The age to stop W-sitting is between the ages of 5 or 6.
By age 5 to 6 years of age, most kids will naturally stop W-sitting as the child develops better balance and core strength.
occasional W-sitting in children is not a cause for concern in most cases.
Although if the W-sitting persists past age 6 or it's excessive, especially if it occurs past age 6 it could be a concern and a discussion with the child's pediatrician or therapist is recommended.
However W-sitting is common as a sitting position where a child sits on the floor with their knees bent and the feet pointing outwards, creating a "W" shape with their legs.
Many children will naturally try sitting in the W-sitting position, especially when they are younger and it's also often a comfortable way for a child to sit and play or relax.
If your child consistently favors sitting in the W-sitting position and have difficulty sitting in some other ways, the W-sitting can also be a sign of underlying health issues like poor core stability, muscle weakness or other developmental issues.
Some children will naturally outgrow W-sitting, although in some cases it can persist beyond 5 or 6 and if so it should be checked by a doctor.
W-sitting can shorten certain leg muscles, such as hip internal rotators, hamstrings and even weaken other muscles such as the hip abductors, core muscles, potentially leading to muscle contractures.
In some cases, the W-sitting can also contribute to or exacerbate hip problems, though research is still ongoing.
And if a child does rely heavily on W-sitting, it can potentially hinder the development of the child's core strength and balance.