“W” Sitting
Question: My daughter is currently 18 months old, and for as long as I can remember she prefers to sit with her legs in the form of a W (with her knees in and feet out). I try to tell her not to "W sit" and when I ask her to move her feet she does. My concern is that this seems to be affecting the development of her legs. For example, when I bounce her on my lap, she grips with her knees. She also toes in (mostly with her right foot) and seems to trip often when she tries to walk or run. Her pediatrician has said that this may correct itself, but a friend of mine who had a daughter who wore a leg brace as a result of a similar condition. Should I continue to just verbally correct her "w-sitting" or should I have her evaluated further for other corrective measures?

Answer: Sitting in this manner won't cause any problem. A more pertinent question is why she sits like this. I'm sure it has to do with the anatomy of her hips and pelvis. A pediatric orthopedic specialist should be consulted. Do not use a regular orthopedic because they do not have the specialized knowledge necessary.
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