‘Where is Jessica?’ TikTok trend takes off, showing parents how to stop a toddler tantrum
‘I actually can’t believe this worked’.
A hilarious new parenting trend has gone viral online, with mums and dads claiming a single unexpected word can instantly snap toddlers out of a meltdown.
Across TikTok, parents are shouting the name “Jessica” mid-tantrum, and in many cases, it’s stopping kids from crying or screaming.
Videos posted on social media show toddlers abruptly pausing their crying, looking around in confusion as if trying to figure out who has just been called. The surprising reaction has seen the trend quickly take off, with more parents testing it out and sharing their results.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.While “Jessica” has become the go-to name, many say it’s not actually about the name itself. Some parents report getting the same reaction by using different names or random words altogether.
The effectiveness appears to come down to timing and surprise. During a tantrum, toddlers are often deeply focused on whatever has upset them. Introducing something completely unexpected, like suddenly calling out a name that doesn’t fit the situation, can interrupt that emotional spiral.
That brief moment of confusion is often enough to shift their attention and de-escalate the meltdown.
Experts say this kind of distraction technique can work because it forces a child’s brain to pause and reassess what’s happening around them. When something unusual occurs, their focus naturally moves away from the tantrum and onto the new stimulus.
“Saying something kind of unexpected, out of context, like Jessica, is acting as a pattern interrupt. and it’s causing a pause and break in the cycle. Which then gives you the opportunity to do all the other things that aren’t being shown in the videos like validate your child’s emotions”, Child Psychiatrist Dr Willough Jenkins said.
However, she says parents shouldn’t rely on it as a long-term fix. Like many distraction tactics, its effectiveness may wear off once children become familiar with the pattern.
The simple trick is proving to be a surprisingly handy tool, at least for now.
