Some physical and occupational therapists maintain that allowing kids to W-sit is a big no-no and will suggest that parents introduce other positions, like sitting cross-legged or with legs straight and crossed at the ankles. Th ere’s certainly no harm in gently recommending a diff erent position. However, Carey says that if a kid can comfortably fold themselves into the W position and there are no secondary health concerns—low muscle tone, limited mobility , lack of balance, delays in fi ne motor skills, pain—then you needn’t worry. As long as kids aren’t staying that way for hours and hours on end,
