Your Child is Normal: with Dr Jessica Hochman

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  Ep 249: The Japanese Way of Parenting: What American Parents Can Learn About Manners, Independence & Community, with Lisa Katayama 14.09.2026 27min

  Send us Fan Mail The Japanese Way of Parenting: What American Parents Can Learn About Manners, Independence & Community What can American parents learn from the way children are raised in Japan? In this episode, I sit down with Lisa, author of The Japanese Way of Parenting, to explore the cultural differences—and surprising similarities—between Japanese and American parenting. Lisa shares what inspired her to look at her own Japanese upbringing after becoming a mother in the United States...
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  Ep 248: Why Your Teen Can’t Sleep: What Parents Need to Know, with Dr. Rakesh Bhattacharjee, pediatric sleep specialist 31.08.2026 40min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with pediatric sleep specialist Dr. Bhattacharjee, who leads the sleep program at Rady Children’s Hospital, about why sleep is so important for children’s physical health, mood, learning, attention, and athletic performance. They discuss why teenagers naturally want to stay up later, how early school schedules work against adolescent biology, and what parents can realistically do to help. Dr. Bhattacharj...
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  Ep 247: Feeding Kids Without Fear: Picky Eating, Nutrition & Practical Meal Tips with Jennifer Anderson 24.08.2026 41min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with Jennifer Anderson, founder of Kids Eat in Color, to discuss her new book, Feed Them Well, releasing September 8, 2026. They talk about how parents can tune out fear-based nutrition messaging—including concerns about ingredients like Red Dye 40—and look past the marketing of “healthy” foods and hyper-palatable “healthy swaps.” They also discuss what really matters when feeding kids, including prioritizing protein and fiber, u...
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  Ep 246: Healthy Kids Without the Overwhelm: Small Changes That Actually Stick with pediatric health coach Arielle Levi, PhD 17.08.2026 32min

  Send us Fan Mail Parents today have access to more health information than ever—but does more information actually make it easier to raise healthy kids? In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with Arielle Levi, pediatric health coach and co-founder of the Pediatric Health Coach Academy, about helping families turn health advice into realistic, sustainable habits. They discuss what pediatric health coaching is, how it differs from the roles of pediatricians, dietiti...
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  Ep 245: Why it's Normal for Kids to Fear the Doctor—and How We Can Help, with Kaitlin Wiseman MD 10.08.2026 34min

  Send us Fan Mail Why are so many children afraid of going to the doctor—and what can parents do to help? In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman is joined by family physician and Playhouse MD co-founder Dr. Kaitlin to discuss why medical visits can feel so overwhelming for children and how parents and healthcare providers can make them less intimidating. They talk about the developmental reasons behind medical anxiety, the powerful role of parental emotions, how honesty builds trust, and practic...
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  Ep 244: Helping kids with back-to-school anxiety, with Lynn Lyons 03.08.2026 50min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman welcomes back anxiety expert Lynn Lyons, to discuss how parents can help children navigate back-to-school anxiety. Lynn explains why reassurance isn't always reassuring, why parents often talk too much when children are anxious, and how simple changes in our language can build confidence instead of fear. Together they discuss what to say when a child doesn't want to go to school, when anxiety becomes a reason to seek professional help, and...
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  Ep 243: Why Are Kids So Picky? The Surprising History of Children's Eating | Helen Zoe Veit 27.07.2026 49min

  Send us Fan Mail For years, many of us have assumed that toddlers are naturally picky—that children are simply born preferring bland foods, avoiding vegetables, and rejecting anything unfamiliar. But what if that's not actually true? This week I'm joined by historian Helen Zoe Veit, author of Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History. Together we explore how picky eating became so common, why children in previous generations—and in many cultures around the world—ate t...
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  Ep 242: Protecting Your Child's Vision: A Pediatric Retina Specialist Explains what parents need to know, Aaron Nagiel, MD, PhD 20.07.2026 41min

  Send us Fan Mail What are the most common eye injuries in children—and how can parents help prevent them? In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with Dr. Aaron Nagiel, pediatric retinal specialist and Chief of the Retina Division at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, to discuss children's eye health, vision safety, and the latest breakthroughs in retinal care. Dr. Nagiel explains how the retina works, common retinal conditions seen in children, and the warning si...
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  Ep 241: Beyond Medication: Natural Ways to Support Kids with ADHD, with Dana Kay 29.06.2026 37min

  Send us Fan Mail ADHD affects nearly 1 in 9 children in the United States, and many parents wonder whether medication is their only option. In this episode, I sit down with Dana Kay, founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, to discuss practical lifestyle strategies that may help support children with ADHD symptoms. Dana also shares her personal journey raising a son with ADHD and how that experience inspired her work helping thousands of families. While medication remains an evidence-based treat...
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  Ep 240: Play First: Why Fun Is One of the Best Parenting Tools We Have w/ Dr. Kim Van Dusen 22.06.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, therapist and play therapy expert Dr. Kim Van Dusen explains why play may be one of the most powerful parenting tools we have: play strengthens parent-child relationships, reduces power struggles, supports emotional regulation, encourages independence, and helps children learn important life skills. She shares practical ways to incorporate play into everyday routines, including chores, homework, transitions, mealtimes, and even those moments when parents are ...
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  Ep 239: Divorce Through a Child's Eyes: What Parents Need to Know with Erica Komisar 15.06.2026 38min

  Send us Fan Mail Divorce is one of the most significant transitions a family can experience—but how does it affect children, and what can parents do to minimize the emotional impact? In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, and bestselling author Erica Komisar to discuss the developmental and emotional effects of divorce on children. They explore why certain ages may be more vulnerable than others, how attachment influences children's reactions to se...
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  Ep 238: Your Child Doesn't Need to Read Early: What Really Matters for Literacy, with Ruth Rothfeld-Hochman SLP (my Mother-in-Law) 08.06.2026 38min

  Send us Fan Mail Many parents worry about reading: Is my child reading early enough? What if my child doesn't like books? In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica sits down with a very special guest—her mother-in-law, a speech-language pathologist and reading specialist with decades of experience helping children develop language, literacy, and learning skills. Together they discuss the difference between speech and language, why comprehension matters more than reading words early...
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  Ep 237: What teens and tweens actually need for healthy skin? Dr Angela Casey, Dermatologist explains. 01.06.2026 43min

  Send us Fan Mail Skincare has become a major part of teen and tween culture. From Sephora shopping trips to elaborate nighttime routines, many kids are using more skincare products than ever before. But what do young people actually need for healthy skin? In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with dermatologist Dr. Angela Casey about the rise of skincare among children and teens and how parents can help their kids make smart choices. They discuss: • Why skincare has become so popular amo...
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  Ep 236: Navigating Food Allergies and Early Introduction with allergist Dr Akansha Ganju 25.05.2026 41min

  Send us Fan Mail Food allergies can feel incredibly overwhelming for parents — especially during infancy when introducing new foods for the first time. What does a true allergic reaction actually look like? And what should families know about new treatment options for food allergies? In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with allergist Dr. Akansha Ganju of Latitude Food Allergy Care to discuss the latest science around food allergies, eczema, early allergen introduction, and oral imm...
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  Ep 235: Parenting Through Anxiety: Practical Advice from Lynn Lyons (Replay) 18.05.2026 45min

  Send us Fan Mail In this replay of episodes 31 and 32 of Your Child Is Normal, anxiety expert and psychotherapist Lynn Lyons shares practical, reassuring advice for parents raising anxious kids. The conversation covers: how anxiety shows up in childrenwhy reassurance can sometimes worsen anxietyhow avoidance strengthens fearways parents unintentionally accommodate anxietypractical strategies to help children build resilience and confidenceLynn explains the difference between normal worry and ...
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  Ep 234: Can we teach our children to be resilient and develop a high self-esteem? with Dr Joan Rosenberg 11.05.2026 53min

  Send us Fan Mail What helps children become resilient? How do we raise kids with genuine confidence and self-esteem—while also helping them navigate disappointment, frustration, and uncomfortable emotions? In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, I am replaying one of my favorite past conversations—originally released as Episode 51—with Dr. Joan Rosenberg, bestselling author, psychologist, TEDx speaker, and expert on emotional resilience and confidence. In our conversation, we discuss how par...
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  Ep 233: Why Routines Matter (Without Being Rigid) — with Jessica Irwin, (Rooted in Routine) 04.05.2026 35min

  Send us Fan Mail Parents hear it all the time: kids need routine. But what does that actually mean—and how do you make it work in real life without becoming overly rigid? In this episode, we are joined by pediatric occupational therapist Jessica Irwin, founder of Rooted in Routine, to talk about how simple, flexible routines can make a big difference for kids—and parents. We discuss: Why routines help kids feel safer, calmer, and less anxious The 5 key anchor points every fa...
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  Ep 232: Motor Milestones Without Panic: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and When to Get Help w/ Daniella Brown 27.04.2026 42min

  Send us Fan Mail When it comes to babies and movement, parents often ask: Is my child developing normally? Should I be worried? And when is it time to get help? In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman is joined by Daniella Brown, a pediatric physical therapist and founder of Proactive Pediatric Physical Therapy. They cover: What pediatric physical therapy actually looks like Common reasons children are referred (torticollis, delays, gait issues)&nbs...
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  Ep 231: Pumping 101: How to Make It Easier (and Less Overwhelming), with Tamari Jacob, One With The Pump 20.04.2026 47min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with pumping expert Tamari to break down everything parents need to know about pumping—from when to start, how often to pump, and how to make it actually work in real life. They talk honestly about the challenges of breastfeeding and pumping, the pressure many moms feel, and why it doesn’t have to be as stressful as it often seems. Tamari shares practical, realistic advice to help make pumping more managea...
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  Ep 230: Sleep, Babies, and Sanity: What Parents Need to Know, with Chrissy Lawler, The Peaceful Sleeper 13.04.2026 48min

  Send us Fan Mail Sleep is one of the most common—and stressful—concerns for parents, especially in the first year of life. In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with therapist, sleep expert, and mom of four Chrissy (The Peaceful Sleeper) to talk about how to approach sleep in a way that actually works for real families. Chrissy shares a practical, intuitive framework for understanding baby sleep—from the early newborn months to teaching independent sleep...