With everything we have to worry about in today’s world, it’s easy to lose sight of how our children can have their own big worries too. Things like getting nails clipped, night-time noises, strangers, doctors, even entering a pool can feel overwhelming to our children. How do we help them push through their fears? Which are normal, and which are extreme? And how do we validate their feelings without making their fears worse? Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Ann-Loui...
Jun 29, 2022•27 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Young children are naturally egocentric. This is a normal part of their development, as they must first make sense of the world around them through their own eyes, before they can see it through someone else’s. In fact, until they approach preschool age, they have little reason to believe that others might have feelings or thoughts different from their own. But getting them to eventually understand that everyone’s got their own perspective, is how we teach kindness. Empathy — the ability to imag...
Jun 15, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Independence, freedom, order, beauty. These are all elements of the Montessori play space, and who doesn’t want these things for their child? However, sometimes adopting a Montessori approach can feel like a high bar. Jessica Rolph, your host, is joined by Simone Davies, author of The Montessori Baby and The Montessori Toddler . She can also be found online at The Montessori Notebook , where she gives tips, answers questions, and provides workshops to parents. Simone would argue that it doesn’t ...
Jun 01, 2022•25 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Play 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 on this episode 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...
May 18, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Any pregnant mom will tell you: Their body goes through a major transformation! And with each passing month, nutritional needs change. We hear lots about omega-3s, but did you know that protein and choline play critical roles in the baby’s development in utero? Host Jessica Rolph speaks with Registered Dietitian Ryann Kipping, founder of The Prenatal Nutritionist. Key Takeaways: [1:40] What is the role of protein in a pregnant person’s diet? [5:05] In what ways should our diet shift post-pregnan...
May 04, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 28
The so-called “Mozart effect” first entered the public conscience in the early 90s. The theory states that listening to classical music while pregnant, will make your baby smarter. We talk a lot about how babies become smarter on My New Life, so host Jessica Rolph figured she better dig into this theory. Here to give us a straight answer is Dr. Thomas Dardarian. He is an OB-GYN at Axia Women's Health and past president of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Key T...
Apr 20, 2022•13 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Children, like adults, lie and they can learn to do so from the young age of 2 years old, according to the researchers. In this episode, Jessica Rolph is joined by Dr. Kang Lee, a University of Toronto professor who has been examining lying and what it tells us about human cognition for over two decades. Kang is so dedicated to this field of study, he has convinced some 5,000 children to lie to him! While many parents despair when in the face of these little lies, evidence suggests it is proof t...
Apr 06, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Jessica Rolph is joined by Dr. Kate Barret and Dr. Terry Jo Bichell to bring listeners the story behind “Uncle Rob’s Pizza Party,” a Lovevery book about a toddler’s relationship with a man with Angelman Syndrome. Lovevery’s Senior Advisor of Equity and Inclusion, Nicole Stamp, guides the conversation. This episode challenges some of the norms around how we discuss neurodiversity, particularly with our children. Key Takeaways: [2:15] Jessica explains why Uncle Rob’s Pizza Party has a special plac...
Mar 23, 2022•24 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Choline is a nutrient proven to have a lasting link to a baby’s brain development when taken in pregnancy, but many prenatal vitamins don’t have much choline. The recommended amount is 450 mg/day, and studies show only 10 percent of all pregnant women get enough. A recent study at Cornell University looked at the benefits of doubling the recommended choline consumption. It showed a link between sustained attention in 7-year-olds and 930 mg of choline during pregnancy. There is also some research...
Mar 09, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Parent-child interaction is crucial to brain development. An important part of that interaction is what is said while we’re engaging with our child — not just the words we use, but the frequency of those words and the way in which they are offered up. Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Dana Suskind to today’s episode to talk about the reasons why a language-rich environment is so important and to best achieve one. Dr. Suskind is the author of Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain and she is rel...
Feb 23, 2022•19 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Share the news of a baby brother or sister with a toddler, and it’s likely to be met with enthusiasm. But at some point after the baby arrives, jealousy and resentment can get in the way, and that can manifest in all sorts of new behaviors. Jessica Rolph welcomes Gabrielle Felman, an early childhood development specialist and clinical social worker. She shares loads of practical, real-life tips and insights for how to best prepare for and navigate this transition. Key Takeaways: [1:40] What is t...
Feb 09, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 22
So many parents find themselves flying through the day, constantly running through a mental to-do list. It seems there is always room to squeeze in more. To be focused on one moment in time feels next to impossible, but there are ways to get present, even with with all this mental clutter. Jessica Rolph welcomes Hunter Clarke-Fields to today’s episode. She’s the Mindful Mama Mentor , author of Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Conf...
Jan 26, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Parenting is full of trying moments. One way that parents express their frustration is by yelling — we’ve all been there! Feeling overwhelmed is usually at the root of it, but being around a parent who regularly raises their voice isn’t optimal for a child. Learning strategies to reduce yelling takes time, but it’s worth the hard work. Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Brandi Jordan to today’s episode, she is the founder of The Cradle Company and host of the podcast Dear Doula . Brandi shares h...
Jan 12, 2022•20 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Waldorf education has become increasingly popular in recent decades. Supporters champion the creativity and independent thinking that it fosters, but some critics say it fails to prepare children for the “real” world, where things like competition and technology cannot be avoided. Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Natasha Beck to today’s episode. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and has a Master’s in Public Health. Mom to three children and pregnant with her fourth, Dr. Beck is known to her...
Dec 29, 2021•17 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Do you find yourself constantly having to nudge your toddler to stay on schedule and tick all the boxes? Let’s get a move on, we’ll be late! No seriously, it’s bedtime! Little wonder that we parents lose sight of our playful side in all the hustling. Today’s guest on the podcast has a remarkable knack for incorporating playfulness in the trickiest of situations. Even the dreaded tantrum feels slightly less scary with her guidance. Dr. Becky Kennedy has earned the title of this generation’s Dr. S...
Dec 15, 2021•27 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Language milestones are a hot topic. When should my baby be speaking? And how many words? So much is tied up in our ability to communicate with our little people. On today’s episode of My New Life, we call in the experts to get your baby talking! While the timeline for those treasured first words varies from child to child, there are some time-tested tricks to help the process along. Spoiler: Don’t be afraid to sing to your child. Jessica Rolph, your host, is accompanied by speech language exper...
Dec 01, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Some children make a lot of noise as they move through their day. They tend to like big movements: bear hugs, wrestling, getting messy. Others are quieter. They can sometimes be bothered by subtle things: tags, temperature, too much light. These children might retreat if their senses get overloaded. Sensory preferences fall on a spectrum. Jessica Rolph is accompanied by Dr. Allie Ticktin to talk about how to navigate these differences. Dr. Allie is an occupational therapist with a specialty in s...
Nov 17, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 16
The human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells, all of which are present at birth, but have few links between them. Those links are formed by experiences children have. The idea that the right inputs can strengthen a brain’s architecture informs much of the product design at Lovevery . But there’s lots of debate around how early we should start laying the foundation for academic learning. Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Sarah Chesworth to today’s episode of The Perspective Series, to help ...
Nov 03, 2021•17 min•Season 3Ep. 15
We all have big dreams for our little people, and there are so many ways to define success: finding purpose in life and work, reaching goals (whatever those might be), surrounding yourself with loved ones, to name just a few. Psychologists have pointed to a variety of practices that can help our kids achieve these things. Spending time with your child is a major one; others include letting your child make decisions and prioritizing kindness. Jessica Rolph welcomes Esther Wojcicki to today’s epis...
Oct 20, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Many new parents struggle with decisions around learning outside of the home. When is the right age? Is daycare or preschool the answer? If extended family isn’t available or other help isn’t affordable, should parents keep their children at home while also juggling work or all the many other responsibilities? Then there’s the decision regarding what learning philosophy to follow. Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Nikki Johnson to today’s episode. Nikki struggled with these decisions and landed...
Oct 06, 2021•23 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Feeding, diapering, dressing, soothing. At times, it feels like we’re merely surviving those early months. When in overdrive, pausing to observe doesn’t always come naturally, but looking and listening before responding to your baby or toddler can lead to some surprising discoveries about your child, and yourself! Something called RIE parenting is founded on that principle. RIE was created in 1978 by a woman named Magda Gerber. The basis of Magda’s RIE philosophy is respect for the child, and it...
Sep 22, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 12
It’s remarkable how choosing your words carefully can mean the difference between a moment of connection or disconnect. Today’s guests are experts at effective communication with young children. Joanna Faber and Julie King are co-authors of the book, How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 , and they have just released a second book: How To Talk When Kids Won’t Listen: Whining, Fighting, Meltdowns, Defiance and & Other Challenges of Childhood ....
Aug 25, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 10
We’ve all been there: Witnessing the big emotions that roll in from the left field and feeling ill prepared for the storm that follows. It can be the wrong utensil, the wrong lovey, or just the wrong side of the bed. Toddlers are excellent at showing emotions but not yet skilled at expressing them, that is why they need our help naming and understanding their feelings. Jessica Rolph, your host, is joined by Chazz Lewis, popularly known as Mr. Chazz, on today’s episode. Mr. Chazz walks us through...
Aug 11, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Jessica Rolph, your host, is joined by Nicole Kavanaugh, a Montessori parenting expert and the writer and mom behind The Kavanaugh Report . Learn why Nicole takes a firm stance against bribing and likes to see children take an active role in their own potty learning. This doesn’t have to be a sprint to the finish. If you approach it more like a marathon, or at least a long, meandering stroll through the park, it can take some of the pressure off. And removing some of the pressure tends to make t...
Jul 28, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Jessica Rolph is joined by Jamie Glowacki, author of the book: Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right . And don’t we all want to “do it once and do it right”? Despite our best intentions, this is one transition that rarely goes smoothly. But a few ground rules can make a world of difference. Tune in for a little parent training on how to do toilet training. Key Takeaways: [1:25] Jamie’s top do’s and don’ts in potty training. [3:57] Jamie tal...
Jul 14, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Natural 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 alternate v...
Jun 30, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Maple 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 government rel...
Jun 16, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Child 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 strong-will...
Jun 02, 2021•20 min•Season 3Ep. 4
As 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 on when t...
May 19, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Host 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 the only w...
May 05, 2021•23 min•Season 3Ep. 2
