However, what people didn't tell them is that they should avoid looking at them at night because they might just get a heart attack.

A spooky-looking picture of a baby taken with a night vision baby monitor has gone viral online, and it's easy to see why.

Here's the picture:

The picture shows the baby lying on his back in the cot, but a strange shadowing effect on the baby’s face -- together with a bright photographic flash effect on his eyes -- left the infant looking really scary.

'Bundle of demonic energy'

The amused and we're pretty sure slightly terrified parent uploaded the photo onto his Twitter account with the caption: “We got a new video baby monitor and I think that was a mistake.”

The tweet has so far been liked more than 408,000 times with 83,000 shares.

Twitter users were equally terrified after they chanced upon the photo, but they were also quick to offer some clever quips:

Congratulations on your bundle of demonic energy

— Aya S ♿️✡️?? (@disabledsirena) November 15, 2019

Alexa, remind me to defeat the baby

— Grobzoula (@Grobzoula) November 15, 2019

Paranormal Activity has made a comeback

— bread boy (@SnazzyRedAlex) November 15, 2019

Is your baby baptized? If so, might want to try it again. First time clearly didn't take.

— ?Vita?Breva? (@BrevaVita) November 15, 2019

to be fair the monitor would probably be fine if your baby weren't haunted.

— insects insects insects insects (@insectsinsects) November 15, 2019

That happens to a kid i know, he started flying around age 2

— Panini for Progress ?? (@panininef) November 15, 2019

Apparently a common thing

However, a couple of fellow parents came to the rescue, saying that the 'demon effect' is common on baby monitors.