My New Life

Giving 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 in short supply. She talked with all variety of experts in the process of writing her book and shares her findings on this episode.     Key Takeaways: [1:34] What inspired Leslie to write her book about pregnancy? [3:10] Leslie shares how it felt to be her own health advocate. [5:58] What is the technical difference between a doula and a midwife? Why would you want one over the other? Does it make sense to have both?  [7:55] Does the participation of a doula or midwife preclude you from having a medicated birth?  [10:32] Where does a doctor fit into all of this?  [11:59] What goes into the decision to have an epidural or not? How to build a supportive birthing team and what to consider if you want to plan for an un-medicated birth. [16:07] Leslie shares tools for feeling positive when going into labor. [18:40] Leslie gives advice on how to best involve your birth partner.  [20:23] What is going on with the pelvic floor during pregnancy and birth? What can women do to make sure that it's healthy after birth? [21:18] What is pelvic floor dysfunction? Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Leslie Schrock Bumpin.com

Host 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 Rebecca examine the importance of touch for both baby and parent.   Rebecca Parlakian is a senior director program at Zero to Three, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and families. Much of her work at Zero to Three is connected to the work of Dr. Andrew Meltzoff at the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences.    Key Takeaways: [1:27] Rebecca talks about Dr. Meltzoff’s research, and how physical touch helps to develop a baby’s sense of self and other. [3:03] When do babies know that they have hands? [3:58] How important is skin-to-skin contact between a parent and a baby? [5:32] Rebecca discusses how parents can incorporate touch after the hospital — with infants and toddlers. [6:12] What is Rebecca’s opinion of the research that indicates babies don't get the same benefit by being hugged by a friendly stranger as they do by a loved one?  [7:32] Is there any research that supports skin-to-skin contact after the hospital?  [9:09] What role can massage play in enhancing that bond between a parent and a child?  [11:10] The nine elements of temperament. [12:34] Some children love to get their hands messy and other children have an aversion to touching things. What causes this range in sensory preferences? [13:40] The characteristics of sensory-aversive and sensory-seeking children. [15:02] Why is sensory play important for a child’s development [16:25] Why is mouthing natural and important? [18:03] Is sucking a thumb or finger positive for a baby’s development? [20:01] What is the earliest memory of touch? [21:15] Jessica shares the highlights of her conversation with Rebecca.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com ZERO TO THREE

Talk 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 ultimately inspired her to create Lovevery. This book was written by Dr. William H. Staso, the guest on today’s episode.   Will is a psychologist who focuses on the assessment of autism in children under 3 years old. In 1999, he published “Neural Foundations: What Stimulation Your Baby Needs to Become Smart,” a book about the experiences that form the early architecture of the brain. In it, he shares multiple ideas for learning activities and ways to engage with your baby.   Key Takeaways: [2:55] Dr. Will Staso explains what happens on a neurological level during the first 3 years of life. [4:52] The importance of a baby’s environment to when it comes to wiring neurons. [6:41] What parents can do to promote language acquisition. [8:58] Will explains ways to stimulate your baby’s brain in place of flashing, noisy toys. [10:06] Will talks about experienced-based activities. [11:36] What does the perfect learning environment for a baby look like? [14:10] The role of the adult and how to interact with your baby. [15:55] Discovery learning requires non-restrictive parenting. [17:49] Awareness of location and quantities prepare your child for letters and numbers later on. [18:25] Learning sequences and making predictions. [19:52] Nature or nurture? [20:35] What does smartness really look like? [21:45] Why is one brain more efficient than another? [21:59] Will sums up his advice to parents.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com “Neural Foundations: What Stimulation Your Baby Needs to Become Smart” Dr. William H. Staso. To get a free copy of the book, please DM Jessica Rolph on Instagram. 

Ever 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. She is also co-author of Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children.    Key Takeaways: [1:12] How can a parent contribute to the building of communication skills? [2:30] Remember to pause and create space for your baby to respond. [3:24] Kathy talks about infant-directed speech. [5:30] The back-and-forth conversation with a baby might be more important than we thought. [6:30] Technology sometimes gets in the way of opportunities to communicate with our babies.    Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children

Laundry, 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 about her clinical work with patients who are experiencing boredom. [3:05] Interest in child development as a possible solution for a parent’s boredom. [4:45] Erica explains how to ignite a sense of wonder around your baby’s development. [6:35] Recognizing the immense value of nurturing your baby. [7:14] Possible cues of postpartum depression. [8:30] Skin-to-skin contact lays the foundation for emotional security. [9:16] Breast feeding, in light of the skin-to-skin contact, has neurological benefits. If you are bottle feeding, consider taking off your shirt. [12:18] Advice to mothers who have been separated from their babies. [14:05] Tips to spark the connection between you and your baby. [14:59] Mirroring your baby is about reflecting how your baby feels; as a result, your baby feels understood. [16:53] The perils of idealizing parenthood. [19:11] Does COVID-19 bring more risk of depression? [20:45] When is the best time to seek professional health?   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Don’t dismiss a new mom’s boredom. It could be a sign of something more serious. The Washington Post, Erica Komisar 

Jessica 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 specialist and the mom behind Literacy for Littles.   Key Takeaways: [1:30] Reading to a newborn: Sami explains how this might look. [2:34] Position your newborn baby so they can see your facial expressions while you are reading. [3:04] Consider incorporating a book at nap time and bedtime to help create predictability for your baby. [3:31] When to introduce sensory books to babies. [4:26] Tips to engage your baby in reading when they don’t seem to be able to stop moving or are uninterested. [6:28] Sami shares practical tips to help a child learn how to turn the pages. [8:01] The benefits of adding rubber bands to the pages. [8:48] How to incorporate reading in the daily routine outside of bedtime. [10:24] The importance of using a dramatic, animated voice while reading to your baby. [11:50] Tips for parents to teach literacy early on. [13:54] Sami explains why learning letter sounds is more important than being able to recite the ABCs. [16:22] The benefits of incorporating sign language into a child’s day.   Mentioned in this episode: Literacy for Littles Brought to you by Lovevery.com

Parenting 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 mom behind a super informative website called CanDo Kiddo. Rachel prefers to focus on what she calls “mini-milestones”, which are all the tiny steps a baby takes to reach their objective. Tune in to learn what to do if your baby doesn’t like tummy time, how baby containers are getting in the way of natural development, and why the floor is the best place for your baby to be.    Key Takeaways: [2:51] Technology is shaping what kind of toys we are putting in front of our babies. [4:22] Why do babies need to be on the floor? [6:25] Is swaddling beneficial for a baby? [7:14] Tummy time is the baby’s first opportunity to interact with gravity. [11:15] Thinking about tummy time as a position for play is really helpful. [13:54] Milestone anxiety vs staying curious about mini-milestones. [15:30] How parents can help babies build the strength necessary to roll over.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com CanDo Kiddo

Jessica 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 shares her journey from preschool to Ph.D. [3:38] How to incorporate different philosophies in parenting your baby.  [5:23] Veronica shares how she used the Montessori philosophy to create a prepared environment for her newborn baby. [6:19] The essence of the Montessori approach. [8:33] The Montessori approach characterizes by giving children the chance of manipulating materials such as glass. [9:38] The RIE Method is about respectful parenting. [13:45] Being in physical proximity to a child is always beneficial.  [14:11] What does not resonate with Veronica about Attachment parenting? [17:19] When the focus is on playing and interaction, the opportunities for teaching will show up spontaneously. [18:56] Be present and playful in your interactions with children [19:13] Introducing a second language to babies [20:05] Children learn more by exposure than to intentional teaching.  [21:58] The benefits of bilingualism.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com

We 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 children’s developing math skills. She shares some pointers that are going to score big with you and your baby, and might even make math into something you both look forward to.   Key Takeaways: [1:22] What constitutes math for babies? [2:45] Gillian shares why it is important to build basic math skills at home with our babies. [3:51] What do babies know about math when they are born? [4:49] Activities that you can do with your baby (0-12 months old) to build math skills. [8:00] How do children’s understanding of numbers and what they represent evolve as they get older? [9:01] Gillian explains how to engage toddlers in everyday math.  [10:03] Baking is one great way to introduce mathematical concepts to toddlers. [10:33] Shapes and patterns can be used to strengthen math skills. [11:40] Gillian gives tips on how to deal with our own math anxiety.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Learn more about Gillian Starkey

Executive 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 that your baby will have later on in life.   Key Takeaways:  [1:46] Melissa defines executive function and its link to success later in life. [3:08] Signs of executive function in the baby’s first year of life. [4:21] Melissa shares interventions that can boost executive function. [6:25] The importance of parents giving baby their undivided attention. [8:17] Electronic toys and babies. [9:40] Simple toys promote learning, exploration and cognitive development. [10:06] When is it beneficial to offer your child multiple levels of stimulation? [12:13] How to model good executive function for children. [13:50] The attachment style that you have with your infant sets the stage for that child’s attachment style later in life in their romantic partnership. [14:50] Play for Success.   Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Lovevery.com Learn more about Dr. Melissa Clearfield