My New Life

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...

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...

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,...

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 throu...

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 to...

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 plan...

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 ....

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 Die...

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...

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...

Sleep, 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 tr...

This week, we are revisiting a listener favorite from September, 2020, as we prepare the lineup for our upcoming season: Perspectives. Starting April 21, you'll hear perspectives from experts on sleep, eating, and parenting philosophies, among other topics, so you can make informed choices for your family.   Few topics will spark debate among parents more readily than screen time. It's so controve...

This week, we are revisiting a listener favorite from June 17, 2020, as we prepare the lineup for our upcoming season: Perspectives. Starting April 21, you'll hear perspectives from experts on sleep, eating, and parenting philosophies, among other topics, so you can make informed choices for your family.   Talk to any toddler for more than a couple of minutes, and you will be easily reminded of ho...

Toddlers 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...

Baby'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...

Children'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 th...

We 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...

Have 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 Blu...

There 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,...

Whether 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 Spec...

This 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 posi...

Opinions 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 We...

Few 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...

Montessori 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 acc...

Most 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...