Lauren Remillard, a mother from Georgia, woke up in the middle of the night to find her two-year-old daughter, Gentry, missing from her bed. When she went back to her room to search for her, she noticed that all the lights in the room were on, and the TV was playing. Thinking that her daughter was playing a prank, Remillard decided to record the moment on her phone. However, after several minutes of waiting for Gentry to appear, she went looking for her and found her asleep under the bed hugging a Christmas tree ornament. This led Remillard to realize that her daughter had started sleepwalking, a behavior she had inherited from her family.
Sleepwalking is not uncommon, with a Stanford University School of Medicine study estimating that around 3.6 percent of adults in the U.S. experience this phenomenon. Despite being aware of this family history, Remillard was still surprised to find her daughter sleepwalking, but was mostly relieved to have found her safe under the bed. To prevent any future incidents, the family has installed alarms on every door in the house to alert them if anyone comes in or out, and they will have Gentry sleep close to them for some time to monitor her behavior. While the incident was initially funny, Remillard recognizes the seriousness of sleepwalking and is taking steps to ensure her daughter’s safety.
As many parents know, bedtime routines with young children can be unpredictable and often challenging. A 2012 study published in the journal Pediatrics involving 359 mother and child pairs found that approximately 10 percent of children experienced sleep problems during the early phases of childhood. Remillard had not considered Gentry to be part of this minority until the night she discovered her daughter sleepwalking. The unexpected incident prompted her to take precautions and be more vigilant about her daughter’s safety during the night.
The moment when Remillard found Gentry asleep under the bed clutching a Christmas tree ornament was captured on video and shared on TikTok under the handle @lauren_remillard. The video quickly gained attention, with many viewers finding the story both amusing and heartwarming. While the incident may have initially seemed like a harmless prank, Remillard and her husband are now focused on ensuring their daughter’s well-being and preventing any future sleepwalking episodes. By installing alarms on the doors and keeping Gentry close to them at night, they hope to protect her from potential dangers associated with sleepwalking.
Having a history of sleepwalking in her family, Remillard was familiar with the possibility that Gentry might also develop this behavior. While the discovery of her daughter sleepwalking was unexpected, Remillard reacted quickly to address the situation and make changes to keep Gentry safe. By taking proactive measures and closely monitoring her daughter’s sleep patterns, Remillard aims to prevent any future sleepwalking incidents and ensure Gentry’s well-being. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges that parents may face during the night with their young children and the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations.
