Babies learning by falling? Or should we catch them

Question

Question on the mom’s view of letting your baby learn by falling (specifically relating to sitting, but probably applies elsewhere). 
Some background: Our daughter sits very well. If one of us isn’t behind her we put a boppy there just in case she tips back. Until this weekend, she knew the limitation of her reach when reaching for toys in front of her. This weekend, though, she started to take head dives reaching for things and we’ve been catching her. This afternoon I go into the kitchen (I work from home) and the nanny mentions how she started leaning forward and she fell forward but she just looked for her reaction and then said, that’s okay, is how you learn. 
I agree that we shouldn’t gasp or create a fuss when kids fall. That’s how they learn that it’s something to be upset about, when they are otherwise fine. 
But, I wonder what people’s views are on letting them fall? I think we should be catching them and instead safely encouraging them to reach when we can support them until their little arms/legs learn how to do it. If you can’t be there to catch the baby, then the position is not a safe position. FTM who’s more cautious than most, so I’m genuinely interested in thoughts. 
It doesn’t matter for purposes of this question but I looked back on the security tape and our nanny had her back turned to our daughter sitting up on the floor of her nursery (which only has a thin carpet) while putting away her laundry.So, my opinion is that it wasn’t a safe situation and our nanny shouldn’t have left her like that. Hopefully she has  learned our LO likes to take head dives but given her reaction to “letting her learn” I’m not sure she will prevent it next time either. We are in the process of hiring a new one and she will be leaving our family in a week anyway.

Answer

I stay nearby to catch her because I don’t want her hitting her head. Once she’s a more solid sitter, I will back off :)

Answer

If they got themselves to the seated position, I’d be likely to let them tip. I let my kid walk off the end of a low sofa he climbed onto himself and he learned pretty quickly to respect the edge. 
But if i prop the baby up, I catch her

Answer

As long as it's not concrete, I let them fall. When they look for my reaction I laugh and say woops you fell. Both got the hang of it and stopped pretty soon.

Answer

At first when he wasn’t sitting well I was around him or behind him to keep an eye and what not . He has been sitting wonderfully since dec . 1st is not a bit before and he fell once and he never did it again now he lays his hands out and crawls sits back etc . It took a small face plant I just missed catching 😫. For him to learn how to go from sitting to crawling .. I don’t purposely leave him their to fall or anything I have a very hyper active son. He is currently doing the feet and hand stand with his butt in the air trying to stand walk and holds on to things to push etc so I am trying to be there when he’s doing these things but sometimes they come as such a surprise !! Lol

Answer

I guess I do a little bit of both. My LO face planted today and I was right there. I picked him up, cuddled him, and he was fine. I catch him sometimes too though. Guess it just depends on the environment.
I would absolutely prevent him from falling backwards though, as I'd be worried about a head injury!

Answer

At first I was always right behind her when she fell a lot. Now she’s standing up on furniture and falls all the time. She learned pretty quickly to fall on her butt. Our carpet is really soft though. If she’s on a harder surface I’m much more cautious.

Answer

Before my daughter was sitting well I would catch her, because she would slam backwards. Now that she can support herself smoothly, I let her go...if I’m right there and can tell it’s going to be a hard one, I’ll step in. But some falls, assuming she’s strong enough to slow the falls, are probably fine!

Answer

Ever since she learned to come to a seated position on her own, I’ve let her fall. Sometimes she cries, but most of the time she lays there for a second...then gets back up and keeps playing. She has also learned  if she’s falling backward to lift her head so it doesn’t slam on the ground. We have -hardwood floors and no area rugs, for reference.

Answer

F.
My lo is decent at sitting up but most of the time she's sitting with us or the couch or pillow behind her so I don't think she's really learned her limit as far as falling back. I've been sitting her up, but facing me and catching her with my legs/feet if she goes too far back. But maybe I need to let her fall more often, if she's on a soft surface?

Answer

It usually depends where your child is and if it would be okay for the baby to fall. Most of the time if it’s harmless, you don’t want to make a big deal out of it because your baby will always cry every time thinking something is wrong.

Babies learning by falling? Or should we catch them

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