r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/Huge-Nectarine-8563 • 1d ago

Question - Research required How much should babies be left to fall when trying to stand and walk?

When my baby was trying to roll on a foam mat at 4 months I just let her fall when she fell. Then when she was trying to sit she only fell 2-3 times splotched on her back, we didn’t purposely let her fall but we were also not always behind her back and she learned to sit quickly (from the first trial to sitting to play comfortably, within a weekend, she learned that close to 9 months old and most babies learn earlier so it went quickly) so we didn’t have time to think about it.

Now that she is trying to stand by holding the sofa we’re behind her and we catch her.

I am wondering if she should fall or if she should be caught. If she falls I feel like she will learn how balance works better (we also let her spill her water open cup on herself until she learned to hold it), but obviously I don’t want her to injure herself.

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u/discounthideout 1d ago

If she's falling on her butt or knees, let her fall. If she's falling on her face or backwards and hitting her head, then catch her. Don't overthink it.

https://cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk/moving-and-being-active/early-years-movement-skills-and-development/learning-to-walk/

5

u/wastetine 1d ago

If I can help it, I try to catch my guy when he stumbles. But I can actually catch him maybe 10% of the time at best.

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u/[deleted] 17h ago

[deleted]

-1

u/LBro32 15h ago

Why the AI slop response?

1

u/[deleted] 20h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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