Community› The Bump Message Boards› Babies: 9 - 12 Months
Babies: 9 - 12 Months
New Discussion

Do you correct how your child sits?

cvpis4mecvpis4me member
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months
My daughter is 10 months and likes to sit "W-shaped" (on her knees with her feet behind her.  She also likes to sit Z-shaped with the left leg behind her, tucked under her bum, and her right leg stretched out front.  At her 9-month appointment I expressed concern to her doctor that this could affect the growth of her legs and she could end up pigeon-toed.  He told me not to worry and that they don't start considering foot correction until about 18 months.  That sounds WAY too late to me!!  Even now, as we hold her hands and let her walk around the living room I can tell that her left foot is noticeably turned inward.  I don't know why this wouldn't be a concern of the doctors until 18 months.  Is anyone else experiencing this situation and what had your pediatrician told you to do?
Christa
Adopted a baby girl in January 2013 via domestic infant adoption
"One and Done!"  Now we spend our time traveling the world as a family

My Blog: Travel Fearlessly
Report Reply to Post

Re: Do you correct how your child sits?

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • TheEditorTheEditor member
    Yup, we sure do.  My sister is a physical therapist and said that sitting like that can cause knee and hip problems later in life.  
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • minervacullenminervacullen member
    They are so flexible, I don't think it matters at this age. DS sat like that and DD does some times too, I haven't noticed an issue. On the flip side, I walk with my feet slightly out and I I turn my feet so my weight is on the posterior. Other than look ridiculous when I run, I never had issues until I hurt my back. The alignment was just enough to make it worse, I went to PT and it helped a little. I used to sit with my legs bent and out behind me, my bum on the floor.


    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
    image

    imageimageimage
    Report Reply
  • kjsmith9kjsmith9 member
    I'm a PT and this is certainly not a big deal at this age.  Once DD is over 2 or 3 years old I will start to correct it if she continues trying to W-sit, but babies are so flexible it's not a big deal yet.  It won't make your child pigeon-toed.  A LOT of kids are pigeon-toed, but it tends to self-correct by the time they start school.  If I get a PT order for a 3 year old who walks like this, I basically tell the parents they have to wait - paying for PT intervention is silly when most kids just fix it themselves with growth.  And even in the kids that have true issues with this, it's typically fixed with hip strengthening... W-sitting isn't going to cause weird joint development or anything.  Especially since kids don't sit for 12 hours per day :P
    Report Reply
  • cvpis4mecvpis4me member
    Thank you for the responses.  I remember my mom saying that she had to do exercises and massages with me as a baby because my feet turned out and they still do as an adult.  In fact it feels pretty uncomfortable for me to walk with my feet straight so I don't want my daughter to have to deal with the same issue when she gets older. 
    Christa
    Adopted a baby girl in January 2013 via domestic infant adoption
    "One and Done!"  Now we spend our time traveling the world as a family

    My Blog: Travel Fearlessly
    Report Reply
  • spinsoffresonancespinsoffresonance member
    I still seat like that sometimes! I don't correct DD it hasn't even crossed my mind that there's anything wrong with seating that way, I just let her be.
    GBCB!!! Regs, lurkers and newbies we are leaving TheBump. Come join us at the new place ****/board/50/14 image
    Report Reply
  • VespahVespah member
    As a former 'W' sitter please please please stop your kids from sitting like this. My hips and knees are in terrible shape for my age all due to poor prolonged sitting habits during my childhood. It took about a year of constant "fix your knees" to my DD but she never sits in a 'W' anymore and she will thank me a million times over when she is 30 and her joints still work properly.
    image
    Derek - February 2013        Caelyn April 2011
    imageimage


    Report Reply
  • milesfromthesunmilesfromthesun member
    apparently when i was younger, my feet turned in.  my parents got braces for them to straighten them out....i then walked at 9 months, possibly from greater muscle tone from lugging braces around.
    if you feel in your gut that it's too long to wait, get a second opinion.
    Report Reply
  • smileybabyboysmileybabyboy member
    Yes, I move DS's feet when he sits in the W. I was corrected when I was little so I have just grown up learning that it is bad for their hips and knees.  I wouldn't worry too much about LO's foot yet. It may straighten on its own.  DS was pigeon toed for awhile and it has straightened out (even though he doesn't walk yet at 14 months)
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"