Toddler Takes Photos of Her Baby on Vacation, Mom Can't Cope

Newsweek

a day ago

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A toddler's sweet imitation of her mother's parenting has melted hearts on TikTok.
In a clip posted by her mom Viridiana Domínguez (@viridmngzz), her two-year-old daughter is seen carefully taking a photo of her beloved baby doll at the aquarium while on vacation with her grandparents.
Zahra holds up a phone and proudly snaps a picture of her "baby," mimicking the gestures and attention a parent might give to their own child.
Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo.
Toddler girl wearing striped shorts and vest set propping her baby doll up against a wall to take a photo.
@viridmngzz
Domínguez wrote on the text overlay: "Proof that they're always watching." The 31-year-old told Newsweek that she and Zahra's father love taking pictures of their daughter.
"We are always telling her to pose somewhere and say 'cheese' and she does it with the biggest most contagious smile," Domínguez said. "So her setting her baby down, posing her and taking the picture shows us that she sees what we do and has her baby doing it."
The heartwarming video has been viewed more than 914,000 times and received over 170,000 likes.
Commenters also noted how children often mirror the nurturing behaviors they see around them.
One user shared, "My niece put her baby doll into her sister's activity center and gasped, 'Ugh! You so smart! I about to cry!' while fanning her face lol. They're always watching!"
"Who's crying? Me omg so adorable. So much love we pour into our kids that it shows," another wrote.
A third commenter wrote, "They're like sponges."
Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E, director for Adelphi's Institute for Parenting, told Newsweek that imitation is a powerful learning strategy.
"It is universally true that children will do what we do," Kohchi said. "[They] are less likely to do what we say, especially when it differs from what we show them."
Kohchi pointed out that this is even more true for babies and very young children, who are experts at watching their parents' moods closely.
"[Young children] are likely reacting to how parents feel rather than what parents say, and we meet their needs when we develop our reflective ability to recognize our feeling states and learn to attune to theirs," she said.
Furthermore, a 2014 study published in Developmental Psychology found that toddlers as young as 14 months were more likely to imitate not just actions but intentions.
Researchers observed that children often mimic complex social behaviors—not just copying what adults do, but understanding the "why" behind those actions.
This is especially evident in caregiving behaviors, such as feeding, comforting, and, as in this case, even taking photos.
"These aren't just cute games," said Dr. Markham. "They're early signs of empathy, responsibility, and social understanding. When a child acts like a parent, it reflects what they've absorbed from their environment—especially from their primary caregivers."
Whether it's mimicking bedtime routines or recreating the perfect vacation snapshot, this viral moment is a touching reminder: kids don't miss a thing.
"[There are] many other things she mimics, proving our littles are always watching what we do," Domínguez said.