Retired pediatrician-turned-grandmother shares viral parenting tips

Retired pediatrician-turned-grandmother shares viral parenting tips

When Flo Rosen became a grandmother earlier this summer, she couldn't wait to meet her first grandchild. Little did she know, the two of them would soon become unexpected social media stars. 

A video of Rosen reacting to her grandson Trent rolling over during his first tummy time experience quickly went viral and has now received nearly 6 million TikTok views since it was shared on July 1.

"Trent was 8 days old and I was showing my son and daughter-in-law … demonstrating the positioning to encourage tummy time," Rosen recalled to "Good Morning America." "I put Trent down on his tummy and he looked at me and rolled over. I was absolutely astounded." 

Rosen, a retired pediatrician, said Trent's behavior was shocking because it isn't typical behavior for newborns but after the video of her and Trent gained attention online, the 68-year-old was inspired to launch a project she had been considering for years.

"I always thought someday, when I retire, I'd love an advice column … and grandparents can ask the questions that they can't ask their kids and that they don't have access to a pediatrician to ask," 

Rosen explained, adding that her grandparent friends were often coming to her with questions about their grandkids. As a result, a portion of Rosen's tips for both grandparents and parents focus on safety, but one she likes to encourage for new parents specifically revolves around bedtime. "One tip is to really make sure bedtime is different, that there's something that distinguishes it," 

Rosen said. "Turn the lights down dim, get your baby as relaxed as you can, make sure they're dry, make sure they're fed, and ideally, put them down awake so they can learn to self-soothe and get themselves down to sleep. And then those are the best tips to have a good sleeper for the rest of their lives."