08/23/2026
3 Reasons Your Child Shouldn’t Sit in the “W” Position
That little W-sit may look comfortable, but when it becomes a child’s preferred sitting position, it can be a clue that we need to look a little deeper.
1. It reduces core activation
W-sitting creates a very wide, stable base. That means your child doesn’t have to use their trunk and core muscles as much to stay upright. Over time, relying on this position may limit opportunities to build the postural strength and balance needed for healthy movement.
2. It can limit trunk rotation & crossing midline
When the hips and legs are locked into a W, it’s harder to rotate through the trunk and reach across the body. Crossing midline is an important developmental skill involved in coordination, bilateral integration, handwriting, sports and other motor tasks.
3. It places the hips and legs in an extreme position
W-sitting puts the hips into significant internal rotation and can increase rotational stress through the hips, knees and ankles. I’m especially interested when a child always chooses W-sitting or struggles to comfortably sit another way.
🌊 What I want parents to know:
Seeing your child W-sit occasionally doesn’t mean something is wrong. Instead of constantly saying, “Don’t sit like that,” ask WHY their body prefers that position.
I look at the whole child: their core stability, hips, pelvis, spine, balance, coordination and neurological development.
Try encouraging:
• Criss-cross sitting
• Side sitting on either side
• Long sitting with the legs in front
• Kneeling or half-kneeling
Sometimes the way a child sits is giving us valuable information about how their nervous system and body are developing.
Make sure they get evaluated to check to see what is going on structurally. It will affect their growth.
