One big step for babies after Victoria’s long lockdown

After spending much of their first year inside, missing many valuable milestones and events, this is the magical moment babies take their first steps in the post-lockdown world.

Some babies take their first steps trembling like baby foals, holding onto things as they stumble and stagger.

Others stride firmly with their arms raised in triumph from the very start.

Most children begin walking around their first birthday after spending months crawling, grabbing and shuffling.

The Herald Sun asked some mothers of one-year-olds about the time they took their first steps into the post-lockdown world.

Baby Molly, 13 months, stepping out. Picture: David Caird

Molly walking with the aid of her mum Laura Papillo. Picture: David Caird

One step at a time. Picture: David Caird

Taking a quick break. Picture: David Caird

These babies have spent much of their first year inside, missing many valuable milestones and events, so this magical moment is greatly treasured by their parents.

Laura Papillo from Preston said her daughter Molly, 14 months, was very mobile before she started to walk just after she turned one.

“She would scoot around on her bottom – bum-shuffling we call it,” Ms Papillo said.

“And then she started squatting on her legs and cruising around holding onto furniture.

“When she stood up by herself for the first time, she threw her hands in the air in delight and opened her mouth. She was copying us and now she throws her hands in the air every time and says ‘Aaahhhh!!’ until we clap and applaud her,” she said.

Baby Keith and his friend Sweep the cat. Picture- Nicole Cleary

Standing up. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Sweep helping out. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Molly was born with hip dysplasia and wore a brace until she was one, but her mother said it hadn’t held her back.

“She’s always been very social since she was young and busy and active. She loves pushing her little wooden bunny wagon and collects her toys from around the house and puts them in it,” she said.

Sasha Nowlan from Bentleigh East said her daughter Harper, 17 months, “spent months working up to walking by grabbing things and standing up”.

“She was always trying to move and rattle around. She’s got FOMO so she likes to stay up late and be very active.”

Finn, 12 months, Adaline, 14 months, Harper, 16 months, and Parker, 18 months. Picture: Rebecca Michael

A big day out for the babies. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Babies enjoying being out and about. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Harper spent a lot of time walking around the living room holding onto things before she took her first steps by herself. “She was definitely very proud of herself and very pleased. She’s now running and we can’t keep her still! We were so excited to be there – we grabbed the phone and filmed it.”

Emma Howard from Greensborough said the first steps of her son Finn, now 13 months, were “like a baby foal – all wobbly”.

“He looked up at us, like, ‘Look at what I can do!’ He looked like he’d achieved the world,” she said.

“Then our three-year-old Hazel wanted to retake her first steps as well so we had to film that too!”

Finn, like the rest of these Covid kids, spent his first year at home. “He was really overwhelmed when he saw the inside of people’s houses or if there were more than two people in the room,” Ms Howard said. “But he’s now adapting pretty quickly.”

Stacey Ransom from Mornington said her son Parker, now 19 months, walked at 14 months.

“It was a very long process. He took one or two steps but it took two months for him to be confident enough to walk,” she said.

“He was a very confident couch and furniture walker. He hated falling to the floor, but now he’s off and running and we can’t stop him.”