The Viral 'Jessica' Trend Has Parents In A Chokehold. Experts Reveal What's Going On.

Toddler parents all over the internet have found a new friend in "Jessica".

My son had some pretty epic temper tantrums during his toddler years.

The worst was when he was nearly two years old, and we were on a plane that was waiting in a queue on the runway for takeoff, and he was screaming and crying.

It was his first time on a plane, and no matter what I tried – his LeapFrog tablet, colouring books, singing to him – he wouldn’t settle down. After several minutes of this, a flight attendant informed me that if my son didn’t stop crying, the plane would return to the gate and we’d have to deplane.

Apparently, she had decided that our presence would be too disruptive for the other passengers. As my heart sank at the thought of being ejected, a woman sitting directly in front of me squeezed her hand between the seats, handed me a lollipop and said, “Give your son this, see if it helps.”

I did as she suggested, and to my amazement (and profound relief), my son was suddenly peaceful and happy. Just like that, the storm had passed.

I’m sure more than a few parents can attest to the learning curve of navigating tantrums. Over time, we figure out what works and what doesn’t when trying to calm our child’s tearful meltdowns. (I never traveled without a lollipop again after that.)

The latest parenting hack for calming tantrums (which has recently gone viral on social media), however, has nothing to do with candy – but harnesses a similar “Hail Mary” energy.

Instead, parents have resorted to calling out the name Jessica to defuse a child’s tearful meltdowns. And, shockingly, parents are finding that it works.

Read on to find out more about this new technique, why it’s effective, and what experts really think about using it.

What is the Jessica method?

A recent Instagram reel from paediatrician Dr. Mona Amin (who goes by Pedsdoctalk on IG) breaks down the method that’s garnering so much attention right now.

The reel opens with clips of young children who are in meltdown mode, until a........

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