1 Year Old with 'W' Sitting

If you are worried see someone. However a 12 month old who is cruising may be perfectly normal. My son did not walk or cruise until 13 months and there is absolutely nothing wrong.

I am a Pediatric Occupational Therapist... first of all, a baby typically starts walking anywhere from 11 mos. to about 15 mos. but some are even later. As long as other milestones are on time and the child is crawling/cruising, there is probably no reason for concern. As for W sitting, it is very typical for a baby or toddler to W sit and no reason for concern until past age 2. At that point it can indicate low tone or need for a greater base of support (which is why babies do it), but sometimes kids just do it out of habit at this point and it should be discouraged. The reason it should be discouraged even if a child it developing normally is because it can prevent a child from being able to "cross midline" while playing and this can hinder development of higher level skills, and this position can create hip problems as well, if consistently used. If your child isn't walking by 16-18mos or has other delays, seems to fatigue more easily than other children or can't tailor sit, then I would get him evaluated. Otherwise, no need for concern.

Don't try to diagnose this yourself. You need to take your son to the ped and discuss it. Ask for an evaluation by PT/OT. It's important that you have a professional tell you that he is delayed, rather than you thinking this yourself.

You call him a one year old, but what does that mean? 12 months? 15 months? How far into one is he? If he is 12 months, than you are dead wrong about him being delayed in walking. LOTS of children don't walk at a year. My older son didn't walk until 14 months, and my younger a month later. You do not want to push a child to walk. Their brains have to be ready. AND their muscles. If you push a child to walk before their legs are ready, you can make him bowlegged. And the brain is very important in meeting this milestone.

So please, let the doctor tell you that he is delayed. Don't assume it.

I would consider seeing if ECI can do an evaluation... they may be able to recommend physical therapy or Occupational Therapy, or it may help you make a decision to get further evaluation done with a developmental pediatrician.

The earlier these things can be addressed and monitored, the better the outcome..... the low muscle tone can affect his walking and other activities. They can work on specific muscle activities to target the weak areas.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/384922/

He's only 1 yo. Give him some time. Ours didn't walk until he was 14 months. If he's cruising, he's good. My nephew is coming up on 14 months and just started to cruise. No biggie.

As for W sitting ... It can be bad for them in the long run, but helps make them more stable. Just correct his sitting position when you see him doing it. I still have to do that with our 2 yo. Maybe teach him criss cross applesauce instead.

I have always sat "W" and still do. I am 47 and I never had any problems with anything; I've always been very athletic and coordinated, and no problems in school, graduated college, everything normal. Why is sitting "W" a concern? People always commented on it, just to laugh and say "how in the world do you do that", but never anything bad. I wouldn't worry about it. I hope its normal, cuz I've always done it!

W sitting won't necessarily delay his walking. My older son also sat in a W form. he started walking around 19 months. Was not much interested before that. However, W sitting is bad for the hips. When you see him sit this way, correct him.

My niece is 6 years old and receives occupational therapy services and still "W" sits - not that we aren't all trying to help her correct it. She does this without thinking about it.

Whenever we see this, we remind her "Legs out front, please." I notice her sister and my kids do this, also, but not nearly as often. So, "Legs out front, please," becomes a very common phrase when the kids are together.

I really wouldn't worry about it right now, and not walking until after 18 months is not cause for alarm. It's not a bad thing to keep in mind as he gets older. Definitely try to encourage proper sitting after he's 2.

I don't know if I would worry about it right now but if you are very concerned I would talk to his dr about it.

He's fine.

My oldest didn't walk until 14 months. I never even paid attention to how he was sitting...he was into EVERYTHING!

Today he's almost 12 and runs like a deer, gets excellent grades in school, and is developmentally fine.

Quit worrying.

My son walked at 14 months.
He's crawling and rolling and cruising - so he's moving and strengthening his muscles.
He's fine.
I would not worry about it.

My brother, sister and I all sat that way. Never knew there was anything wrong with it. My sister, just turned 40 and can still sit this way. My brother and I can not (well I havent' tried, but I bet I cant)
Both of my daughters sit that was too. I know they will grow out of it as we did. My brother did it regularly into his teens too. It was his prefered sitting style while playing his Atari. Yes we are old :)
I always saw it as an unusual limberness, like some people can bend their arm backwards looking.
I'm not going to worry about my girls as in my experience it causes no problems.

At that age it's normal.

Kids aren't considered delayed , unless they're NOT pulling up to stand & cruising by 15 mos. or walking by 18 mos. I would just correct the " W sitting " for now. You should follow your gut , though & if you feel that there is an underlying problem, then contact EI, for an eval.