Your Child is Normal: with Dr Jessica Hochman

Episodi

• 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...
• 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...
• 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...
• 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 ...
• 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...
• 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...
• 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...
• 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...
• 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...
• Ep 229: The Benefits—and Risks—of Labels in Kids, with Pediatrician William Wilkoff MD 06.04.2026 33min

  Send us Fan Mail Why do parents feel so relieved when their child gets a diagnosis? And when can that same label do more harm than good? In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman speaks with pediatrician Dr. William Wilkoff, who has spent decades caring for children in Maine and writing for both parents and physicians. Dr. Wilkoff introduces a powerful idea he calls the “Rumpelstiltskin effect”—the relief that comes from simply naming a condition. But as he expl...
• Ep 228: Are We Over-Pathologizing Normal Boy Behavior? with Dr Michael Milobsky 30.03.2026 26min

  Send us Fan Mail In part two of my conversation with Dr. Michael Milobsky, we talk about boys — and why so much normal boy behavior is increasingly being labeled as a problem. We discuss redshirting, kindergarten expectations, ADHD concerns, school environments that may not fit many boys well, and how to tell the difference between a child who is truly struggling and one who is simply developing normally. This is an important conversation for parents and educators about self-esteem, school re...
• Ep 226: Raising Kids Without the Pressure: Feeding, Milestones, and Language Development with Jordan Koveleski Gorman 24.03.2026 36min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Jessica Hochman speaks with Jordan Koveleski Gorman, pediatric speech pathologist, feeding specialist, and founder of Eat Play Say, a platform that helps millions of parents support their children’s development through practical, realistic strategies. Jordan shares why feeding has become such a stressful topic for parents — and how we can shift away from comparison and perfection. She explains the difference between food preferences and feeding problems, ...
• Ep 227: Parenting Without Panic: Why Your Kids Will Be Fine, with Dr Michael Milobsky 23.03.2026 34min

  Send us Fan Mail Why do so many parents feel overwhelmed right now? In this conversation, I talk with pediatrician Dr. Michael Milobsky about why modern parenting feels so anxiety-provoking — from social media and information overload to the pressure to optimize every part of childhood. We discuss what kids actually need from us, why temperament matters more than parenting hacks, and how parents can stop comparing, trust themselves more, and focus on connection over perfection. This is a thou...
• Ep 225: Wisdom from a Pediatrician with 40 Years of Experience, with Dr. Stan Block 16.03.2026 42min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with Dr. Stan Block, a pediatrician who spent more than four decades caring for children and is the author of Pediatrics Around the Block. Drawing on years of experience in clinical practice and pediatric research, Dr. Block shares practical wisdom about the questions parents ask every day. They discuss why vaccines remain one of the most important tools in pediatric medicine, what normal speech development lo...
• Ep 224: Kids Need Independence: The Science of Play & Risk — Dr. Peter Gray 02.03.2026 31min

  Send us Fan Mail In this two-part conversation, pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with psychologist and play researcher Dr. Peter Gray about what kids actually need to grow into healthy, capable, well-adjusted adults. In this episode, we talk about: • Why play is not just fun — it’s biologically necessary • What children lose when play disappears • How over-structuring childhood may be backfiring • What parents can do to foster independence You can find more of Dr...
• Ep 223: Why School Is Stressing Kids Out (and What Parents Can Do) — Dr. Peter Gray 23.02.2026 32min

  Send us Fan Mail In this two-part conversation, pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with psychologist and play researcher Dr. Peter Gray about what kids actually need to grow into healthy, capable, well-adjusted adults — and why modern childhood is drifting in the opposite direction. In Part 1 we talk about why modern school has become such a major source of stress for kids — and what parents can do when changing schools isn’t realistic. Dr. Gray shares what he learned studying graduates o...
• Ep 222: Understanding Motor Milestones & Development, insights from Allison Mell, Pediatric PT 16.02.2026 38min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, I’m joined by pediatric physical therapist Allison Mell, founder of Tots on Target. We talk about baby motor development in a way that’s both reassuring and practical — including what milestones typically look like, what matters more than the exact age, and how parents can support development at home without overthinking it (or overbuying ). We cover common reasons pediatricians refer to PT — like torticollis and head preference, tummy...
• Ep 221: Navigating Childhood Tics and Tourette Syndrome: Expert Insights with Dr. Greenberg 09.02.2026 43min

  Send us Fan Mail Navigating Childhood Tics and Tourette Syndrome: Expert Insights with Dr. Greenberg In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Greenberg, director of the pediatric psychiatry OCD and Tic disorders program in Boston, to discuss the complexities of childhood tics and Tourette Syndrome. Dr. Greenberg shares her extensive expertise and personal experiences to help parents understand what tics are, how they manifest, and their natural progression. She provides insights on effecti...
• Ep 220: Understanding Pediatric Migraines with Dr. Amy Gelfand 02.02.2026 36min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Amy Gelfand, a child neurologist specializing in pediatric headaches, discusses the complexities and treatment of migraines in children. Gelfand explains the genetic nature of migraines and their commonality among kids, noting triggers like menstrual cycles and changes in sleep patterns. She elaborates on distinguishing features of migraines and provides insight into preventive and acute treatments, including NSAIDs, triptans, neuromodulation devices, and...
• Ep 219: Technology is here to stay, so how do we teach our kids to make better choices? with Aniko Hill, cofounder of DopaMind 26.01.2026 51min

  Send us Fan Mail In a podcast discussion, Aniko Hill, shares her insights into limiting technology use for children. Aniko co-founded DopaMind, a nonprofit aimed at educating kids and parents about the effects of modern technology on mental well-being. Through schools and parent resources, DopaMind provides accessible, nonjudgmental education on making better tech choices. It's really incredible what DopaMind is doing to help educate parents and children about having a healthy rel...