This is the heartwarming moment a baby boy with Down Syndrome defied the odds and all medical expectations - to take his very first steps.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Theo Antoniades was diagnosed shortly after his traumatic birth with overwhelmed mum Sophie, 30, told he would face many difficulties.

Consultants warned Theo may not be able to stand, support himself or walk independently, until he was four.

But happy little Theo was having none of that and pushed himself up from a crawl to stand upright, much to his own - and his mum's - delight.

Sophie, from Hertfordshire, said: “I happened to have my iPad on and suddenly, he just stood up and he's normally crawling around and had never done that before.

"The day before we had tried to get him to walk with his walker. He surprises us every day with something new. I was absolutely amazed, it's such a lovely video.

"He had taken a few steps before but he was always holding onto something, he has never stood up unaided.

“He was so weak when he was born, and it's taken so long for him to get to this stage.

"The medical professionals I spoke to, based on his low muscle tone and how weak he was, thought he would be doing this no earlier than four years old. He couldn't even lift his head, and in certain positions, would even shut off his own airways.”

Theo wasn't diagnosed with Down syndrome until after he was born. The newborn was on oxygen for three weeks and diagnosed with a hole in his heart, which was likely to need surgery when he was strong enough.

Sophie added: "It was a very traumatic start. We were told he had Down syndrome just two-and-a-half hours after giving birth.

"It was a very long labour, and it was an emergency to get him out as his heart rate was dropping rapidly. They got him out and I got to see him for a couple of seconds until they took him away.

"We weren't told anything until two and a half hours later other than 'he just needs some extra support'".

Sophie wasn’t deterred and fell in love with her son at first sight, leaving her job to become Theo's full-time carer.

She added: "I honestly thought the consultant was going to say he wasn't going to make it. Then she said 'he is showing several markers for Down syndrome'.

"I felt like I was in a dream world. I went all numb and I hadn't even held him yet. I just froze. I just remember thinking what is going on. I asked if I could hold him, and I remember seeing him and I didn't see his diagnosis and I just fell in love with him."

Sophie says that despite welcoming Theo in difficult circumstances, she would do it again and wouldn't change him for the world.

She added: "As Theo is growing up it's clear that his diagnosis does not define who he is. He's an absolute joy and the glue to our family.

"Having a baby with complications is harder, but I wouldn't change him for the world. He's the one thing in life I never knew I needed so much."

The clips featured in this video were filmed within April and March 2021.