If You See Your Child Sitting in 'W' Position, It Could Cause Long-term Damage
Parents have a lot to worry about. “Stranger danger,” choking hazards, and good behavior are just a few things we think about in regard to our children every day.
Then came along social media, giving us an entire host of new problems to fret over. We see post after post of parent-shaming.
The smarter, wiser parents tell us exactly what we should and should not do. Everything from our eating habits to our car seat knowledge is scrutinized.
But how do we know when something is simply an opinion, versus real-life advice that will help our kiddos in the long run? The best we can do is perform a bit of research and investigate for ourselves.
Take “W sitting” for example. My kids did it as young children, and I’m betting yours did too.
But studies have shown that this floor position many young children find as natural, may end up harming them in the later years. Fact, fiction, or simply a matter of opinion?
“If you walk into a preschool classroom, most of the kids, if they’re given a choice, will sit like that,” Dr. Jennifer Weiss said in an interview. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, Dr. Weiss seems to take the stance that this common sitting position shouldn’t cause much alarm.
One orthopedic surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital tends to agree. Dr. Eduardo Novais noted, “They’re not going to change their alignment by sitting like that. They’re just responding to their natural anatomy.”
Still, others have raised a cause for concern. Many doctors have warned that sitting with legs splayed in a W shape is linked to long-term issues.
“The position strains the knees, hips, and ankles,” a Facebook video warns. “…it also keeps kids from engaging in back and ab muscles.”
Which side should we listen to? Should we panic every time our kids opt for a W over criss-cross applesauce?
The experts seem to say “no.” Unless a child begins to show other signs of physical development problems, such as hip dysplasia or hypotonia, parents shouldn’t worry when their child sits this way.
Parents will need to research for themselves and come up with a conclusion on their own. We all want happy, healthy, growing kids.
Whether you decide to teach your children to abandon the position altogether, or simply let them sit the way they wish, the choice is ultimately yours. Just be aware of the possible problems, and keep an eye out for those other developmental symptoms.
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