How to stop W sitting??

[lisad123isgoingcrazy]

DD2 who has ASD of some level but still being assessed. She W sits alot. I have told preschool she isnt allowed to sit like that and we try and discourge this at home but its habit forming.
I have asked for OT referal due to other motor issues but still waiting to hear back. Anyone been able to break this habit or found a helpful way of stopping it? She still has no hand preference, falls alot, struggles to hold a pen properly and tiptoe walks.
I have read some research which suggests hand preference and walking difficulties can be caused by longterm W sitting.
Any advice?

I don't think they are 'caused' by W sitting, more that they are all symptoms of low muscle tone and hyperflexible joints. I was told that W sitting is a more stable way of sitting than any other way. We've not managed to stop dd3 from doing it although the physio said we should try our best, she just automatically sits like that. The only thing is that now she has started school they insist they all sit cross legged and this has helped a little.

as dd3s got stronger she's done this less.

Interesting! DS2 sits like this a lot, and never associated it with ASD. Will mention it when I see paed in a few weeks, and hopefully get OT sorted as well.

Watching thread with interest.

dd(cp) sits in a w position as it is the only way she can sit, I can't imagine you would be able to stop a child doing it if they find it comfortable.

I do tell her "straight legs" which she does for about 3 seconds!
I do wonder about her muscle tone? Who would check that out?

dd3 was assessed by her physio, not sure if ot can do it.

phisio is best

we dont have physio

all of mine w sit. [shrugs] all are rather flexiable though.

misdee, I think a lot of kids do, it's only really a concern when there's other things not quite right

lisa, can you ask gp or other professional for a referal, there's usually a much shorter wait for physio than ot.

Me & my brother were 'forced' encouraged to sit this way
Due to clicky hips (in my case) & a twisted thight bone (in DH's)

I have asked her Pead to refer to OT but not had a reply yet. Will go and see GP next week and also call BUPA and see if they will help us :) (thank goodness DH company have givenhim this last month)

bigcar, mine all have various degrees of hypermobility, espeically dd4, they are lisad123's neices :)

my dd1 used to sit like that a lot and it was just constant reminding and helping her to find a more appropriate position - when she was smaller - she no longer does it.

Dd1 has hypotonia - 'w' sitting is not just related to asd.

I too think kindy and school had a good influence with the insitence on sitting cross legged.

It really is not good for children with hypotonia to sit in 'w' shape. But as I said - just constant reminders and helping her position properly. For dd1 the issue was the pressure on her hips.

so should i stop dd4 doing it? as her hips are rather loose and been trold to take care not to dislocate them. she has hypermobility in ankles, knees, hips, shouldsm wrists and fingers.

OK is this an "advise changes over years" thing or am I well confused

My mum was advised this to help stabilise our hips & reduce clicking as we have very flat hip joints

of course misdee, you've said before according to dd3's physio it should be discouraged but it's not that easy!

I have been told that its usual at pre school age but should be discouraged from school age.

DD sits like this too - she has hypermobile joints - hips knees etc and low trunk tone (not ASD). We also try to discourage - crossed legs or legs straight out in front is what OT and physio have advised.

I have seen loads of kids doing this whilst on duty at playgroup - is obviously very common in pre-school children.

she doesnt seem to have any hip problems just motor skills, but its so confusing!!

I sat like this a lot as a child and still do and both my daughters, one with GDD and one NT do it too. It's only fairly recently that I found out it should be discouraged. I do find it comfy and hate sitting cross-legged.

Many children with sensory processing problems do this as do hypermobile and hypotonic children...it makes them feel more stable and because they can feel more of the floor, they are getting the sensory feedback they crave. Exercises to improve core stability really help (rolling on a gym ball etc). DS does it far less since some of his snesory issues have reduced. Its more common in preschoolers (NT or not!) because they are naturally more mobile/flexible anyway and their joints tend to be more flexible.
A good physio and/or OT can give exercises to improve the feedback and stability.

what is W sitting?

Hmm.

When we went to BIOBIc they were astounded; DH was the first adult NT W sitter they ahd met. I ahd wondered why they were staring at him LOL.

Hyperflexible joints? yes probably; certainly looked like it, way he was dancing last night ;-)

He doesn;t ahve any other issues though, barring dyslexia anyway.

So i'm always a bit hmmm at the comments the dc's have ahd about W sitting, certainly a SLT mate was shocked and barled 'do NOT sit like that!' to ds3 when she met him.

But none of them sit like it now, except DH and perhaps NT (ish) ds2. And we haven;t done anything to resolve it; from our experience alone that and a delay in hand preference has resolved later than average, but it has self resolved.

lol santas im another adult W sitter and Bibic remarked that they only seen one other adult doing it

Ds is not meant to W sit physios go on about it has hypermoblity low tone but he is comfy and stable so i tend not to bother