Mom watched husband put baby to sleep on baby monitor — he slipped a note on the monitor that left her rolling with laughter
The phase of early parenthood feels like it's full of dramatic twists for new parents. Those moments you never see coming but instantly recognize as part of your new normal. Anyone who has been through nap time of a newborn or has done negotiations with a spouse knows the strange mix of devotion, exhaustion and humor that fills those hours. Virginia parents Jillian Murphy and Sean also experienced such a moment.
Jillian, scrolling through her phone while keeping an eye on their 3-month-old daughter Mackenzie, noticed an unexpected glare coming from the baby monitor. She leaned in, expecting perhaps a toy reflection or a stray lamp beam. Instead, she saw Sean’s phone toward the camera, displaying a word: “SOS.”
She later shared the scene on TikTok (@jill.murphy) with the caption: “When it’s your husband’s turn to put the baby down for a nap and this is what you see.” And the internet found its next thing to laugh about. While Sean actually loves and cherishes these small moments with his newborn daughter, working full-time means fewer chances to be with her. For Jillian, this particular nap was “the catnap before bedtime and it’s the hardest one to get her to sleep for,” per Newsweek. No elaborate explanation was needed behind the distress signal. As Jillian put it, “It’s our universal message for when our daughter won’t sleep or we are struggling.”
Instead of being surprised, the new mom admitted she was “happy it was something that I could catch on camera for others to see.” And clearly, others saw it, over 533,000 times. The comment section quickly turned into a parents' lounge. @oliviaalmond chimed in, "My husband just talks straight to the camera at this point. ‘Alright, it’s your turn.’" @mayacates wrote, “How is this not viral. I literally laughed out loud at this.” And @sara_creablog left perhaps the most encouraging remark of all: “mom (aka: Hero) to the rescue.”
Other than the drama unfolding, Jillian’s post also offered a glimpse into the couple’s Friday ritual, “Friday night sushi & ciders!!”- a small weekly pause that helps them refresh after a hectic week. For them, it’s less about the menu and more about preserving a sense of togetherness. Interestingly, their fun dynamic reflects what some research suggests. A 2022 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that women’s mental health often improves around the birth of their first child, while men tend to experience far less emotional strain than previously assumed. It’s a reminder that parenthood doesn’t unfold the same way, everyone navigates the highs and lows differently.
For Jillian and Sean, humor has become a lifeline. And sometimes, all it takes is a “SOS” signal to show that it’s okay to lean on each other.
@jill.murphy Friday night sushi & ciders!!!! #momsoftiktok #postpartum #babytok #maternityleave #pregnancyjourney ♬ Polar Express - ❄️🎄- Toby -🎄❄️
You can follow Jillian Murphy (@jill.murphy) on TikTok for more lifestyle and parenting content.