Why It's Totally Fine to Let Your Kid Sit in the 'W' Position (2025)

Many people with little kids have gotten advice or seen social media stories about the potential dangers of allowing kids to sit in the "W" position. For this reason, many new parents wonder if it's safe to let their little ones sit this way. The worry is that this sitting position could cause hip dysplasia or other problems with a child's physical development.

While it's very common for parents to be told to discourage this way of sitting, research does not back up the concern. In fact, a 2020 study found no difference in rates of hip dysplasia between children who used the "W" sitting position and those who did not. Essentially, most experts say that the idea that sitting in the "W" position can cause postural, orthopedic, or muscular problems down the line is a myth.

Learn more about "W" sitting, what it means if your child favors this position, and when to contact their pediatrician.

What Is the 'W' Position?

The "W" position is a sitting position where a child's bum is on the ground and their legs and knees are in front of them splayed out to the sides with their feet at their hips. The legs make a "W" shape much like in hero pose or virasana in yoga. As babies learn to sit, many go through a phase of sitting in this position.

"W" sitting is most commonly seen in toddlers, though some kids sit in this position they are 8 or 9. Children often sit in a variety of positions, such as cross-legged, legs straight out, or legs bent into a diamond or butterfly shape. One reason some kids may settle into the "W" shape is anatomical. It's common for children to be born with their femurs (or thigh bones) slightly turned in, a condition called femoral anteversion. This makes sitting in a "W" position more comfortable.

"The reality is that most of us have femoral anteversion—it's excessive femoral anteversion that allows kids to sit in the 'W' position," says Greg Hahn, MD, a pediatric orthopaedist at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Typically, femoral anteversion, "W" sitting, in-toeing, and other postural and gait issues lessen as children grow, and most will continue on to develop normally. If not, your child's pediatrician can refer your child for appropriate treatment.

Where Fears About 'W' Sitting Came From

Old-school thinking among orthopedists in the 1960s and 1970s warned that in-toeing, or having your toes point inward when you walk, was a muscular or soft tissue issue—and that it was possible to train kids not to do it, explains Dr. Hahn. By having kids avoid positions like the "W" sitting position, the thinking was that you'd avoid stretching out the muscles, which was what was allowing them to continue to in-toe.

However, mounting research, notably beginning in the 1980s by pediatric orthopedist Lynn Staheli, MD, found that in-toeing was simply a normal variation (much like being tall or left-handed) and nothing to worry about. Additionally, most often, this issue self-resolves without any treatment required (read: a changing of position or braces).

Plus, if you watch people walk, you'll notice most don't do so in a perfect, straight-ahead line. Instead, most people toe in or out a bit, and in children, it's just more pronounced, says Dr. Hahn. Even if your child noticeably walks with their toes in, their gait will most likely become straighter as they age.

The True Effects of the 'W' Position

In short, while the myths about "W" sitting might live on, Dr. Hahn says that the position doesn't cause any long-term problems, so "we don't worry about it." Essentially, it's very common for children to sit in this position, and it won't cause them any harm.

Dr. Hahn also notes that he's unaware of any study linking the position to osteoarthritis issues.

Furthermore, "research by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute and others has shown that increased femoral anteversion does not cause hip dislocations and does not harm the hip socket," says Charles T. Price, MD, a pediatric orthopedist and medical director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Dr. Price adds that if children do have femoral anteversion, "W" sitting can be more comfortable and should be allowed. "Spontaneous correction occurs with growth in almost all cases," he says. While in-toeing is very common in young children, it's rarely seen in adults regardless of sitting habits, he adds.