Parenting
By Jamie Carter
Updated: Feb. 8, 2021
Originally Published: April 14, 2017
We can all relate!
For anyone who has cared for a newborn, the level of effort required is no small feat. In fact, it’s an understatement to say they’re a handful. The sheer exhaustion can lead your body to do anything it can to grab a few more minutes of sleep, and somehow, babies have mastered the art of making us respond to their needs—even in our sleep.
A recent video shared on the America’s Funniest Home Videos YouTube channel captures this perfectly. It features a dad who, while still sound asleep, instinctively goes into soothing mode when he hears his baby cry. The tenderness of the moment is heartwarming and oddly relatable; we’ve all been there. How many times have we found ourselves shushing our noisy colleagues or waking from a nap only to murmur, “I’ll take care of the baby…”? Even now, with my kids being nine years old, I occasionally find myself doing the gentle sway as if I’m still calming an infant while waiting in the grocery line.
This dad clearly shows signs of being in that deep, sleep-deprived state. His body seems to be saying, “No worries, I’ll handle this. Just a little pat on the back, right? We got this!” I distinctly remember a night when I woke up and thought a burp cloth on my nightstand was one of my babies. I pondered its odd placement before drifting back to sleep, convinced everything was fine. In those moments, while your mind knows it should check on the baby, exhaustion can make your body override your brain, putting it into sleep mode to manage things.
The Huffington Post featured this video, prompting parents to share their own experiences of sleep-induced parenting in the comments:
- “I once kissed my baby’s head in the night, only to realize it was my pillow. We weren’t even co-sleeping; she was in her room!”
- “When our twins were newborns, my husband, in a daze, cuddled our comforter, thinking it was one of the babies, while attempting to shush it.”
- “I fondly remember rocking an empty stroller for ages until someone pointed out my baby was actually in my husband’s arms.”
Imaginary Baby: A Sitcom Idea
We think the concept of the Imaginary Baby deserves its own sitcom. Picture this for a theme song:
“When you’re ready to step out but something holds you back,
It’s a phantom! It’s the dog! Or maybe you forgot your slacks!
Or perhaps it’s the baby you can’t see or hear,
Imaginary Baby just spit up in your brassiere.”
This little ditty is still a work in progress, of course.
We’d love to hear your own stories of unconscious parenting in the comments section—these tales never fail to amuse us (with you, of course, not at you. Well, maybe occasionally at you, but we won’t dwell on that). For more insights, check out this post on our privacy policy, and if you’re looking for expert advice on fertility, consider visiting this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
This article captures the hilarious and relatable moments of sleep-deprived parents instinctively caring for their children, even while asleep. Through shared anecdotes, it highlights the deep connection and exhaustion that comes with parenting.