A Pennsylvania mother stunned observers and medical professionals when her newborn daughter, Nyilah Daise Tzabari, was filmed crawling and lifting her head at just three days old. Samantha Mitchell, 34, says she recorded the moment on March 2, 2023—less than three days after Nyilah’s birth—after her own mother urged her to capture it. Born three weeks past her due date, Nyilah weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces at birth.

In the video, Nyilah props herself up on her arms, raises her head, and crawls forward within the hospital cot—movements far ahead of typical newborn milestones. Mitchell, who has over 20 years’ experience around children, said she had “never witnessed anything like this.”  The video went viral on TikTok, attracting millions of views and sparking debates about whether the footage showed a genuine early milestone or reflected viral exaggeration.

Nyilah’s reported developmental strides didn’t stop there. By day 18, she is said to have rolled from belly to back; by two months, back to belly. At three months old, Mitchell claims Nyilah was already standing with support, refusing to sit and leaning into early leg strength. On the communicative side, she reportedly began mimicking sounds as early as six weeks, attempting simple phrases like “I love you” and responding to laughter.

While the story captured widespread attention for its extraordinary claims, experts generally caution that such behaviors are far outside the typical developmental range. Most infants do not begin creeping, crawling, or rolling until several months after birth. The viral video—and debate surrounding it—serves as a reminder both of how variable infant development can appear and of the importance of interpreting such claims with scientific caution rather than immediate certainty.