An Illinois mother had a touching encounter while reviewing footage from her baby monitor. She spent the night beside her toddler’s crib, witnessing a memorable moment that highlighted the power of presence for a child.

Co-sleeping is a topic that divides parents. According to the CDC, half of all mothers report sharing a bed with their baby. This is despite the American Academy of Pediatrics advising against routine bed-sharing. Krista Stolt, a resident of the Chicago area, has always considered co-sleeping, yet her son Easton preferred his independence in sleep.

“Easton was an independent sleeper right from birth,” Stolt shared with Newsweek. “Throughout night wakings and regressions, I tried everything to have him sleep with us, but he felt most comfortable alone in his crib.”

Supporters of co-sleeping believe it enhances a parent-child bond and simplifies night-time feeding and comforting. Parents can respond faster to their baby’s needs during the night. Although Easton avoided co-sleeping, he still wanted his mom nearby.

Stolt discovered this need 18 months ago when Easton struggled to fall asleep at the age of 2. “I told him, ‘Okay, Mommy is going to sit on the floor until you fall asleep. You’re safe,’” she explained. This became their nightly routine. “We sit for 10 minutes before I say goodnight,” she detailed.

“I never want him to feel like he has to go through these new and scary things alone.”

Recently, Easton has been experiencing nightmares. “I go in and remind him that he’s safe and will stay until he sleeps,” Stolt said. Her childhood reminiscence of feeling supported by her mother influenced her current approach.

One night at 3 a.m., Stolt awoke to Easton’s unusual cry. “I picked him up, comforted him, and lay on the floor next to the crib at his request,” Stolt recalled. As she tried to fall asleep, she felt Easton’s hand on her arm and held it until he was ready to let go.

Easton soon returned to sleep, and Stolt quietly left for her own bed. The encounter impacted her deeply, prompting her to watch the baby monitor footage. She was surprised by Easton’s smile when realizing she was still there. “I’ll never forget that smile, it showed how comforting my presence was in that moment,” she said. Stolt has watched the footage numerous times, appreciating its reminder.

In the challenges of parenting toddlers, Stolt acknowledges the reality behind Easton’s actions. “He isn’t giving me a hard time, he’s having a hard time,” she conveyed. She is willing to endure poor sleep on the floor to make him feel safe. Despite the struggles, Stolt values these precious moments. “This time is fleeting, and I know I’ll miss these nights,” she expressed.

Contact Newsweek editors for further information: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.