W-sitting is a common sitting position where a child’s bottom is on the floor with their knees bent and feet positioned out to the sides, creating a “W” shape with their legs.
W-sitting is very common in young children, especially during floor play. It provides a wide, stable base of support and can feel comfortable while children are developing balance and postural control.
Importantly, W-sitting itself is not considered harmful for most children. Current research does not support the idea that W-sitting causes hip dysplasia, hip dislocation, contractures, or other orthopedic problems in otherwise healthy children.
Rather than trying to eliminate W-sitting, encourage your child to experience a variety of sitting and play positions. Different positions give children opportunities to rotate, shift their weight, reach, practice balance, and move between positions.
If your child consistently chooses W-sitting, especially if they have difficulty transitioning between positions, limited trunk rotation, asymmetry, or other motor concerns, try introducing alternative positions through play.
Why Encourage Different Sitting Positions?
W-sitting provides a very stable base, so children may not need as much trunk movement or weight shifting to stay upright.
Other positions encourage:
• Trunk rotation
• Weight shifting
• Reaching across midline
• Balance reactions
• Movement between positions
Think variety rather than correction.
If you notice your child W-sitting, you don’t need to immediately move their legs. Instead, model another position and invite them to join you.
Postural Control & Exploration
Children develop postural control through movement and experience. Changing positions during play gives the trunk and pelvis opportunities to respond to different demands.
Tailor sitting provides a stable position while encouraging reaching, rotation, and active play.
A Dyna Disc can also provide an additional challenge to sitting balance and postural control when appropriate.
Alternative Positions
Our goal is to give children opportunities to move, adjust, and explore through a range of developmentally appropriate options including:
Tailor Sit aka Pretzel Pose
A comfortable floor sitting position that encourages trunk rotation, reaching, and active play.
Butterfly Pose
A stable sitting position with the soles of the feet together and knees out to the sides.
Long Sit aka “Letter L”
Sitting with legs extended forward provides opportunities to practice upright trunk control, reaching, and rotation.
Side Sitting aka “Letter Z”
Side sitting is a great option for practicing weight shifting and using the arms for support. Remember to alternate sides.
Heel Sitting 
Heel sitting is a useful transitional position for moving between sitting, tall kneeling, quadruped, and standing.
Tall Kneel & Half Kneel
Tall kneeling is a wonderful position for practicing upright trunk control while playing at tabletop or vertical surface.
Half kneeling provides a great opportunity to practice weight shifting, balance, and the strength and stability needed for transitions toward standing.
Prone Position
Prone play encourages upper body weight bearing, shoulder stability, trunk strength, and movement against gravity.
Sitting on a Chair 
A supportive chair with feet resting on a stable surface can provide an efficient position for table activities. We love a cube chair because it can grow with your child.
Sitting on a Foam Roller
A foam roller can provide an opportunity to practice dynamic sitting balance and postural control while keeping the feet supported.
Sitting on a Peanut Ball
A peanut ball provides another dynamic sitting surface and creates opportunities to reach, play, and practice balance.
The Bottom Line
W-sitting isn’t something parents need to fear. For most children, it is simply one of many ways they choose to sit and play.
The goal is movement variety, not correction. Encourage your child to explore different positions and make them fun and functional.
If your child consistently prefers W-sitting, has difficulty transitioning between positions, appears unusually stiff or asymmetrical, experiences pain, or you have concerns about their motor development, a Pediatric Physical Therapist can help determine whether an assessment would be helpful.
More movement. More variety. More opportunities for adventure.
For more tips read our Sitting 101: Tips and Tricks post!
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Agree completely. It bothers me though when therapists teach patents to say “fix your feet”. According to the kid there’s nothing wrong with their feet and that’s not a concrete command they can follow. I much prefer “put your feet in front”. Semantics perhaps but important none the less.
Thanks. This is beautifully written and illustrated. Becomes a bigger issue with preterm infants who already hive challages with core stability as base for motor control. Prevention, early intervention and parental education are key .