My New Life
93 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -The early years of a child’s life are the most important for their long-term development. Sometimes, the abundance of information out there can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. My New Life is here to support parents and help make sense of the science behind early learning.
I’m Jessica Rolph, mother of three and CEO of Lovevery. With the help of experts from around the world, we break down all the child development science into usable nuggets of knowledge that you can put to the test in your own home.
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Episodes
A medical perspective: Alternatives to going all-natural
June 30, 2021 06:00 - 25 minutes - 24.2 MBNatural is a loaded word when it comes to parenting. While it feels good to make choices that stem from nature, following an all-natural course and all the rules that come with it, can lead to stress. There are a lot of conflicting messages out there when it comes to what is healthy for our children: Is it ok to delay vaccines? Is it ok to use formula? What happens if your birth doesn’t go as planned? Jessica Rolph is joined by Pediatrician Dr. Mona Amin on today’s episode to discuss a...
Perspectives on feeding: Getting real about sugar
June 16, 2021 06:00 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBMaple syrup, beet sugar, molasses, honey… there are so many alternatives to refined sugar. But despite a parent’s best efforts, it’s hard to avoid the processed stuff all together. And is that really the best approach anyhow? How much sugar restriction is too much? Can it backfire? Jessica Rolph welcomes Registered Dietitian Jennifer Anderson to the show. She is the mom behind Kids Eat In Color. Her specialty is forming healthy eating habits in the home. Key Takeaways: [1:54] The gov...
Perspectives on feeding: Picky eaters
June 02, 2021 06:00 - 20 minutes - 19.5 MBChild nutrition and early brain development are profoundly linked. What goes into our babies, is essential to their brain growth. But that’s not to say achieving those optimal inputs is easy! The picky-eater routine can wear down even the most steadfast parent, and If we’re not careful, mealtime can become a battleground. Jessica Rolph, your host, is accompanied today by Specialist Pediatric Dietitian Dr. Bahee Van de Bor. Learn valuable tips for parents challenged with keeping their s...
Perspectives on feeding: Baby-led weaning
May 19, 2021 06:00 - 27 minutes - 64.1 MBAs co-founder of the organic baby food company Happy Family, host Jessica Rolph has invested a lot of energy trying to get the right nutrients into her kids. One of her children’s favorite first foods was sardines, and fast forward a few years, Jessica was surprised to see a post on the hugely popular Solid Starts recommending sardines as a first food. Solid Starts promotes baby-led weaning, or finger-foods first. CEO Jenny Best joins Jessica on today’s episode to share her perspective...
Perspectives on baby & toddler sleep, Part 2
May 05, 2021 06:00 - 23 minutes - 22.2 MBHost Jessica Rolph welcomes Certified Pediatric Sleep Specialist Lauren Heffernan to the second episode of our new season, Perspectives. In this season, you’ll hear curated perspectives on topics like sleep, feeding, and parenting philosophies, so you can make informed choices for your family. It is rare to find a new parent who doesn’t wish for more hours of sleep; long nights seem to be part of the bargain. When those long nights start dragging on, it can feel like sleep training is ...
Baby sleep: Alternatives to 'cry-it-out'
May 05, 2021 06:00 - 23 minutes - 22.2 MBHost Jessica Rolph welcomes Certified Pediatric Sleep Specialist Lauren Heffernan to the second episode of our new season, Perspectives. In this season, you’ll hear curated perspectives on topics like sleep, feeding, and parenting philosophies, so you can make informed choices for your family. It is rare to find a new parent who doesn’t wish for more hours of sleep; long nights seem to be part of the bargain. When those long nights start dragging on, it can feel like sleep training is ...
Perspectives on baby & toddler sleep, Part 1
April 21, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBSleep, or the lack of it, is probably the most discussed topic among parents of newborns. And while sleepless nights are widely accepted as just part of the bargain of bringing a new life into the world, we are not always prepared for the sleepless nights to drag into years. Night wakings, bedtime routines that seem to go on and on, skipped naps, sleep regressions, musical beds, and crib to bed transitions — it is truly exhausting! In today’s episode, host Jessica Rolph is joined by La...
Toddler sleep strategies
April 21, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBSleep, or the lack of it, is probably the most discussed topic among parents of newborns. And while sleepless nights are widely accepted as just part of the bargain of bringing a new life into the world, we are not always prepared for the sleepless nights to drag into years. Night wakings, bedtime routines that seem to go on and on, skipped naps, sleep regressions, musical beds, and crib to bed transitions — it is truly exhausting! In today’s episode, host Jessica Rolph is joined by La...
Ways to raise a bilingual child
March 10, 2021 07:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBToddlers love words. This enthusiasm helps them grow their spoken words from just a few at age one, to 1,000 or even 2,000 by age three. Given how receptive young children are to new sounds and ways to use them, it is not surprising that toddlers can pick up second languages easily. Research also suggests that brain connections multiply when babies are exposed to new languages. Parents have caught on, and demand for bilingual products and preschools is at an all-time high. While expert...
Quick perspective: Toxic metals in baby foods
March 05, 2021 23:45 - 3 minutes - 9.71 MBBaby-led weaning expert Jenny Best, founder of Solid Starts, gives us a reassuring perspective on the recent congressional report that highlighted toxic metals in baby foods.
First Words: What to Look Out For
February 24, 2021 07:00 - 17 minutes - 17.3 MBBaby’s first words — few milestones are met with more emotion from the adults in the room! But what constitutes a first word and when should parents be expecting to hear them? Join Host Jessica Rolph and Speech Language Pathologist Gopika Kamdar for a look at some common indicators of language development. On the table for discussion is research from the ’90s suggesting the volume of words spoken to infants is paramount to speech and language development, as compared with more recent resea...
Embracing Difference: Raising Kind, Empathetic Kids
February 10, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 24.2 MBChildren’s questions about physical differences often catch us off guard. Parents worry about getting the response wrong, making the situation tense. But TV host and co-founder of ByUs Box, Nicole Stamp, says there’s a better approach. On today’s episode with host Jessica Rolph, Nicole offers ways of thinking about these encounters from an equity perspective, ensuring everyone comes away from the interaction having had a positive experience. Equally important is the practice of buildin...
Talking About Race & Embracing Differences
February 10, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 24.2 MBChildren’s questions about physical differences often catch us off guard. Parents worry about getting the response wrong, making the situation tense. But TV host and co-founder of ByUs Box, Nicole Stamp, says there’s a better approach. On today’s episode with host Jessica Rolph, Nicole offers ways of thinking about these encounters from an equity perspective, ensuring everyone comes away from the interaction having had a positive experience. Equally important is the practice of buildin...
What Is Intrinsic Motivation? How To Praise Your Kids While Teaching Grit
January 27, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 24.3 MBWe parents are a proud bunch. It’s natural to shower our children with compliments when they achieve something. But when babies become toddlers, “Good job” often evolves to “You’re so smart” or “What an amazing artist you are”. Too much of this kind of feedback as our child get older, may not help them persist in the face of challenges. Psychotherapist Susan Bordon of Kinspace joins host Jessica Rolph on today’s episode to discuss ways to encourage intrinsic motivation. With a little b...
Bonus Episode: Why Mom Guilt Doesn't Serve You
January 20, 2021 07:00 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MBHave a few parenting regrets from 2020? You are not alone. But does rehashing all that make you a better parent? Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox would argue that mom guilt is a disservice to you and your children. If you could use a pep talk as we launch ourselves into a new year, this is the episode for you! Dr. Leesha is a psychiatrist, mother to 3 children, and the author of "Ditch the Mommy Guilt: A Blueprint for the Modern Mommy".
Intensive Parenting: Why Take a Step Back?
January 13, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 21.3 MBThere is a lot of advice out there for parents. Not only are parenting books multiplying in number, they are increasing in volume. And there is certainly no shortage of online resources. Instagram now has so many parenting experts you can get an almost endless scroll of advice. The abundance of information can be helpful on the one hand. But it can also lead us to think we are not doing enough, making it is easy to slip into over-parenting. This hands-on approach is sometimes referred ...
Chores: Benefits & Tips for Starting Early
December 30, 2020 07:00 - 20 minutes - 19.8 MBWhether it is cleaning up the toys, setting the table, or sorting laundry, involving your toddler with chores around the house is almost always an exercise in patience. And it most certainly is not going to produce impeccable results, but results are not the goal here. Developing a habit of helpfulness and a sense of autonomy is what we parents are after. Jessica Rolph welcomes Behavioral Specialist and Parent Coach Jeanna Twomey to today’s episode to explain how to best get your todd...
How To Be Resilient & Set Boundaries
December 16, 2020 07:00 - 24 minutes - 57 MBThis holiday season is different. For many of you, it is family traditions that make this time of year significant and memorable. But in 2020, reuniting with extended family is not possible for everyone. It feels sad and lonely. Jessica Rolph is joined today by Dr. Zelana Montminy to help propel us into the holidays with a little more cheer. Dr. Zelana is a renowned behavioral scientist and positive psychologist, delivering a fresh perspective rooted in science. She is the author of 2...
Positive Discipline: More On Toddler Tantrums & Power Struggles
December 02, 2020 07:00 - 21 minutes - 20.7 MBOpinions vary wildly when it comes to managing tantrums. From waiting out the storm, to taking a hard line. Whatever you do, be consistent! With so much advice, it’s easy to understand why parents panic when the tears start flying. Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Positive Discipline Coach Jody Malterre, a master at bringing calm to every situation. Jody is a Montessori teacher trainer at Westminster College with over 30 years experience in Montessori education. She also sits on the...
Baby’s First Steps: Walking and Other Milestones
November 18, 2020 07:00 - 19 minutes - 18.5 MBFew milestones in a baby’s life are more memorable than their first steps. It feels like a major accomplishment — for baby and parent! But what comes after those first steps varies greatly from child to child, something Dr. Giselle Tadros constantly reminds her patients. She’s a pediatric physical therapist, founder of In-Home Pediatric Physical Therapy, and the guest on today’s episode of My New Life. Giselle discusses how long it takes most babies to switch from crawling to walking a...
The Montessori Parent: Mindset & Lifestyle Tips
November 04, 2020 07:00 - 16 minutes - 16 MBMontessori parents can give the impression that they do it all: organized home, tidy bedrooms, carefully ordered trays and activities. Sometimes it seems like Montessori sets the bar really high — so high that it feels unattainable for a busy parent. My New Life host Jessica Rolph speaks with Kylie D’Alton, an Australian mom that has gone a long way toward making Montessori principles more accessible. Kylie is the author of the popular blog How We Montessori, and in today’s episode, s...
Peaceful Parenting: Dealing with Tantrums
October 21, 2020 06:00 - 21 minutes - 20.7 MBMost parents would not describe living with a toddler during Covid as peaceful, but there are ways to invite more calm into your home and limit the shouting. Host Jessica Rolph welcomes Psychologist Dr. Laura Markham to today’s episode. In her work as a coach with thousands of parents all over the world, Dr. Laura describes her approach as “peaceful parenting”. Who doesn’t want more of that? Learn why responding to tantrums with empathy can be a game changer. Dr. Laura is the author ...
How to Build Your Toddler’s STEM Skills at Home
October 07, 2020 06:00 - 25 minutes - 24.5 MBBabies are born wondering. They have to piece together the world around them by gathering information, and they do this by observing, experimenting, and asking questions. In this way, children are like little scientists. If you have a toddler in the house, there’s no shortage of questions in your daily conversations. But is it a two-way street? How many questions are you asking your toddler? Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Sarah Lytle to today’s episode. She is the Director of Outreach and ...
How COVID Affects Toddlers' Social Development
September 23, 2020 06:00 - 16 minutes - 38.3 MBWith preschools and daycares in transition and case counts fluctuating, COVID has given parents plenty to worry about. One prominent concern among parents stems from a lack of socialization. None of us are socializing much, but given all the information out there suggesting socialization with other children is important, parents are particularly worried about their children not interacting with peers. In this episode, we look at how toddlers socialize and how we, as adults, can help th...
How to Limit Your Toddler's Screen Time
September 09, 2020 06:00 - 24 minutes - 23.7 MBFew topics will spark debate among parents more readily than screen time. It’s so controversial! Screens are everywhere. And avoiding them can feel like the domain of super-human parents. Learn some tips to cut down on screens from Dr. Screen-Free Mom: Meghan Owenz. She runs a website, Screen-Free Parenting, with over 27,000 active participants. She is also an Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State University. Key Takeaways: [1:46] What does screen-free look like for Meghan’s fam...
The Benefits of Unstructured Play
August 26, 2020 06:00 - 22 minutes - 21.8 MBWith opportunities for social interaction outside the family in short supply, many parents are stepping in as their child’s primary playmate. Is one way of playing better than another? In this episode with Dr. Shimi Kang, host Jessica Rolph explores the benefits of unstructured play and looks at how play prepares us for adulthood. Dr. Kang is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and best selling author. She is the author of The Dolphin Parent: A guide to Raise Healthy, Hap...
How Are Gender Stereotypes Influencing Your Parenting?
August 12, 2020 06:00 - 18 minutes - 18.1 MBGirls in sparkly, pink dresses. Boys crazy about anything with wheels. Gender differences are everywhere. It’s difficult not to see those differences and then attribute them to something that is hardwired at birth, but neuroscience shows that there is very little difference between boys’ and girls’ brains. Host Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Lise Eliot to this episode. She is a professor of neuroscience at the Chicago Medical School and the author of Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Diff...
Why Teach Sign Language to Your Baby
July 29, 2020 06:00 - 18 minutes - 17.5 MBBabies' understanding of language comes well before their ability to speak. This also can be the case with their motor skills. Most babies will wave bye-bye before they can say the words. These are a few of the reasons signing works well for babies. It gives them another means of communicating. Plus research shows that babies who learn basic sign language develop pathways for communication sooner than they would otherwise. Jessica Rolph welcomes Joy Jackson (@lyric_laughter_learning) ...
Pregnancy Prep: Are You Ready to Give Birth?
July 15, 2020 06:00 - 25 minutes - 60.3 MBGiving birth is one experience in your life you will never forget. There are so many emotions in the mix, both leading up to the birth, and on display during the birth! Host Jessica Rolph met Leslie Schrock when she was in the process of publishing her book Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy, which she wrote while she was pregnant with her first baby. Leslie does not consider herself a pregnancy guru, but instead a curious person who found trustworthy resources for pregnant women...
How and Why Human Touch is Important for Kids
July 01, 2020 06:00 - 22 minutes - 21.6 MBHost Jessica Rolph welcomes Rebecca Parlakian to this episode to talk about the power of touch between infants and parents. Few moments are more tender in those first weeks of life than when your baby reaches out and takes your finger while in your arms. It’s the all-important language of touch at work! Social connection is not the only connection at work in that moment; there are neural connections forming as your baby makes contact with that finger. In today’s episode, Jessica and R...
House Tours & Other Real-Life Experiences that Build Your Baby’s Brain
June 17, 2020 06:00 - 24 minutes - 57.7 MBTalk to any toddler for more than a couple of minutes, and you will be easily reminded of how thirsty they are for knowledge and information. While humans are continuously learning, we are born with something of an empty canvas and it’s the early experiences that we encounter as babies that form the brain architecture to support that learning. At a birthing class, Jessica Rolph was introduced to a book that helped her put the science of early learning into action with her own baby and ...
Talking to Your Child About Race and Racism
June 03, 2020 06:00 - 38 minutes - 36.2 MB“Let little children be the hope you hold in your arms. Let them be the promise that the future will be better because of the values you instill in them.” — Julie Lythcott-Haims We at Lovevery believe in a world where where all children can fulfill their innate promise. We have much work to do to achieve that dream. Work that starts at home in the form of a conversation. For some it’s a choice, for others, a necessity. Because we all must talk to our kids about race. It’s a difficu...
Talking to your child about race and racism
June 03, 2020 06:00 - 38 minutes - 36.2 MB“Let little children be the hope you hold in your arms. Let them be the promise that the future will be better because of the values you instil in them.” — Julie Lythcott-Haims We at Lovevery believe in a world where where all children can fulfill their innate promise. We have much work to do to achieve that dream. Work that starts at home in the form of a conversation. For some it’s a choice, for others, a necessity. Because we all must talk to our kids about race. It’s a diffic...
Baby Talk: Learning Your Baby’s Language with Communication and Play
May 20, 2020 06:00 - 9 minutes - 9.67 MBEver get the feeling like you are babbling more than your baby? It turns out that going gaga over your baby actually serves a purpose. It helps them with language acquisition! Their brains are taking in loads of information from these back-and-forth interactions. Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to this episode to explore the characteristics of this early communication. Kathy is a professor in psychology at Temple University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution...
The Untold Secret: Sometimes, Being a New Mom is Boring
May 06, 2020 06:00 - 23 minutes - 22.2 MBLaundry, diapering, feeding, laundry... this is the work of a new parent, and much of it can feel rather tedious. Unfortunately, boredom can sometimes slip into darker feelings of disconnection. In this episode, Jessica Rolph is accompanied by Erica Komisar, who suggests that one way to stay engaged is to take an interest in your baby’s brain development. Erica Komisar is a psychoanalyst and parent coach based out of New York City. Key Takeaways: [1:26] Erica Komisar talks a...
Reading to Babies: How to Make Early Literacy Development Easy & Fun
April 22, 2020 06:00 - 18 minutes - 18.1 MBJessica Rolph welcomes Sami Carrick to this episode to talk about that magical moment of connection with our baby: story time. And all those who have read a book to an infant know that it doesn’t always go as planned! We know how important it is to read to our babies, but what should we do if they are crawling out of our laps, crazily flipping pages, or just plain not interested in what’s on the page? Sami shares how teaching literacy can take lots of forms. She is a certified reading ...
Baby Milestones: How to Handle Skill Development Anxiety
April 06, 2020 21:55 - 20 minutes - 48.2 MBParenting is a time of so much change for you and your baby, a little reliable information can go a long way towards making this new life, a good life. Jessica Rolph is your host and she is joined by Rachel Coley in this episode of My New Life, a Lovevery podcast, to discuss the common anxiety parents share about their children reaching milestones and comparing to other children’s progress. Does it help? Does it really matter? Rachel Coley is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and the m...
What's the Best Type of Parenting Style or Philosophy For You?
April 06, 2020 21:55 - 25 minutes - 24.4 MBJessica Rolph is joined by Veronica Fernandez, who talks about how she takes advice from various parenting approaches and incorporates the best from each. Veronica discusses philosophies such as Montessori, RIE, and attachment parenting. She also shares with us ways to introduce bilingualism to babies and the benefits of it. Dr. Veronica Fernandez is a new mom, with a Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology, with a focus on bilingual education. Key Takeaways: [1:35] Veronica...
How Soon Should Children Learn Numbers & Math?
April 06, 2020 21:54 - 14 minutes - 14 MBWe all know how important it is to read to our children, but trying to build a baby’s math skills can feel like a challenging task, especially if we don’t have a positive association with math ourselves. The good news is, baby is encountering math everywhere, and nurturing a love of numbers is not as hard as commonly thought. After all, we are all born loving numbers! In this episode, Jessica Rolph speaks with Gillian Starkey, a professor in neuroscience with an emphasis on chil...
The Marshmallow Test: What Executive Function Predicts About Babies
April 06, 2020 21:54 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBExecutive function is a hot topic in brain research. The marshmallow test is a widely referenced study suggesting that the ability to delay gratification is an indicator of success in life. Impulse control is one of a suite of skills associated with executive function. Jessica Rolph is accompanied by an expert in this field, Dr. Melissa Clearfield, a professor of psychology at Whitman College. In this episode, Melissa shares her research on executive function in babies, along with som...
What Executive Function Predicts About Babies
April 06, 2020 21:54 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBExecutive function is a hot topic in brain research. Impulse control is one of a suite of skills associated with executive function. Jessica Rolph is accompanied by an expert in this field, Dr. Melissa Clearfield, a professor of psychology at Whitman College. In this episode, Melissa shares her research on executive function in babies, along with some grounding advice for parents on connecting with their babies. That connection, she explains, is the foundation for the relationships th...
Learning Through Play: Is Free or Guided Play Better?
April 06, 2020 21:54 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBPlay has so much to teach us, children and parents alike. Sometimes parents can get a little too involved in their child’s play, particularly with the extra cool toys. When does our guidance become interference? And what amount of direction is appropriate? Dave Neale joins Jessica Rolph to help us strike the right balance. Dave is a researcher in the psychology of play at the Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning at the University of Cambridge. Key Ta...
Introducing: My New Life
April 05, 2020 16:00 - 1 minute - 2.24 MBWelcome to My New Life. I'm your host, Jessica Rolph. When we founded Lovevery, my co-founder Rod Morris and I believed that young children and their parents do best when they feel supported. My New Life is a podcast for parents in search of community and deeper insights into how our babies are developing. The first season is aimed at parents of infants. I’ve interviewed experts in child development and neuroscience, as well as inspiring moms with real-life struggles. My goal is to give ...