sitting posture

My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?

In article . com,
wrote:

My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?


Who told you it was bad for her knees?

I know several grownups (people in their 20's and 30's) who sat like
that as small children, and none of them seems to have any problems with
their knees.

I know, anecdotal, but unless the person who told you it was "bad for
her knees" was an orthopedist, or someone else who has high credibility
in this area, I'd put it down to "old wives' tale" and ignore it. Let
her be comfortable, and delight in her current flexibility.

I've never heard that it was bad for kids to sit like that.
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

wrote in message
ups.com...
My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?

Dr. Sears says it makes them knockkneed. My brother's ped told my mom the
same thing. I'm inclined to agree. I sat that way my whole childhood and I
am knockkneed. I don't think it causes it once you are an adult.

toypup wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?


Dr. Sears says it makes them knockkneed. My brother's ped told my mom the
same thing. I'm inclined to agree. I sat that way my whole childhood and I
am knockkneed. I don't think it causes it once you are an adult.

My sister is a pediatric physical therapist and she
discourages it also (although I can't remember the
reason why). And a friend of mine has a daughter that
was evaluated for physical therapy (although they
determined she didn't need it), and that therapist
told my friend that her daughter should not sit that
way.

I think with a two year old, you just need to keep
reminding her - with my daughter, we say criss-cross
applesauce to get her to sit cross legged.

Mary W.

Mary W. wrote:

toypup wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...

My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?



Dr. Sears says it makes them knockkneed. My brother's ped told my mom
the same thing. I'm inclined to agree. I sat that way my whole
childhood and I am knockkneed. I don't think it causes it once you
are an adult.


My sister is a pediatric physical therapist and she
discourages it also (although I can't remember the
reason why). And a friend of mine has a daughter that
was evaluated for physical therapy (although they
determined she didn't need it), and that therapist
told my friend that her daughter should not sit that
way.

I think with a two year old, you just need to keep
reminding her - with my daughter, we say criss-cross
applesauce to get her to sit cross legged.


Following up my own post, it's called the W sit. If you
google child W sit, there are a bunch of sites with
discussion of why it puts stress on the knees and
hips and potential long term damage due to it.

Mary W (again)

"Mary W." wrote in message
...
Mary W. wrote:

toypup wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...

My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?



Dr. Sears says it makes them knockkneed. My brother's ped told my mom
the same thing. I'm inclined to agree. I sat that way my whole
childhood and I am knockkneed. I don't think it causes it once you are
an adult.


My sister is a pediatric physical therapist and she
discourages it also (although I can't remember the
reason why). And a friend of mine has a daughter that
was evaluated for physical therapy (although they
determined she didn't need it), and that therapist
told my friend that her daughter should not sit that
way.

I think with a two year old, you just need to keep
reminding her - with my daughter, we say criss-cross
applesauce to get her to sit cross legged.


Following up my own post, it's called the W sit. If you
google child W sit, there are a bunch of sites with
discussion of why it puts stress on the knees and
hips and potential long term damage due to it.

Mary W (again)

I am having a really hard time imagining this sitting position. Legs bent
backward sounds somewhere between impossible and really painful. I googled w
sit and got kind of a mental picture. If I kneel down, and put my bum on my
feet, then move my feet out, away from each other such that my butt hits the
floor, I think I am doing a W sit. Do people of any age really engage in
this torture? I think my mental picture must be wrong. OR I can really
easily see why this could be hell on your knees, since I tried it. So, am I
picturing this correctly? I have never seen anyone do this.

Stephanie wrote:
"Mary W." wrote in message
...

Mary W. wrote:


toypup wrote:


wrote in message
egroups.com...


My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?



Dr. Sears says it makes them knockkneed. My brother's ped told my mom
the same thing. I'm inclined to agree. I sat that way my whole
childhood and I am knockkneed. I don't think it causes it once you are
an adult.


My sister is a pediatric physical therapist and she
discourages it also (although I can't remember the
reason why). And a friend of mine has a daughter that
was evaluated for physical therapy (although they
determined she didn't need it), and that therapist
told my friend that her daughter should not sit that
way.

I think with a two year old, you just need to keep
reminding her - with my daughter, we say criss-cross
applesauce to get her to sit cross legged.


Following up my own post, it's called the W sit. If you
google child W sit, there are a bunch of sites with
discussion of why it puts stress on the knees and
hips and potential long term damage due to it.

Mary W (again)


I am having a really hard time imagining this sitting position. Legs bent
backward sounds somewhere between impossible and really painful. I googled w
sit and got kind of a mental picture. If I kneel down, and put my bum on my
feet, then move my feet out, away from each other such that my butt hits the
floor, I think I am doing a W sit. Do people of any age really engage in
this torture? I think my mental picture must be wrong. OR I can really
easily see why this could be hell on your knees, since I tried it. So, am I
picturing this correctly? I have never seen anyone do this.



I sit like this, but I've been doing it ever since I was probably 2.
As a child and young adult, I found it a very comfortable way to sit so
I did. However, as I get older (I'm 44), I can feel the pressure more
and more on the inside of my knees.

Jeanne

In article ,
"Stephanie" wrote:

"Mary W." wrote in message
...
Mary W. wrote:

toypup wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...

My DD (2yo) sits with her legs bent backwards (like how the babies sit
when they are less than a year old). I was told this position is not
good for her knees and I should remind her everytime that she should
change her sitting position. I do that religiously. She won't correct
herself until I tell her to. I understand that it's a hard habit to
break. But the other day another friend of mine said even adults should
start sitting like that since that's very good for digestion (?) and
happens to be one of the yoga poses?

Does anyone know anything about this sitting position?



Dr. Sears says it makes them knockkneed. My brother's ped told my mom
the same thing. I'm inclined to agree. I sat that way my whole
childhood and I am knockkneed. I don't think it causes it once you are
an adult.


My sister is a pediatric physical therapist and she
discourages it also (although I can't remember the
reason why). And a friend of mine has a daughter that
was evaluated for physical therapy (although they
determined she didn't need it), and that therapist
told my friend that her daughter should not sit that
way.

I think with a two year old, you just need to keep
reminding her - with my daughter, we say criss-cross
applesauce to get her to sit cross legged.


Following up my own post, it's called the W sit. If you
google child W sit, there are a bunch of sites with
discussion of why it puts stress on the knees and
hips and potential long term damage due to it.

Mary W (again)

I am having a really hard time imagining this sitting position. Legs bent
backward sounds somewhere between impossible and really painful. I googled w
sit and got kind of a mental picture. If I kneel down, and put my bum on my
feet, then move my feet out, away from each other such that my butt hits the
floor, I think I am doing a W sit. Do people of any age really engage in
this torture? I think my mental picture must be wrong. OR I can really
easily see why this could be hell on your knees, since I tried it. So, am I
picturing this correctly? I have never seen anyone do this.



That's right -- and it looks like it ought to hurt! However, I've known
a couple of kids who sat like this. Both my sister and one of my
daughters sat like this frequently when they were small.
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

On Thu, 4 Aug 2005 16:40:11 -0400, "Stephanie"
wrote:

I am having a really hard time imagining this sitting position. Legs bent
backward sounds somewhere between impossible and really painful. I googled w
sit and got kind of a mental picture. If I kneel down, and put my bum on my
feet, then move my feet out, away from each other such that my butt hits the
floor, I think I am doing a W sit. Do people of any age really engage in
this torture? I think my mental picture must be wrong. OR I can really
easily see why this could be hell on your knees, since I tried it. So, am I
picturing this correctly? I have never seen anyone do this.

Search in google images. There is a picture of a little boy doing
this. I have actually not seen many children sit this way, but we did
have a few in preschool and were told to discourage it (no reason
given, but parents were following doctors advice).


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits

On Thu, 04 Aug 2005 21:36:35 GMT, dragonlady
wrote:

That's right -- and it looks like it ought to hurt! However, I've known
a couple of kids who sat like this. Both my sister and one of my
daughters sat like this frequently when they were small.

Interestingly, this website gives a reason for that.

http://www.pediatricservices.com/parents/pc-22.htm

W-sitting is not recommended for anyone. Many typically
developing children do move through this position during play,
but all parents should be aware that the excessive use of this
position during the growing years can lead to future
orthopedic problems.

Why do children W-sit? Every child needs to play and children
who are challenged motorically like to play as much as anybody.
They don’t want to worry about keeping their balance when
they’re concentrating on a toy. Children who are frequent
W-sitters often rely on this position for added trunk and hip
stability to allow easier toy manipulation and play.

When in the W-position, a child is planted in place or "fixed"
through the trunk. This allows for play with toys in front, but
does not permit trunk rotation and lateral weight shifts (twisting
and turning to reach toys on either side). Trunk rotation and
weight shifts over one side allow a child to maintain balance
while running outside or playing on the playground and are
necessary for crossing the midline while writing and doing
table top activities.

It’s easy to see why this position appeals to so many children,
but continued reliance on W-sitting can prevent a child from
developing more mature movement patterns necessary for
higher-level skills.

Who should not w-sit? For many children, W-sitting should
always be discouraged. This position is contraindicated (and
could be detrimental) for a child if one of the following exists:

There are orthopedic concerns. W-sitting can predispose a
child to hip dislocation, so if there is a history of hip dysplasia,
or a concern has been raised in the past, this position
should be avoided.

If there is muscle tightness, W-sitting will aggravate it. This
position places the hamstrings, hip adductors, internal
rotators and heel cords in an extremely shortened range. If a
child is prone to tightness or contractures, encourage another
pattern of sitting.

There are neurologic concerns/developmental delays. If a
child has increased muscle tone (hypertonia, spasticity),
W-sitting will feed into the abnormal patterns of movement
trying to be avoided (by direction of the child’s therapist).
Using other sitting postures will aid in the development of
more desirable movement patterns.

W-sitting can also discourage a child from developing a hand
preference. Because no trunk rotation can take place when
W-sitting, a child is less inclined to reach across the body
and instead picks up objects on the right with the right hand,
and those placed to the left with the left hand.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits