Mom checks the baby monitor—and sees something she’ll never forget

There’s something mildly unsettling about seeing your toddler stare directly into the baby monitor—like they know exactly what they’re doing.

In a viral TikTok shared by @lu.brouns, one mom caught her child mid-nap (read: not sleeping at all), lying perfectly still, eyes locked on the lens… and then, slowly, silently, waves. It’s hilarious. It’s eerie. And if you’ve ever tried to parent a toddler, it’s a little too real.

Because in that tiny gesture—barely a blip on the screen—is something so many of us feel but rarely say out loud: our kids are always watching. Always absorbing. Even when we think they’re out cold and we’re finally alone with a snack and a scroll.

The wave seen ’round the world

The TikTok has racked up over 5.3 million views in less than a week. There’s no background music, no flashy editing. Just a toddler staring into the void (or the Nest cam) with the quiet intensity of someone delivering a sermon. And then comes the wave.

@lu.brouns

JAJAJAJAJAJ que lista es porfavor

♬ sonido original – Lu

“Aterrador y adorable al mismo tiempo,” @Angel Palacios joked—“Terrifying and adorable at the same time.” Another, @Maii Meléndez chimed in, “Fue parto normal o ritual? Pregunta seria 🤣💜”—“Was it a regular birth or a ritual one? Serious question 🤣💜.”

It’s giving toddler monk. It’s giving The Truman Show: Nap Time Edition. It’s giving every parent that creeping feeling that the monitor works both ways.

Related: Mom checks baby monitor—and sees a crib moment she’ll never forget

Why this moment feels bigger than it looks

Nap time is sacred for parents. The brief window when we can scroll in peace, eat something not cut into triangles, or remember what silence sounds like.

So when we peek at the monitor expecting a sleeping child—and instead see a toddler giving a direct-to-camera TED Talk—it messes with our heads a bit.

This kind of interaction reflects real developmental progress. By age 2, toddlers begin showing clear signs of self-awareness and social development. According to the CDC, they’re learning how to:

• Take turns
• Imitate adult behavior
• Express a wide range of emotions
• Understand when someone is watching

These behaviors reflect growing awareness of themselves in relation to the people around them, and many will begin to actively respond when they know they’re being observed.

So when a toddler makes eye contact with the baby cam and responds with a wave, they’re demonstrating early awareness that someone might be watching—and they’re ready to connect.

When baby monitors show us more than we expect

Parenting through a baby cam is a modern rite of passage. It gives us comfort, sure—but also a front-row seat to the weird, wonderful, totally unscripted world of toddlerhood.

You might catch them whispering to a stuffed giraffe, narrating a dream sequence, or recreating an entire grocery run with two Goldfish crackers and a board book. Or, as in this case, silently acknowledging your presence like a 2-year-old Obi-Wan.

These little glimpses matter. They remind us that even in quiet moments, our kids are actively learning, imagining, and reaching for connection.

Related: Baby says ‘I love you’ for the first time—mom’s reaction on the baby monitor is everything

3 surprising things toddlers do on camera—and what they mean

1. Waving or staring directly into the lens
   A sign of growing self-awareness and a budding understanding of “being watched.”

2. Talking to themselves or their toys
Narrating stories or pretend play is an early literacy and emotional development skill.

3. Mimicking adults (like pretend phone calls or “typing” on a keyboard)
Monkey-see is monkey-do—this is how they practice and process what they observe.

The bottom line

There’s something strangely profound about a toddler waving into a baby monitor. It’s a reminder that even our tiniest humans are full of intention, mystery, and personality. 

And honestly? We needed that.