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
199 episodes
Ep 195: Acupuncture for Kids with Anxiety: A Conversation with Dr. Tara McCannel
In this episode of Your Child is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman is joined by Dr. Tara McCannel—retinal surgeon, ocular oncologist, and co-founder of Seyhart Acupuncture in Santa Monica, California. They discuss how acupuncture can be a po...
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Season 1
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Episode 195
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30:25
Ep 194: Breaking Free of childhood Anxiety and OCD: A conversation about SPACE! with Dr Eli Liebowitz
Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge kids face—and it doesn’t just affect them, it impacts the whole family. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, the clinical psychologist behind the SPACE program (Supportive Parenting f...
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Season 1
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Episode 194
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55:23
Ep 193: How to Help Your Child Build Strong Friendships: Tips for Parents with Nina Badzin
Friendship is one of the most important parts of childhood—and yet, many kids struggle to make and keep friends, especially in today's tech-heavy world. In this episode, I talk with friendship expert and podcast host Nina Badzin about how paren...
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Season 1
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Episode 193
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39:23
Ep 192: Why boredom is a good thing for kids! (Minisode)
In this solo episode of Your Child Is Normal, pediatrician and mom of three Dr. Jessica Hochman explores a summer parenting dilemma almost all families face: what to do when kids say, “I’m bored.”Rather than seeing bore...
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Season 1
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Episode 192
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7:28
Ep 191: Summer Q&A Minisode! Hydration, Constipation, Sunscreen Battles & Motion Sickness
In this special "minisode" of Your Child is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman answers four of the most common summer questions she hears from parents:– Is it normal if my kid doesn’t drink much water?– Why does my child get constipat...
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Season 1
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Episode 191
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7:39
Ep 190: Bonding from birth: normalizing early parenting challenges, with neonatologist Dr Joanna Parga-Belinkie MD
Episode 190 with neonatologist, author and podcast host, Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie who talks about her new book, We talk about the challenges of parenting, particularly in the newborn phase. She emphasizes the importance of bonding with b...
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Season 1
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Episode 190
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32:01
Ep 189: Catch Them When They’re Good: Behavioral Psychology for Better Parenting with Dr. Larry Waldman
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, I’m joined by Dr. Larry Waldman, a behavioral psychologist and author of Who's Raising Whom?, to unpack how behavioral psychology can make parenting easier — and more effective. We talk...
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Season 1
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Episode 189
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35:31
Ep 188: Why Bedwetting Happens—and What Really Helps: A Conversation with Pediatric Urologist Dr. Andrew Kirsch
Bedwetting is incredibly common—but it’s also often misunderstood, leaving families feeling frustrated, confused, or even ashamed. In this episode, pediatric urologist Dr. Andrew Kirsch joins Dr. Jessica Hochman to demystify nighttime wetting a...
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Season 1
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Episode 188
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42:53
Ep 187: When is the digital world too much for kids? And what can realistically be done about it? With Julie Frumin, MFT
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with therapist and screen-time educator Julie Frumin about the digital world kids are growing up in—and how to push back. They explore the rise in anxiety, sleep depriv...
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Season 1
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Episode 187
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39:49
Ep 186: Between a Shot and a Hard Place: A Conversation with Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh
In this episode of Your Child is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman speaks with integrative pediatrician Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh about his brand-new book, Between a Shot and a Hard Place. They discuss vaccine decision-making in today’...
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Season 1
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Episode 186
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45:31
Ep: 185 Healthy Kids, Real Life: A Pediatrician Mom’s Honest Approach with Dr. Padget Skogman
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman sits down with pediatric hospitalist and mom of three, Dr. Padget Skogman, for a refreshingly honest conversation about raising healthy kids in a very imperfect world....
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Season 1
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Episode 185
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32:32
Ep 184: Flat Feet, Smelly Feet, Ingrown Toenails, Toe-Walking and more--your common feet questions answered! with podiatrist Dr. Michael Zapf
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 suppor...
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Season 1
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Episode 184
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34:27
Ep 183: Feeding Without Fear: A Guide to Starting Solids with Cinthia Scott
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 183
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37:10
Ep 182: Communicating with Respect — The RIE Approach with Melani Ladygo
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 Ed...
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Season 1
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Episode 182
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39:18
Ep 181: Part 2 Childhood Vaccines--common parent questions explained with Dr. Paul Offit
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 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 181
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36:28
Ep 180: Part 1: Navigating Vaccine Hesitancy with Dr Paul Offit
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 180
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21:59
Ep 179: How to embrace being a "good enough" mother. With Dr Margo Lowy author of Maternal Ambivalence
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 179
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34:00
Ep 178: The Seven Principles to help Connection with your Child, with Ned Johnson
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 fr...
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Season 1
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Episode 178
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39:54
Ep 177: Why Support Matters in Pregnancy & Childbirth, with Carson Meyer, Doula & Author of Growing Together
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 177
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38:31
Ep 176: Rethinking Youth Sports: Can we lessen the pressure and make it more fun? with Linda Flanagan Author of Taking Back the Game
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 o...
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Season 1
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Episode 176
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45:07
Ep 175: Childhood obesity- when to consider medication and surgery treatment options? with Dr. Alaina Vidmar and Dr. Kamran Samakar
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 understand...
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Season 1
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Episode 175
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39:56
Ep 174: Herbal Medicine for Kids, the truth about what works? A Conversation with Tasha Rose
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 mor...
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Season 1
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Episode 174
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32:05
Ep 173: Beyond Labels: Understanding the Whole Child. Lev Gottlieb, PhD
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 173
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40:51
Ep 172: Should normal "sucking habits" like breast feeding, pacifiers and thumb sucking be stopped? Dr Lisa Bienstock pediatric dentist
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 172
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29:47
Ep 171: How to create helpful boundaries with our teens? with Dr Candice Feinberg
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 171
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33:07