I've lost all videos of my children before 2019 from my Iphone. I automatically sync to icloud but then so does any other device signed into my Apple ID. My son deleted some videos from an old Iphone and I didn't realise that next time my current Iphone synced, all the videos would also be lost from my phone. By the time I did realise, they were also all gone from recently deleted.
I've spoken to Apple support and they have said there is no way of getting them back.
I know it sounds dramatic but I feel heartbroken. The videos included my son's first steps, my daughter's first time riding a bike and so many other precious moments. I have checked all whatsapp chats and managed to get a couple back but the majority have gone. I have also asked pretty much everyone I know if they have any clips of my children when they were babies but even if they do, they won't replace what I have lost.
Just wanted to warn people in case anyone is as naive as me. I assumed syncing to icloud made everything safe but now realise I should have backed up elsewhere too. I just can't stop thinking that I will never be able to watch these moments again. I'm so upset and mad at myself. Also a tiny part of me is wondering whether anyone has some miracle way to retrieve deleted items.