Mom Sees Son Playing With New Toy, Then Has Emotional Realization
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A woman who noticed her youngest son had taken a liking to a particular toy was stunned when she finally realized why.
Mom-of-two Rebecca Hill, from Pennsylvania, had gifted her 20-month-old son a Fisher-Price Little People toy set, for the simple reason he "loves trucks."
However, the toy set would take on greater significance in the days that followed.
"He played with the truck for a few days and I noticed he was paying more attention to the figurine," Hill told Newsweek. "He was just carrying around the little man."
A still from the video showing the toy that Rebecca Hill's 20-month-old son become fixated on.
A still from the video showing the toy that Rebecca Hill's 20-month-old son become fixated on.
TikTok/beckyllih
Taken by the pleasure her son seemed to be deriving from the toy, Hill decided to document the moment on camera.
"I figured, let me get a quick picture before I take it [the figurine] while he naps. I then decided to take a cute video of him snuggling with it to show my husband," she said.
That was the moment the significance of it became apparent. "It wasn't until I saw he was napping with it that it really hit me," Hill said. "I then realized how much the figurine actually resembled his dad and then it all made sense."
When it comes to kids and toys, less can often be more. A 2018 study published in the journal infant Behavior and Development found that children who had fewer toys engaged in healthier play and benefited from deeper cognitive development.
As part of the research, 36 toddlers aged between 18 and 30 months took part in free-play sessions. Each child was given either four toys or 16 to play with. The study revealed how those given fewer toys played for longer periods of time and in more varied ways.
Hill's young son was certainly content with just the one toy. And when the mom explained her theory to husband Leo, he was surprised too.
"My husband was shocked when he finally noticed the similarities and felt so proud that our son was doting over a little figurine that resembled him," Hill said.
She decided to create a video for her TikTok account @beckyllih, showcasing just how alike her son's toy and dad really were.
"I realized my husband had almost the exact clothes to match and I figured a video might be a fun idea to compare," she said. "It did not disappoint."
The video has gone viral, with 2.5 million views and counting.
While her son's focus remains firmly fixed on his new toy friend, he has also been enjoying the family's newfound fame on social media.
"Our son doesn't really talk much yet but I can tell he loves the toy so much," Hill said. "We showed him the TikTok I made and he lights up while watching it, laughing and smiling."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Planned C-Sections Linked to Higher Risk of Cancer in Children
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Planned caesarean births—"C-sections"—slightly raise the risk of some childhood cancers—particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This is the conclusion of a study by researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, which analyzed health records from nearly 2.5 million children born between 1982 and 2015. The findings indicate that children born by planned C-section—those scheduled before labor begins—appear to have a 21 percent higher risk of developing ALL compared to those born vaginally. The risk was even higher—29 percent—for the most common subtype, B-cell ALL (B-ALL). While the researchers stress that the overall risk remains low, the study offers new insight into the potential long-term impacts of elective surgical births. "C-sections are an important and often life-saving part of obstetric care [and] we don't want mothers to feel anxious about medically indicated C-sections," said lead author Christina-Evmorfia Kampitsi, a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet. But when combined with other studies linking planned C-sections to asthma, allergies and type 1 diabetes, it's worth discussing non-medically indicated procedures, she added. Using Sweden's national birth and cancer registries, the team identified 1,495 children later diagnosed with leukemia. Children born via emergency C-section—typically after labor has already begun—did not show the same elevated risk. The researchers suggest this may be because emergency deliveries expose infants to natural stress hormones and maternal vaginal bacteria, which play a role in immune system development. Young mom hugging her newborn baby after delivery. Young mom hugging her newborn baby after delivery. NataliaDeriabina In contrast, planned C-sections—often performed before labor begins—bypass these natural exposures, potentially affecting how the infant's immune system matures. The elevated risk appeared more pronounced in boys and younger children, although the researchers caution that some results did not reach full statistical significance. Still, they argue the findings are meaningful, especially given that previous research has pointed to similar links. Kampitsi said that fortunately, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is rare. As a result, a large number of C-deliveries are required to achieve statistical significance, which presents challenges in collecting such a substantial sample size in a Swedish registry study. "However, the results are close to significant, are in line with what previous studies have shown, and remain when we adjust for other relevant factors, which still makes them relevant," she said. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about C-sections? Let us know via health@ Reference Kampitsi, C.-E., Mogensen, H., Heyman, M., Feychting, M., & Tettamanti, G. (2025). Mode of delivery and the risk of lymphoblastic leukaemia during childhood – A Swedish population-based cohort study. International Journal of Cancer.
Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
35 Helpful Products For All Your Body Shenanigans
A two-in-one nausea relief inhaler designed to work FAST on spontaneous nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, and general queasiness (having a human body is hard). Summer road trips and cruises just got a HECK of a lot more bearable. A handy as heck Burt's Bees sunburn soother you'll want to stock up on if you're a "just in case" kinda human — it's made with aloe and coconut oil to hydrate skin and gently relieve pain from the sun's unforgiving rays within just a few hours. Lumify Eye Drops, a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes, with visible differences within a minute of use. A set of kid-friendly hydrocolloid mosquito itch relief patches you can wear at the beach, pool, bath, or shower without worrying about them sliding off. Reviewers swear by these not just for helping prevent itching, but to reduce the redness and swelling faster. A delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray for anyone ready to go full YEEHAW!! on that at-home pedicure. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck. And a nail renewal formula so effective at restoring discolored, damaged nails that reviewers started seeing results in as little as *two days*. This not only helps tackle symptoms of fungal damage, but helps reduce the thickness and correct the ridges, so your toenails can get the sweet relief they deserve. Dr Teal's "Hawaiian Bliss" Epsom salt magnesium soak, a ~limited edition~ blend of red sea salt, papaya, and hibiscus, reviewers are so in love with for tension relief and relaxation that a ton of them are buying extra bags (or literally hoarding them) before the brand runs out. One reviewer went so far as to call it "heaven in a bag!" Olay Super Serum Body Wash that will make anyone with dry summer skin REJOICE — this is packed with niacinamide, shea butter, and collagen peptides for 24-hour hydration that will make you feel as ~luminous~ as the sunshine. (Psst — this is the body wash version of their TikTok-famous, super effective facial Super Serum, so you KNOW they mean business.) Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener, which became the internet's holy grail — now in four shades! — for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes so fast that everyone's old concealers are doing double takes. This lightweight color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference. Plus Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel, a cult-fave product for your beauty arsenal that will quickly help minimize eye puffiness and swelling thanks to its winning combo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid. It's basically an alarm clock for your eyeballs, because boy howdy are they awake now!! A roll-on migraine stick made with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender oils to help you soothe away headaches, which frankly have a lot of audacity interrupting your day. A set of disposable Plackers "Grind No More" Night Guards for anyone who sleeps like this 😬😬😬 and wakes up like this. 😫 Each one of these grind-absorbing bite plates can be used up to 30 times to help reduce the tension from grinding your teeth in the middle of the night. Psst — this is also a MUCH cheaper alternative to costly bite guards that go for hundreds of dollars! A bottle of sulfate-free biotin shampoo that thousands of reviewers swear by for helping restore their hair and promote healthy hair growth over time. It also includes nourishing ingredients like rosemary oil, zinc, and coconut oil to help moisturize locks and give them a fuller, more volumized look. Self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose step count goes up to one bajillion on summer trips and theme park days. Now instead of dealing with aching feet all night, you can get ahead of the situation with some ~self care~. A deliciously soothing, bacteria-targeting Briotech spray (which compares to the pricier Tower 28 SOS Spray!) reviewers love for helping with skin irritation caused by heat or sweat in warmer seasons. Reviewers also swear by this handy little spray for acne, rosacea, eczema, dryness, dermatitis (scalp included!), and even toenail fungus! Biofreeze's new Dry Stick for "portable pain relief" — this mess-free, cooling solution for aches and pains all over your human body, whether it's your neck, shoulders, knees, hands, or many numerous joints. Its targeted menthol relief also works *fast* and is delightfully travel-friendly, unlike competing menthol creams. A set of super affordable hydrocolloid nose pore patches (compare to the $16 Mighty Patch equivalent) that will make you go "boy HOWDY" when you see how much gunk collects on them overnight. Reviewers swear by these for gently lifting out sebum from pores and pimples and minimizing their appearance! Elephant Ear Washer Bottle System for anyone whose ear wax situation has their primary care doctor going, "Yiiiiikes." Now you can take care of it at home easily, gently, and a little too effectively — the bits of wax this dislodges out of reviewers' ears are truly leaving them in shock! CeraVe's Hydrating cleanser made with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin — aka, all the good stuff to hydrate your face and remove makeup and oil without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. Psst — a lot of reviewers with sensitive skin and acne swear by this, because it's super gentle *and* super effective. A pack of drug-free Breathe Right nasal strips reviewers quite literally claim "saved their marriage" — these provide instant snoring *and* congestion relief by increasing nasal airflow. Bonus: there's an optional "scratch and sniff" lavender scent if you want an extra dose of calm. A reviewer-beloved anti-dandruff shampoo to relieve flaking and itching and help prevent outbreaks by getting directly to the root. A lot of reviewers mention that it not only started working from the first use, but it *also* helped with shedding and hair loss caused by dandruff in the first place. A pack of unscented SweatBlock wipes that work for up to *seven days* after application — perfect for those of us whose underarms are a little, uh, enthusiastic, to say the least. Reviewers especially swear by this for events that might bring on nervous sweating! First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads to use after you shave to help prevent the infection of ingrown hairs, so you don't have to spend hours psyching yourself up to shave, knowing that you're gonna be dodging a bazillion sensitive spots on your skin. A piercing bump solution made with jojoba, grape seed, and rose that'll help speed over the healing process over the course of a few weeks, so your new piercings can ~dazzle~ everyone in their full glory. A blister-preventing balm that basically magics an extra layer between your skin and your shoe, so you can get your steps in without worrying about getting big ole blisters on your feet without a bandage in sight. A truly talented cooling towel you can use to prevent yourself from overheating — all you have to do is wet this to make it deliciously chilly for your neck or head. Once it warms up, you can wet it again to instantly get back the chill! An oral rinse made with a mild mint flavor that packs a powerful punch — this formula fights bad breath for a full 24 hours and can combat those sour, bitter, and metallic tastes you can sometimes get in your mouth. First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant to help exfoliate and smooth skin by dealing with rough patches or dry bumps — a lot of reviewers with keratosis pilaris and similar skin textures swear by this for relief, with many noticing a difference after the very first use. Joesoef's pharmaceutical-grade anti-acne sulfur soap that people with acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and clogged pores swear by for helping clear their skin and relieve the tenderness. A lot of reviewers noted that they found this specific product after their dermatologists recommended it to them! Compound W Wart Removal Pads infused with concentrated wart removal medication to reduce the size and eliminate warts in a matter of days. A lot of reviewers turned to these after professional wart removals didn't work for them and saw much better results! A podiatrist-level toenail clipper to quickly and easily take care of thicker toenails and ingrown ones, so if you want to give yourself a pedicure and paint your toesies now that sandals are fair game again, you can do it right at home. A shampoo scalp massager you can use in the shower not just to massage and exfoliate your scalp, but help with psoriasis, dandruff, and scalp tenderness! A pack of super thin hydrocolloid cold sore healing patches to help speed up healing and relieve some of the itch and "ouch!" of a breakout as fast as possible. A stainless-steel tongue scraper that a lot of reviewers bought to prevent bad breath, but ended up loving even *more* because it made their mouth feel so squeaky clean (and, in a lot of cases, made their taste buds experience flavor a lot more intensely!). A belted portable cordless vibrating heating pad to ease your cramps and pains (*glares pointedly at my uterus*) and/or keep you nice and cozy on chillier days. The fact that it looks vaguely like a piece of superhero armor is just an added perk.
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Where Children Urged to Avoid 'Prolonged Outdoor Exposure'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality officials in six states urged children and adults with sensitivities to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure on July 3 and the Fourth of July amid ozone and harmful levels of fine-particle pollution. Why It Matters This new wave of air quality alerts comes after Canadian wildfires prompted a slew of similar ones across the upper Midwest earlier this summer. Wildfires, blowing dust and ozone are all sources of dangerous air pollution that can trigger breathing difficulties and other health issues. Air quality alerts are more often issued during the summer fire season and when ozone is at higher concentrations because of sunlight. In addition to these pollution sources, fireworks celebrations will boom across the nation on Thursday night and over the weekend, worsening the air quality. A map created by Newsweek shows which states are affected by ozone and other pollutants on Thursday. A map created by Newsweek shows which states are affected by ozone and other pollutants on Thursday. Newsweek What To Know As of Thursday afternoon, air quality alerts were in place for the following states: Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Colorado and California. "Particle pollution can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, bronchitis, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing," reads an air quality alert issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) in California. "Everyone can be affected, but sensitive groups such as people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk." In addition to staying indoors, people were urged to keep windows and doors closed, run an air conditioner, avoid using whole-house fans or swamp coolers, and steer clear of fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling and gasoline-powered equipment until conditions improve. Ozone pollution is typically worse during the summer, according to a report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It's caused "when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight." Air quality monitoring maps from AirNow—a data site partnership between the EPA; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Park Service; NASA; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; along with tribal, state and local air quality agencies—show moderate air quality detected across much of the nation. In Minnesota, however, air quality was also shown as being unhealthy for some. "Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected," AirNow said about the air quality levels. What People Are Saying NWS meteorologist Alexander McGinnis, who works at the Indianapolis office, told Newsweek: "Mid-summer, when it gets hotter and the winds are lighter, we do usually see a few days that require air quality alerts due to higher concentrations of ozone." South Coast AQMD posted to X on Thursday: "#FIREWORKS PARTICLE POLLUTION ADVISORY (July 4-5): Poor air quality due to #IndependenceDay fireworks is likely this #FourthofJuly holiday. Personal 'backyard' fireworks also contribute to this air pollution and may lead to negative health effects." Air quality alert issued by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality: "Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion today. Symptoms of ozone exposure may include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, headaches, nausea, and eye and throat irritation." What's Next Most air quality alerts will expire by Thursday or Friday night, depending on the location.
