In an unexpected turn of events, a US family has captured hearts online with the joy and enthusiasm displayed by their two-year-old daughter upon the arrival of her baby brother. Diane Smith, a 34-year-old mother, shared her heartwarming experience with PEOPLE, highlighting her daughter Stevie’s excitement about her new sibling. The touching moment, which unfolded at their home, has since amassed nearly 16 million views on TikTok, although it has not come without its fair share of online criticism regarding the baby’s name.
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Smith and her husband, Robert Bridgerman, 38, chose not to find out the sex of their baby before birth. While the couple had a plethora of names lined up for a girl, they admitted that they encountered difficulties when it came to selecting a name for a boy. “I did so much research on boy names and never found any name I liked,” reflects Smith. “We always assumed it would be another girl, so when we discovered we were having a boy, we spent two days in the hospital debating what to name him.”
Prior to getting pregnant with Stevie, Smith explained that she had already found affection for the name Bear after spending time with a particularly charming dog while pet-sitting through an app called Rover. Initially, she had envisioned Bear as a name for a potential son. However, when they welcomed Stevie instead, they opted for that name. With the arrival of their son, Bear resurfaced as a top contender for naming.
Feeling conflicted between names like Barrett and simply choosing Bear, Smith said, “I liked the name Bear. Why wouldn’t we name him what we truly wanted?” It was during the moment Stevie first met her baby brother that a delightful coincidence unfolded. In a heartwarming video that soon went viral, Stevie joyfully referred to her new brother as “Baby Bear,” a name that her parents had been discussing but had never shared with her.
“We looked at each other and thought, ‘Well, I guess that solves the back and forth,’ ” Smith recounted. The family was delighted to see that Stevie had intuitively chosen the name they had thrown around. Despite the overwhelming positive response from many who watched the video, it also attracted criticism, with viewers voicing their discontent over the choice of the baby’s name.
“I didn’t realise people would be so upset by it,” Smith admitted after posting the video online. “There are definitely people who like it, but the negativity is astonishing. I receive about 200 comments daily criticising the name Bear. It’s almost comical at this point.” Smith noted that the backlash has not deterred her appreciation for the name, which she and her family hold dear.
As time goes on, the bond between Stevie and her little brother, Bear, continues to flourish. Smith expressed her delight in seeing Stevie embrace her role as a big sister. “She absolutely loves Bear,” she said, noting that Stevie often describes her brother as “adorable” and is filled with joy whenever they interact. When given the chance to hold her brother, her excitement is palpable.
In these early stages of siblinghood, the dynamics within the family seem to be growing stronger amidst the online controversies. Smith shared that Stevie appears genuinely thrilled to have a baby around and enjoys showering Bear with hugs and affection. “Now that she gets to be with a baby, she is so excited,” says Smith.
Through the trials of choosing a name and navigating public opinion, the family has found joy in their little moments. As they settle into their new routine, it’s clear that the connection between Stevie and Bear is truly special, reminding us all of the pure affection that can blossom between siblings.