Chinese delivery riders ditch 'order rush' to rock restaurant owner's baby to sleep

In a video shared on the Chinese social media platform Douyin, a group of food delivery riders in Henan, China, were seen taking turns caring for a baby while her parents managed a dinner rush. The moment was captured on CCTV at the family-run fried skewer restaurant. The restaurant owner’s two-month-old daughter, who is normally cared for by her grandmother, was present at the front of the store in a stroller. That night, her grandmother was away in her hometown, leaving both parents to manage the shop alone, as reported by a Malaysian news outlet, Says.

As the baby grew restless and began crying, her mother tried to calm her while also cleaning tables and preparing orders. At one point, she pulled the stroller toward a delivery worker and asked him to help. He began rocking the stroller while waiting for his food to be prepared. When his order was ready, he left, and another delivery rider stepped forward to take over.

Footage from the restaurant shows at least five different delivery workers taking turns, each briefly comforting the child before returning to their deliveries. Restaurant owner Mr. Zhu told local reporters, "The delivery riders just continued to look after the baby. They were all very understanding and took over without any discussion."

One of the riders in the footage, Shao, explained why it came naturally. "Their business has always been bustling, and they are also very kind to us riders. They prepare some cold drinks for us every day. Seeing that the owners were so busy, we were happy to help comfort the baby," he said. After Zhu uploaded the video to Douyin, it quickly spread across Chinese social media. Viewers praised the riders for their quiet support. One commentator wrote, "I have three children at home, and I know how difficult it is to raise children while running a business. Let love fill the world." Another added, "Everyone who came in took one look at the baby and regarded her as their own family. They were simply used to it."

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Business Ethics supports the impact of such moments. Researchers found that individuals who experience supportive environments are more likely to engage in prosocial behavior over time. The study concluded that "felt security" significantly increases a person's willingness to help others, even when there is no personal gain involved. In this case, the riders’ small acts of care reflect a broader ethic that grows stronger in trusted, community-based interactions. Mr. Zhu later posted a message thanking everyone involved.

"It was very busy today. I had to answer calls from dozens of newspapers and the media. This relay of love should be worth learning. The store is also much busier than usual. I would like to express my gratitude to all the brothers and sisters in the video. With your support, I will work harder to live up to expectations, maintain an optimistic and positive attitude, and keep going. Let's keep it up!" he said. On June 30, Meituan, the delivery platform the riders worked for, honored eight workers involved. Each was given 500 yuan, along with flowers and a certificate. A company spokesperson said, "We hope that these eight riders would serve as an example to encourage more people to pass on their love and help others to the best of their ability in their daily work."