A first-time mum has been left gobsmacked after her baby began walking at just six-months-old.
Grace and Ryan, both 29, from Colchester, Essex, were shocked when their daughter Freya Minter, now seven months, decided to take her first steps unaided - despite looking barely old enough to crawl.
The mother-of-one now spends her time running around after her pint-sized tot after she began walking on March 25.
The average age for babies to start walking is around a year old, but Freya - who is thought to be one of the youngest babies to have ever started walking - is well ahead of her peers.
'Freya was able to stand up whilst holding on to our fingers for balance, by the time she was four-months-old,' explained Grace. 'We could tell she was desperate to walk from then but it wasn't until she was six-months-old that it actually happened.'
Speaking of the moment Freya took her first steps, Grace revealed her face was 'priceless.'
'She had the cheekiest grin, Ryan and I couldn't believe it,' the proud mum said. 'At first, I thought it was a fluke, but then when she continued to walk a few steps here and there, I was amazed.'
She continued: 'Freya has completely skipped crawling and has walked straight away, but she hasn't quite mastered how to get around things yet, she tries to go over them.'
The parents have admitted they need eyes at the back of our heads now as she is so quick and always wants to be involved.
'We brought her a walker but her feet don't even touch the ground, so we didn't attempt to use it again, so she has learnt all by herself,' Grace explained.
'Freya has never had seated walkers as I read this may delay a baby's learning as they get used to the support form the seat, so this might be why she is walking already.
'She is our first child so we don't know any different but we're so proud of her.'
According to the NHS, a baby starts to sit up on their own at six months and begins walking with support between nine to 12 months.
Grace added: 'She has always been an active baby and super strong considering she is only 13 pounds. At four-and-a-half-months old, she was able to sit up on her own.
'She is a very determined little lady - at ten-weeks she rolled from her cot into my bed so we should have seen this coming.'
'It was only when I spoke to friends and brought her to baby groups, I realised that she is so advanced.'
And Grace admitted the first steps didn't only come as a shock to them - as their friends and family couldn't believe it either.
'People have been amazed by her walking at play group and they love how her face is either one of sheer determination or a great big smile,' she explained.
'Who knows what she'll do next? Freya is now seven months and we have no doubt that she'll continue to keep smashing her milestones.'
Age (in months) Developmental Overview
0 - 6
By three months, most babies can:
- raise their head and chest when lying on their stomach
- keep their head in the middle when lying on their back.
By six months, most babies :
- are learning to roll both ways (front to back, back to front)
- can grasp feet with hands
- can support their weight on their legs (when held)
- are beginning to develop some mobility on their tummy.
6 - 12
By nine months, most babies can sit unsupported and play with toys. They will probably be pivoting round on their tummy to get into a crawling position. They may be crawling, although some will choose to move around by bottom shuffling.
By 12 months, babies can:
- get from sitting to lying on their tummy or to crawling
- get from lying to sitting by themself
- pull themself up to stand and lower themself to the floor in a controlled way
- walk holding on to furniture (and may stand and walk independently).
12 - 18
By 18 months, most babies:
- can walk alone with feet wide apart, but frequently fall and bump into furniture
- can get to standing unaided
- can crawl up stairs and may attempt to step up them
- enjoy walking with push-along toys such as a brick trolley.
Source: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS
