Jessica! Jessica?

Life with a toddler? Meltdowns are basically part of the deal. But parents online are swearing by a surprisingly simple hack that can stop one in its tracks — using just one word.

The trend blowing up on social media has moms and dads shouting out the name “Jessica” in the middle of a toddler tantrum. And somehow… it works. When parents call out “Jessica” or “Where’s Jessica?” their kids suddenly stop crying, pause, and look around like, wait… who?

There usually isn’t a Jessica at all — that’s the point. Any random name will do. One mom on TikTok says it worked every single time, joking that her toddler immediately went searching for “the Jessica that does not exist.”

So why does it work? Child psychologists say it’s all about surprise. Dropping an unexpected word interrupts the meltdown and shifts the toddler’s focus just long enough to reset. Experts do warn, though — once kids catch on, the magic disappears. So if you’re going to try it… maybe save it for emergencies.