Pacifiers are so convenient… until they’re not. At some point, there can be concerns about developing teeth and interference with speech, and weaning a child off a pacifier can be challenging.   The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and speech and language therapists recommend starting that weaning process between 6 to 12 months, and weaning entirely before a child’s third birthday.    To guide us through that transition, My New Life host Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Amy Conrad to today’s episode. Dr. Amy is a mother to a 10-month-old, a Lovevery customer, and the host of the Ask Doctor Amy podcast.   Highlights: [1:19] Dr. Amy talks about the pros and cons of pacifier use. [3:42] What red flags should parents be looking for with regard to pacifier use? [5:52] Dr. Amy shares her thoughts about the paci fairy approach. [7:25] If a child is using a pacifier all through the day and at night, is it advisable to wean them from the pacifier during awake times, and then eventually extend that to nap-time and finally bedtime?  [8:38] Can we revert to pacifiers when a child gets sick or during a trip? [9:30] What about gradually shortening the tips of the pacifier?  [10:40] How much of a concern is tooth decay, and how and when should we wean our child from the bottle? [11:08] What are some signs that your baby is ready for a drinking cup?  [12:31] How and when to use sippy cups, open cups, and bottles?  [13:52] Jessica shares her takeaways from the conversation with Dr. Amy.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com   Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram.

The stress of separation is real — it can be upsetting for both you and your child. Whether it be a child sobbing for you to stay when the babysitter shows up or clinging to your leg at drop-off, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing it all wrong when these raw emotions take over.   My New Life’s Jessica Rolph welcomes Family Psychologist Ashleigh Warner to help parents navigate this tricky terrain. Ashleigh reassures us that these feelings are normal, and shares ways to make separations easier on everyone involved.   Highlights: [1:45] What is causing our babies and toddlers to get so upset when we leave the room?  [3:02] Ashleigh talks about Dr. Gordon Neufeld’s model of attachment. [5:15] Ashleigh explains why it is completely normal for a child to struggle at drop-off. [6:37] What happens if there are a few caregivers, who might even change day by day?  [7:30] How to handle attachment in a daycare setting for a baby?  [9:03] Is sneaking out recommended? How should parents handle separation? [11:21] What can caretakers do to make separation less traumatic? [14:45] What is the role of distraction? Are distractions recommended? [15:58] How long is it okay for a child to be crying and upset over a separation?  [17:34] Is it ok to go back for your child if the crying is more than you can handle? [21:05] Should caregivers be practicing a few things at home before a big transition like starting daycare or preschool? [22:30] What are ways that caregivers can build trust in their children that they will always return? [23:30] Jessica presents the question of a listener. She’s a Navy mom who is gone a lot, and finds it painful when her child expresses a preference for Daddy. What advice does Ashleigh have for this mom?  [25:02] How can a parent ease the transition when returning to work? [26:38] Jessica shares her takeaways from her conversation with Ashleigh Warner.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com @raisinghumanskind Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram.

Screens are hard to avoid in today’s world, and when our children do have access, turning them off can bring on some big emotions! Have you ever wondered why they have these oversized reactions? Or how to avoid them?   My New Life host Jessica Rolph is joined by  Dr. Martha Deiros Collado, a psychologist specializing in family therapy who has her own podcast called Talking Sense, and an Instagram presence at @dr.martha.psychologist. Listen to today’s episode for simple tips to bring more harmony to the conclusion of screen time.    Highlights: [1:03] Does Dr. Martha use screens with her three-year-old? [2:11] Which shows does Dr. Martha consider appropriate for her daughter?  [3:29] A listener asks for help managing her 3 year old’s big reactions every time she turns off the screen. [4:19] What is a parent to do about these meltdowns? [7:41] What is actually happening in the child’s brain while they are engaged with a screen? [11:22] Is there any evidence that the type of programming can affect children’s behavior?  [13:55] Does sticking to a schedule or having some kind of routine around screens help with limit setting? [16:02] Another parent shares a questions about timing exposure to screens. [18:23] Should parents use screen time as a reward? And what about withholding screens as a punishment? [23:55] What are some best practices around modeling moderation for our children? [27:18] Jessica shares takeaways from her conversation with Dr. Martha.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com   Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram.

An occupational therapist specialized in pediatric pelvic floor health discusses common challenges in potty training, including poop withholding, sensory system overwhelm, creating a favorable bathroom environment, transitioning from potty to toilet, and addressing diaper and pull-up differentiation. Tips for successful potty training are provided, such as setting clear expectations, guiding the child through the process, addressing sensory needs, partnering with educators, educating about the body's processes, and seeking outside help if needed.

This week we are revisiting our most-downloaded episode from Dec. 1, 2021, as we prepare for our upcoming season: Transitions. In the new season of the podcast, we will take a look at transitions from diapers to potty, crib to bed, saying goodby to pacifiers, and lots more.   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 experts Bridget Hillsberg and Brooke Dwyer, aka the Speech Sisters.   Key Takeaways: [1:54] How much is nature vs nurture when it comes to a child developing language? [3:13] Bridget and Brooke talk about their babies’ language development. [4:47] The Speech Sisters’ number one tip for parents: imitate. [6:05] What’s the difference between baby talk and imitating?  [8:01] Another tip for parents: Act it out. [9:25] Listening, labeling, and demonstrating play an important role in encouraging language development. [12:37] What constitutes saying the first word versus babbling? If you know what they mean when they say it, does that count as a word?  [13:23] How much should a child be talking? What’s typical? And when should we worry? [16:04] Bridget and Brooke share stories about children who received early intervention to assist in their language development. [18:25] Can a child learn language through screens? [21:17] How much of a child’s language development stems from parent intervention versus screens or some other outside service? [23:15] Parents have a tremendous impact on their children’s language acquisition.    Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Speech Sisters on Instagram Find more about Bridget and Brooke on SpeechSisters.com

Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting, joins the podcast to discuss the benefits of simplifying a child's life. He shares tips on purposeful toys, the power of predictability, Waldorf-informed mealtime, and how to simplify parenting proactively. Learn how simplicity promotes creativity, trust, and calmness in children's lives.

Sibling rivalry is normal. The kids usually move on quickly, but it often leaves us adults unhinged. What can we do to help diffuse those tense moments, and maybe even build some mutual respect?   In the spring we shared an episode about bringing home a new baby sibling. In today’s episode, we are following up with Lovevery expert Gabrielle Felman on sibling dynamics. We look at how to handle jealousy, possessiveness, fighting, as well as best practices around intervening, modeling resolutions, and incorporating one-on-one time. Gabrielle is an Early Childhood Development Expert based in New York.   Highlights: [1:46] When you are praising one of your children, is it necessary to compliment the other? [5:39] What is the best way to approach having special time with each of your children? How do you manage the other child’s emotions? [7:14] When do parents need to step in when it looks like a fight is brewing? [9:59] How can you help your children work together to come to a resolution? [14:25] How should parents handle children’s possessiveness over things? [17:04] What’s the best way to explain fairness and inequality? [19:01] What to do when your younger child wants a later bedtime like their sibling. [20:41] What is one thing that parents can do to foster better sibling relationships? [21:35] Jessica shares her takeaways from the conversation with Gabrielle.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram.

We hear a lot about the first 3 years of a baby’s life — how critical those years are to brain development. But today’s guest, the author of The Baby and the Biome, would argue that the same window is just as critical for our gut. Probiotics may have a role in keeping that system healthy. But are probiotics helpful to babies? And what about when you’re pregnant? Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Meenal Lele, founder of Lil’ Mixins.   Highlights: [1:39] When do babies pick up their first dose of bacteria?  [2:54] How does birth affect this bacterial environment? How does the introduction of bacteria differ between a C-section and a vaginal birth? [4:56]  What can people who have C-sections do to replicate the bacteria that’s introduced during a vaginal birth? [5:58] Should parents bathe their babies right away, or is there any benefit to letting them go unbathed for those first few days?  [7:18] What are significant sources of good bacteria for your baby to build their microbiome in those first weeks?  [9:18] What kind of probiotics does Meenal recommend for mixing into formula? How do you work those into breast milk? [11:11] When our babies start to eat solid foods, should we supplement with probiotics?  [12:51] What are other benefits of probiotics and supplementation? [14:22] What would Meenal do if she had a baby now, knowing everything she knows? [17:18] Why have human microbiomes lost microbial diversity? [21:52] Jessica shares her top takeaways from the conversation with Meenal.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com   Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram.  

Screens are so effective at distraction, but equally effective at causing parents angst! In today’s interview, Jessica Rolph is joined by Lovevery expert, Dr. Zach Stuckelman, to get to the bottom of the research on screens and young brains.    They examine which content is better than others, and whether those learning apps are really teaching our kids anything. They also explore the value of video chatting and looking at family pictures or videos together on a phone.   Highlights: [2:01] Are screens bad? How much is too much? [5:18] Zach breaks down the age bands for screens to help parents navigate what to do when. [7:08] How do we pick the best screen content for our children? What is the difference between something like Little Bear, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Powerpuff Girls?  [10:14] Is video chatting with family members different than “regular screen time”? [11:18] How about screen time on a long trip with an 18-month-old? [12:40] Is it ok to let children look at pictures of their family and videos of themselves playing? [13:47] What kind of time limits should parents enforce? [14:50] What to do when an older sibling gets access to a screen and the younger child is below the ideal age range? [17:12] Jessica shares her takeaways from the conversation.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com   Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram.   You’ll find tips on how to scale back on screen time in Jessica’s interview with Meghan Owenz from September of 2020. 

Usually when we consider having another baby, personal preferences factor heavily into decisions around timing — things like budget or sibling dynamics. But it’s rare to consider the health impacts, and it’s even less common to discuss birth spacing with your doctor.   Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Dr. Alison Gemmill to today’s episode. Alison is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins, in the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health. She shares the biological benefits and risks associated with the timing of your pregnancies, with the goal of helping listeners make informed decisions about when to grow their families.   Key Takeaways: [1:35] What does the research tell us about the optimum time between pregnancies? [2:27] What are the benefits of waiting 18 months between pregnancies? [3:22] What should parents be doing about spacing between a miscarriage?  [3:58] What about waiting more than five years? [5:38] What risks are at play in the case of an older mom? [8:51] What does research show in regard to the connection between autism and birth intervals less than 18 months? [10:11] What is Dr. Gemmill’s theory on how much the baby takes from the mother’s nutritional reserve and for how long it takes to build that backup? [11:33] Jessica shares her top three takeaways from her with Dr. Gemmill.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com   Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Lovevery.com Follow Lovevery and Jessica Rolph on Instagram Pregnant with your second? Listen to My New Life Episode 22: “New additions: Bringing home a sibling” with Gabrielle Felman, and you’ll find more insights on sibling dynamics on the Lovevery app. Details at Lovevery.com