NOW CLOSED Tell Clarks about your child's first steps and be in with a chance of winning a £100 voucher

[AlexMumsnet]

Clarks have just released their latest First Shoes range here and to coincide they would love to hear about your DCs first steps.

So what do you remember about your child(ren)s first attempts to negotiate the world on two feet?

~ How old were they?

~ Do you remember where you were at the time?

~ Did they take time to adjust, or were they keen to get a move on?

~ How did it feel? Were you overjoyed or just slightly terrified at how quickly they were growing up and what they could now get up to!?

Everyone who shares their thoughts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, where one MNer will win a £100 Clarks voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

DD was 17 months when she stood up and walked for the first time. She just wasn't interested in walking (or even standing up).

It was a shock when she stood up and walked! We were in our living room and DH and I just looked at each other with gaping mouths when she did it. She had had a paed referral as the HV and GP were concerned about her not weight bearing. We couldn't believe it when the day before the we were to see the Consultant she stood up and walked!

There was no hesitation from that day on - no wobbliness. I think she just liked watching everyone else walk and then thought one day, ok, now I will do it too!

DS is 10 months and is not walking yet but is cruising round the furniture (DD never did that). I took him to Clarks last week for his first shoes. He was a size 4. DD (who is now 3) only came out of a size 4 last year. They are like chalk and cheese!

DD took her first steps at about 12 months with a little hesitation

DS was about the same but with far more confidence and still is the more confident of the two

Oops am I bad mother that I am a bit vague about when they both took their first steps.

DS1 took his first steps on his own 2 days before his first birthday on Mothers Day! Such a proud moment and even the grandparents were there to witness it too.

My DD took her first steps the day before she turned 11mths. She had been cruising since a couple of days after she turned 8mths so it was eagerly anticipated...

Both DH & I were in our lounge and she walked between us. She didn't seem to have realised she had done it as she didn't walk alone again for another 2wks, when she was crawling along & then suddenly stood up and started walking!! She's never looked back.

I was really excited and pleased that she had done it then as both DH & I had experienced it. Also, as I was returning to work soon, I was glad she has reached one of the 'big milestones' before I did so, and I didn't miss it. It was a touch bittersweet though, as it suddenly emphasised how 'grown-up' my baby was.

I just hope I get to witness my DS's first steps in the same way.

DS walked on his first birthday which was lovely because everyone was there to see it. He had been cruising for a long time and he just launched himself at his Nanna across a four foot gap and once he realised he could do it he was off! We will always remember what age he walked thanks to the day it happened on. We had an NCT meet up a couple of weeks later and I was surprised to see he was the only one walking because he had been the last to sit and crawl but there he was, zooming around!

DS1, DD & DS2 all began to walk just around the first year mark and I always put them in Clarks shoes - but being a qualified Clarks Foot Fitter, perhaps I was biased!

~ How old were they? It was a week after my DS's first birthday. I remember I'd just started back at work following a years maternity leave and I was terrified I'd miss this milestone.

~ Do you remember where you were at the time? I was at my friend's house and was very lucky she was there to film it too.

~ Did they take time to adjust, or were they keen to get a move on? I remember trying to get him to do it again for DH when we got home and it took a few days for him to do it again.

~ How did it feel? Were you overjoyed. I was beyond overjoyed and overwhelmed but just so relieved I was there and not at work!

Ds was 10 months, upped and walked in the garden, slightly wobbly but no hesitation. I shrieked and then called everyone very proud mama moment. I had to go buy him she's the next day as he flatly refused to use the pushchair after that and was everywhere all the time by the end of the week.

WHY do our babies need 'pre-walking' shoes?

I never had shoes till I was 3, apparently, which imo is taking the mickey but honestly I'd like to know why Clarks think these things are necessary.

Bit like 'Take a look at our Full Price range' at another retailer, as though Full Price was something rather special and desirable.

Sorry but I don't like Clarks because the quality is so bad and I think they are out to put us on a guilt trip.

DD1's first steps I remember so well.

She was just over 11 months, and a tiny little thing. We were on our honeymoon, with DS, DD1, and my parents, sitting by the pool in Corsica, with the video camera out. DD1 just took off - she must have done about ten steps before toppling over. Then she got up and did it again.

It's particularly lovely because we have the whole thing on video, and it was in such beautiful surroundings.

DS's first steps were taken at Lanhydrock, a National Trust place in Cornwall. We borrowed a set of reins and he practiced his new skills up and down the long corridors. He was just coming up to his first birthday.

I can't remember DD2's first steps, except that she was older, nearly 13 months. Lazy lump.

We were at Busy Bees - the playgroup we go to on Monday mornings.
She'd been standing up for a little while (she stood on her own for the first time at Busy Bees too), and she just sort of started stepping tentatively!
She was about 12 months (she was 1 on 12th december, and it was the first BB after the new year), and I was so excited!
I spent the whole year in gobsmacked amazement at how much she suddenly leapt in development seemingly overnight
I still do now, though, she's 15mo and she amazes me every day.
She did take time to adjust - she only took one or two steps, like as if she couldn't trust herself to balance.
But she was incredibly clever at it - whenever she thought she'd been walking/standing too much, she'd lower herself gently to a crouching position.
A couple of weeks later, I was sitting here at my desk and suddenly saw this child toddling along quite happily with an item in each hand! Lie she was saying "wow! I can move and carry things at the same time!" As soon as she realized I'd seen her, she crouched down

We were on a flight to Australia to visit friends. Spent hours following a wobbly toddler up and down the aisles. Can't remember whose smart idea it was to sit him in the aisle in the first place. He was 11months old. Kids never follow the plan!

DS took his first (sideways!) steps at home at 13 months but then didn't walk again until 14 months. He fell into a bucket of "gloop" at nursery the day after the first steps and it scared him so much he wouldn't even try to stand up for nearly a month. I was worried he would never try it again! To be fair to him, the gloop accident was pretty bad, judging by the state of his trousers, jumper, vest, shoes and coat when he brought them home. I think he went in headfirst!

DD has always been very small for her age. She walked at about 14 months and we let her cruise round without shoes on for a few weeks before we got her any shoes. Still, when I took her in, she was only a size 2 and we had a choice of 1 pair of cruising shoes out of the whole Clarks shop! Good job they were nice ones.

For ages, I had people telling me that she looked too small to be walking

DS1 was the most non mobile baby I have ever known. All my pals babies were crawling, scooting, shuffling or rolling while DS1 just sat there .
Not surprisingly this must have got quite boring so, at 11 months, he started walking. He seemed to miss out the bit where they pull themselves along the furniture or where they stumble about. He was a very determined lad and he still is (20 years later)

It was great fun showing everyone his 'new' party trick.

His siblings all walked in a much more normal way.

DS1 was 10 months when he walked independently, he'd been pushing a truck since he was 6 months. He was a confident walker right from the start.
DS2 was 13 months, he was a lot more hesitant and fell over a lot he had his first pair of shoes at 15months and had to be specially ordered a size 2.
DD1 was 9 months when she walked independently she'd been taking odd steps from 8 months and enjoyed walking holding a hand from then, she was desperate to keep up with her big brothers. She used to worry other mums at the park by climbing up the slides and climbing frames by herself.
DD2 was also 9 months when she walked.

I've always found it such a special moment when they walk, the sense of achievement they show on their little faces. They all seem to recognise that this is a big milestone for them.

Ds walked properly for the first time the day we brought dd1 home from the hospital. He was 14 months. We had come in the door of my mother in laws house and dh had set the carseat down on the kitchen floor. Ds was holding onto the table leg and just turned and toddled right over to look at his new sister I don't document every second of their lives but that is a special memory. It was love at first sight for those two, they are still very close. That first moment though when he just walked straight over was beautiful. He looked at her lovingly and she stared back with newborn eyes. Makes me well up thinking of it

Dd1 walked for the first time unaided aged 22 months, she was happy enough to just crawl everywhere. She was walking between dh and I and we videoed it. She was laughing hysterically with every step :o

Dd2 is only 4 months but has clubfoot and I have no idea when she might walk but I doubt it will be early as she has orthotic boots and is only just kicking her legs now.

DS2 was two weeks off turning 10mo . I'd expected him to be early as DS1 walked before he was 11mo, but that was just ridiculous!

He'd been cruising for quite a while, and one day just toddled across the lounge floor. I've got a video of him him toddling down the garden path the week before he turned 10m. One he started, that was it, he has never been still since! We got some very funny looks at the baby groups we went to once he was on his feet as he looked far too small to be walking. He was walking like a toddler rather than a baby really quickly too. Both of mine took to walking very very quickly and easily.

Although of course I'm very proud, it has made life very tricky. I now have a toddler and a pre-schooler who are into everything, and have an amazing ability to climb / reach anything they put their mind to !

Ds was a staggering 13 months before he crawled then took his first steps when he was 17months. We were staying at my brothers house and he walked across the garden much to our amazement.
Dd was 11months and was so quick. She practically took her first steps running!
For both Dc we went to Clark's for their first shoes, although I have to be honest we were quite disappointed by the huge wall of pink that greeted us in the girls section and we actually bought hers from the boys section in the end.
Now regrettably we buy her shoes elsewhere as we want to be able to choose between different colours not different shades of sugary pink .
I have emailed but no response.
I guess I wont be winning the prize

we are anxiously waiting for first steps. dd is 1 and starting to think about it!

How old were they?

10mths old

~ Do you remember where you were at the time?

At home in living room

~ Did they take time to adjust, or were they keen to get a move on?

Keen to get on!

~ How did it feel? Were you overjoyed or just slightly terrified at how quickly they were growing up and what they could now get up to!?

So pleased. It was 3days before she had to go to nursery full time. So blessed I got to see it first.

How old were they?
I have 3 dc and by a curious coincidence all 3 have walked at 10 months old.

Do you remember where you were at the time?
With dd, she was on the cathedral green, suddenly got up and just did it with no warning whatsoever. Ds1 I can't remember as I had terrible PND, I have very few memories of him as a baby which is pretty sad really. Ds2's first steps were only a few weeks ago and we were in our living room.

Did they take time to adjust, or were they keen to get a move on?
All 3 pretty much hovered experimentally for a day or two before just getting up and striding about. Ds2 is 1 in 10 days and is confidently walking,even right now when he's ill.

How did it feel? Were you overjoyed or just slightly terrified at how quickly they were growing up and what they could now get up to!?
WIth dd, she was my first so I was really pretty awestruck. Took lots of pictures. Ds2 I remain in a state of denial that he's actually walking. This year has gone so incredibly quickly. It's actually much easier to keep tabs on him now he's on his feet though, less pickign things up from the floor.

She was 19 months old
We we at home playing, and she literally just stood up and walked! The more I clapped, and said well done, the more she did it :)
No time to adjust....within a few days she tried to run!
I was so happy but her being able to walk quickly coincided with a climbing phase, which then led to several more grey hairs for Mummy!

Ds got his first "starter" shoes when he was about 16 months old. He'd started cruising at 12 months old - but started crawling at about the same time so was more in doing that.

Was in no hurry for him to grow up - knew he would walk when he was ready. As it was, iirc, he was only walking confidently at 17 months (when he "escaped" to the house next door at 7am, unbeknownst to us ).

He's now an extremely active (and fast ) 12 year old - with very small feet (still only a Size 2 despited being average height! ).