Children Who Sit In “W”
It is very common for the child, when playing, for the child to adopt the “W” posture.
As it turns out, this position is very comfortable and natural for children. But for adults it’s a bit difficult and can be painful. Children who sit in “W” find it much easier to manipulate their toys like this.
Although this position appears to be harmless, staying in this position for a long time, whether watching television or playing on the floor, can have consequences for a child’s muscle development. Below, we’ll give more details about its possible effects.
Posture in “W”
This position occurs when the buttocks are fully flat on the floor, while the knees and legs are bent back, forming a W. That’s why the position is named.
It is very common for the baby or child to be in this position during the stage when they are developing their strength and muscle control.
So the child chooses this position because it offers more stability than others. Well, the “W” posture of the legs gives the child a wider and more secure base.
This facilitates the action of sitting straight up without great effort. In addition, it gives you more freedom to handle toys without problems. This position is very common in children with impaired muscle tone; as the base of the body exerts little force and there is no need to rotate the trunk.
The medical opinion on the “W” posture
Specialists in the field of pediatric orthopedics and traumatology explain that this way of sitting should not be attributed to any pathology. Rather, it is a skill of the baby’s hips and is a normal variant.
In many cases, the child tends to sit this way because they are born with a preference for femoral anteversion ; It is a state in which the femoral neck and hips go forward. This is why the lower leg rotates inward and the hips and knees are not aligned.
Femur anteversion is progressively corrected during childhood and disappears between 10 and 12 years of age. In girls it usually takes a little longer: around 14 years.
Consequences of posture in “W”
This position does no harm as long as the baby doesn’t stay that way for a long time. Otherwise, it may have the following problems:
- Muscle rigidity.
- Strong pressure on hip, ankle and knee joints.
- Orthopedic problems in the future.
- Discomfort due to poor posture.
- Weak hips.
- Prevents the child from turning and distributes their weight evenly throughout the body.
- Delay in controlling posture and stability.
- Difficulty with fine motor coordination.
- Alteration of the musculoskeletal system.
Recommendations for the child to avoid this posture
The best way to help your child avoid the “W” posture is to prevent him from getting into the habit of sitting that way. To do this, you can implement the following suggestions:
- Encourage the baby to find another position with a loving tone.
- Avoid pestering or scaring her by telling her that her legs will be deformed or that she will suffer even worse damage.
- Don’t bother her while playing to change her position.
- Suggest play in a strategic way, which varies the position during periods of fun.
- Place her on a table and chair according to her height so she can play more comfortably.
- When on the floor, place pillows to support your back and avoid the “W” posture.
- When sitting, they should maintain the following position: feet should touch the floor, knees at a 90° angle and back should rest against the backrest.
- To help your feet rest, you can provide a stool.
These recommendations are part of good posture habits that should be encouraged in children. This requires patience and taking advantage of development steps to avoid problems in the future.
If you notice that the “W” position becomes more common than usual, talk to your pediatrician so that he can make a correct assessment of the problem.
