Mom spots toddler standing upside down on baby monitor — its funny and scary at the same time

Parenting is full of surprises, especially when you think you’ve seen it all. For Florida mom Kelsey Pfleiderer (@kelsey.pfleiderer), one of those surprises came when she checked her baby monitor, expecting to see her son James peacefully napping; instead, he was upside down in his crib, doing what looked like a headstand.

Kelsey shared a funny moment that many found frightening on Instagram, which quickly caught attention for being both relatable and hilarious. “He had a super active playdate that day and was completely worn out,” she mentioned to Newsweek.  “So tired that he couldn’t fall asleep, or apparently stay lying down.”Though it was a frustrating moment at the time, especially with a long to-do list and very little rest, Kelsey can laugh about it now. James, she says, has always had an adventurous streak. “Even in his crib, he’s finding a way to keep things interesting.”

This moment of upside-down chaos struck a chord with parents online, especially those who understand the delicate dance of baby naps. Naps aren’t just a break for parents; they’re crucial for early development. Research has shown that babies who nap after learning new things are more likely to remember those tasks later. A study involving over 200 infants found that those who had a proper nap after a learning session could repeat more of what they had learned than babies who didn’t nap well, as reported by the same publication.

But even champion nappers like James have their off days, and for Kelsey, it was one of those days where everything felt like too much. She was exhausted, overwhelmed, and trying to juggle parenting with work and life. That’s why she posted the clip online, not expecting much from it. “I just thought maybe another parent might get a laugh out of it,” she mentioned. That short, funny clip has now been viewed over 2 million times. For Kelsey, the real joy has been hearing from other parents who relate to the chaos and the humor in it. “Sometimes all you can do is laugh through the exhaustion,” she said. “I hope the video reminds parents to give themselves grace.” But Kelsey’s story doesn’t stop at parenting mishaps. She’s also living with a rare spinal tumor and epilepsy, two diagnoses that have deeply shaped her view on life. After years of waiting for the “right time” to chase her dreams, she now lives with intention, joy, and a fierce desire to help others do the same.

On her Instagram, she shares both the funny and the hard parts of life. “I’ve built a small but strong community of people going through things like chronic illness, grief, and mental health struggles,” she said. “We don’t try to rush through the hard stuff; we face it together, one small step at a time.” Meanwhile, the viral crib headstand had the comment section both laughing and frightened. @realsourpatchlyds said, "He is happy, he is safe, he is contained! Get after it!" while @ilunchboxyou wrote, "Good thing the room is comfortable." Another @catsncradles hilariously commented, "Yes, Instagram, I'm interested... but in a manner of horrified curiosity."

For more videos like this, you can follow @kelsey.pfleiderer on Instagram.