A toddler crawled into her baby sister's crib—and showed us what love looks like before language

Yahoo

a day ago

A grainy baby monitor clip posted to TikTok by @unfiltered_mum has racked up over 7.7 million views—and it's not hard to see why. In the video, a toddler named Arlia gently climbs into her baby sister Kiarra's crib. She scoots in beside her, wraps a small blanket around them both, and plants a pacifier-muted kiss on her sister's forehead. The baby gazes up at her big sister, wide-eyed and calm.
There's no dramatic music or flashy edits—just a tender moment between siblings, quietly unfolding in the early morning light.
While some viewers were quick to raise concerns about safe sleep practices, many others saw what Arlia's mother, Veronica, saw: a rare and precious glimpse into the emotional bond forming between two young sisters—before they even share a full language to express it.
The video begins with Arlia, just three years old, quietly entering her baby sister's room after noticing Kiarra had woken up. 'Mummy, Kiarra's awake. Can I go give her a cuddle?' Veronica told Newsweek.
What followed was something many parents might dream of but rarely witness so clearly: Arlia climbs into the crib, settles in beside her seven-month-old sister, and instinctively pulls a small blanket over them both. She chats softly, as toddlers do, while Kiarra stares up at her with full-body focus. There's a kiss. A shared stillness. Then more quiet conversation between the two—spoken in toddler rhythms and baby expressions.
It's a scene that resonates not because it's unusual, but because it's so achingly pure. The kind of moment parents hope their children will share—but rarely get to see play out with such clarity.
From another room, Veronica watched it all unfold on the baby monitor. She didn't intervene, didn't direct or pose—it was simply happening. 'I want them to love one another as much as my sister and I love each other,' she told Newsweek, reflecting on what she witnessed.
For parents of more than one child, these small, unprompted moments can feel like gold dust: unexpected, unscripted flashes of connection that hint at a lifelong bond in the making. Arlia's tenderness mattered—but it was the quiet confidence behind it that truly resonated. The way she climbed in not to play or perform, but simply to be close.
It was, as Veronica described it, a moment of grace. The kind of scene you carry in your heart long after the crib has been packed away.
Though neither child in the video is fluent in language, what's exchanged between them is unmistakable: affection, empathy, and connection. Research shows that early acts of nurturing, especially between siblings, play an important role in developing empathy and emotional regulation in young children.
Studies indicate that toddlers who engage in caring behaviors toward their siblings build important social and emotional skills. For example, a review published in Frontiers in Psychology highlights how early sibling interactions promote the development of emotional intelligence, including the ability to share, cooperate, and manage feelings. Similarly, the Child Mind Institute explains that these early relationships help children learn empathy and conflict resolution, even before they have the words to express these concepts fully.
In Arlia's quiet crib-side visit, we see one of these foundational moments unfolding. She's showing affection as part of practicing skills that build healthy relationships for life.
Related: AAP releases new 2022 safe sleep guidelines: Here's what parents and caregivers need to know
The video sparked a lively conversation online, revealing two distinct schools of thought.
On one side, many viewers raised safety concerns, especially about the blanket and stuffed toys in the baby's crib:
Gwen: 'SIDS sleep environment, I'm from Australia. please use a sleeping bag, no toys eeek'
Superfluous_Jam: 'Lovely moment but that baby is too young to have a blanket. Please invest in a sleepsack for safety'
becca777xx
:
'Sooo sweet. Please look up crib safety, nothing in the crib with baby (blankets/teddys etc.) '
Mark King8920: 'Stuffies and blankets…danger'
But alongside these safety concerns, many commenters urged empathy and understanding.
Rosemary Winter:
'I rushed to the comments and they didn't disappoint . That is a beautiful moment for a wee family to have and witness! My kids had toys, blankets and cot bumpers and are happy, healthy adults. Absolutely no disrespect intended because these new guidelines are in place for a reason but give a mum a break '
Rekaszoke88:
'The amount of people that play the 'no blanket no stuffy' police the video is representing the love between siblings. You may just wanna focus on that and let their mama do her thing. She wasn't asking for advice but share this beautiful bond'
This range of reactions shows how parenting decisions—especially in the public eye—can inspire both concern and support. It also reminds us that behind every clip, there's a real family making the best choices they can in the moment.
It's understandable that some viewers reacted strongly to the sight of a baby with a blanket and stuffed toy in the crib. Safe sleep guidelines exist for a reason, and they're rooted in data that has helped reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be placed on their backs for sleep, on a firm mattress with no loose bedding, pillows, or stuffed animals.
These recommendations are especially important during the first year of life, when infants are most vulnerable. Instead of blankets, many experts suggest sleep sacks or wearable blankets, which offer warmth without the risk of covering a baby's face.
Related: Your 10 most pressing baby safety questions, answered by a pediatrician
That said, parenting isn't lived in ideal conditions—it's lived in 2 a.m. decisions, in the tension between exhaustion and intuition. Veronica, the girls' mother, explained in her Newsweek interview that Kiarra had been waking every 20 minutes due to separation anxiety, and that introducing a lightweight comforter after seven months helped her daughter finally rest. 'I am just doing what works best for my family,' she said.
In a perfect world, all sleep environments would check every safety box. But in real life, parents are often navigating the space between the ideal and the practical. Recognizing that reality—without erasing the importance of guidelines—is part of building a more compassionate parenting culture.
There were no words in that crib—just a kiss, a blanket, and a toddler's instinct to care. But in that quiet moment, a lifelong bond was beginning.
These small, everyday acts between siblings often go unnoticed. They're not milestones, but they shape who our children become. So the next time you catch a glance, a giggle, or a gesture of love—pause. Sometimes the most powerful connections are the ones made before either child can speak.
Sources:
The Journal of Marriage and Family. 2014. 'Sibling Relationships and Influences in Childhood and Adolescenc'
Frontiers in Psychology. 2024. 'Does sibling family structure matter in the emotion understanding development in preschoolers?'