Your Child is Normal: with Dr Jessica Hochman
Welcome to Your Child Is Normal, the podcast that educates and reassures parents about childhood behaviors, health concerns, and development. Hosted by Dr Jessica Hochman, a pediatrician and mom of three, this podcast covers a wide range of topics--from medical issues to emotional and social challenges--helping parents feel informed and confident. By providing expert insights and practical advice, Your Child Is Normal empowers parents to spend less time worrying and more time connecting with their children.
Episodes
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Zapf, a podiatrist who’s been treating kids’ feet for nearly 40 years. We cover the most common foot concerns I hear from parents—how to tell what’s normal, when to worry, and what you can do to support healthy feet at home. In this episode you'll hear tips on ingrown toenails, shoes, feet hygiene, Severs disease, plantar warts, and more!
Dr Jessica Hochman is a board cer...
This week on Your Child Is Normal, I’m joined by pediatric dietitian Cinthia Scott, co-author of Baby Leads the Way, to talk about starting solids, baby-led weaning, early allergen introduction, picky eating, and how to reduce the pressure we put on ourselves as parents. We cover practical tips like the “smush test,” how to reframe gagging, the myth of “food before one is just for fun,” and how to raise adventurous ea...
In this episode, I'm joined by Melani Ladygo to explore the RIE approach — a respectful, relationship-based way of communicating with children from infancy onward. Developed by Magda Gerber in the late 1970s, RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) is built on the idea that even the youngest babies deserve to be treated as capable individuals, with mutual respect at the core.
Melani shares how RIE gives parents a pra...
In Part 2 of my conversation with vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit, we take a deep dive into the most frequent vaccine questions families ask pediatricians today. We cover concerns like giving multiple vaccines at once, whether it’s safer to space out shots, why certain vaccines are given at birth, and how to explain the roles of preservatives like aluminum and thimerosal. Dr. Offit offers clear, evidence-based answers w...
In this conversation, Dr. Paul Offit and pediatrician Jessica Hochman discuss the importance of vaccinations, the challenges of vaccine hesitancy among parents, and the need for nuanced conversations in public health. They explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public trust, and the science behind vaccination schedules. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding parental concerns while advocatin...
In this conversation, Dr. Margo Lowy discusses the complexities of motherhood, emphasizing the importance of embracing the messiness and normalizing the feelings that come with it. They explore the role of community support, the significance of maternal ambivalence, and the need for mothers to forgive themselves for not being perfect. The discussion advocates for a more compassionate understanding of the motherhood ex...
Ep 178: Ned Johnson joins Dr Jessica Hochman on "Your Child is Normal" and they explore the complexities of parenting, emphasizing the importance of connection, understanding, and enjoying the journey with children. Ned shares insights from his new book, "Seven principles for raising self-driven children", highlighting practical strategies for building lasting relationships with their children.
In this conversation, Jessica Hochman and Carson Meyer discuss role of doulas in supporting families during pregnancy and childbirth. They explore the misconceptions surrounding birth, the importance of education and quality support to help the birthing experience. They emphasize how doulas can help provide emotional and physical support to mothers during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
About Carson:
Carson Meyer i...
In this conversation, Linda H Flanagan and Jessica Hochman explore the complexities of youth sports today, discussing the pressures faced by young athletes, advocating for a more balanced approach to youth athletics. We discuss the importance of exercise, the risks of early specialization, and the mental health implications of competitive sports. The discussion emphasizes the need for free play, the debunking of myths...
In this conversation, Dr. Alaina Vidmar and Dr. Kamran Samakar discuss the complexities of pediatric obesity, emphasizing that it is a chronic disease influenced by genetics, biology, and environment. They highlight the importance of understanding the stigma surrounding obesity and the need for comprehensive treatment approaches that include medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes. The conversation also addresses t...
Episode 174 with Herbalist Tasha Rose and talk herbal medicine! We discuss common misconceptions, what herbs may be effective herbs for various ailments, and we also discuss some of the medical literature on natural remedies.
To learn more about Tasha Rose, here is her website:
Tasha's favorite place to buy herbs: Oshala Farm
Here are links to some published medical studies reviewing herbal medicine.
Peppermint and I...
Dr. Lev Gottlieb, a neuropsychologist discusses his unique approach to neuropsychology and child development, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among caregivers, and a strengths-based approach to treatment. He highlights the need for effective communication between parents and professionals and the challenges of navigating labels and accommodations in education. Dr. Gottlieb advocates for a comprehensive car...
Today, Dr Jessica Hochman and Dr. Lisa Bienstock, pediatric dentist, discuss the nuances ] focusing on common concerns parents have regarding their children's "sucking" habits. They explore the importance of understanding non-nutritive sucking habits, for example the implications of breastfeeding, and the role of pacifiers and thumb sucking on children's oral development. Dr. Bienstock emphasizes ...
In this conversation, Dr. Candice Feinberg, a clinical psychologist and CEO of ROWI, a mental health center for teens. In this episode we talk about her book "No Parent Left Behind: How to Parents Teens from Love Instead of Fear". We talk about the art of setting boundaries with teens-- emphasizing the need for parents to approach parenting from a place of love rather than fear. The discussion highlights th...
Today's guest is Dr. Art Mollen, longevity health expert and best selling author, and he gives practical tips to parents to help establish healthy eating habits for children. We discuss the role of parents in modeling healthy behaviors for their children, the necessity of exercise, tips to avoid eating from boredom, and more. Dr Mollen is celebrating his 80th birthday this month and he is the epitome of health--...
Ep 169 of Your Child is Normal! (Note the new podcast title!!!)
On today's episode Dr. Michael Goran discusses the impact of sugar on children's health, the challenges of reducing sugar intake, and practical strategies for families to manage sugar consumption. Dr Goran’s approach is practical, he doesn’t advocate for no sugar, just less if it. He offers actionable steps for parents to help thei...
In this conversation, pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Irina Dralyuk discusses the importance of lung health, especially in light of recent fires affecting air quality in Los Angeles. She explains the significance of air quality indices (AQI), and its limitations. She reviews the use of air purifiers and masks, to protect lung health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children with pre-existing conditions. ...
In this conversation, Taylor Soderborg MD PhD discusses her journey as a physician scientist and her focus on the microbiome's role in child health. The discussion emphasizes the importance of optimizing microbiomes, their impact on health, and practical advice for parents to support their children's microbiome. Soderborg introduces Tiny Health, a company dedicated to microbiome testing, and explains the te...
Ep 165: Dr. Lori Baudino, a licensed clinical psychologist and dance movement therapist, discusses how a child's movement and their psychology are integrated. She emphasizes the importance of understanding children's behaviors through their body language and movement, offering practical strategies for parents to support their children's emotional, social and educational needs.
To learn more...
In this conversation, Dr. Kyle Willse, a pediatric intensivist, shares insights on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The discussion is meant to provide a basic understanding as to how the PICU operates and to help parents be an advocate for their children. A must listen for anybody who has a child or a loved one in the PICU.
Kyle Willse, DO, is board certified in Pediatrics and in Pediatric Critic...
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