Last updated:December 5, 2024 1:32 PM IST

In the video posted to TikTok, Hannah’s son flinched as his father approached him in a way that worried many viewers.

Nurse Hannah defends her family despite viral backlash. (Image credit: Instagram)

Popular TikTok parenting influencer Nurse Hannah stirred up a hornet’s nest by posting a video of her toddler flinching as his father approaches him in a grocery store. The now-deleted video was shared widely and shows the child raising his hands in a defensive position and looking frightened. It sparked strong reactions from viewers about what such behavior could mean.

In the video posted to TikTok, Hannah’s son flinched as his father approached him in a way that worried many viewers. Several commenters raised the alarm, asking why a toddler would do such a thing in such a situation. Comments such as “Why does a toddler flinch at something?” and observations that the child’s body language appeared “purely defensive,” suggesting he may need to be “taken to a safe place,” were included.

This started a trend where parents began experimenting and using similar movements to influence their children’s reactions. This time there were different reactions, such as laughing and sometimes not being afraid.

But without allowing public backlash and speculation about this reaction to arise, Sister Hannah produced a follow-up clip in which she defended her husband while also contextualizing the original clip. She stated that the moment happened humorously and that the same husband was “the most loving and caring father.” The clip sparked conversations about bad reactions or reactions from children of both parents on TikTok.

TikTok users who suffer from autism spectrum disorder were quoted by WGTC as saying that the son’s reaction was typical of those with sensory issues or those with overlapping sensitivity, while others said that the son’s reaction was the could be the only natural reaction that the son has. The boy could give something to those around him.

This can happen for several reasons, ranging from normal reflexes to serious health problems. The startle reflex or Moro reflex is the natural reflex in infants and young children. A child begins this when they are suddenly startled by noises, movements or changes in the environment.

Some toddlers are far too sensitive to sensory stimuli and twitch at sudden movements and loud noises. When a child has had a terrible experience or fears something might happen, flinching can be a protective, reflexive behavior.