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Welcome To “Ask Dr Jessica”!

I’m Dr. Jessica Hochman, a board-certified pediatrician, mother of three, and the host of Your Child Is Normal. Every day in my practice, I meet parents who want the same thing: to raise healthy, happy children—but who often feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice, alarming headlines, and the endless stream of information online.

My mission is simple: to give parents evidence-based pediatric advice that helps them worry less and connect more with their children.

I started Your Child Is Normal because I wanted to bring thoughtful, science-based conversations to families everywhere. Through interviews with leading pediatricians, psychologists, researchers, and child development experts, I explore the questions parents ask every day—from sleep, nutrition, and behavior to anxiety, ADHD, and adolescent health. With more than 240 episodes, the podcast has become a trusted resource for families looking for practical, balanced, and compassionate guidance.

As both a pediatrician and a mom, I understand that parenting is filled with uncertainty. My goal isn’t to tell parents to do everything perfectly—it’s to help them recognize what’s truly important, understand what’s normal, and feel more confident in the decisions they make for their children.

Whether I’m caring for patients in my practice, speaking with families, hosting my podcast, or sharing expert commentary in the media, my hope is always the same: to replace fear with knowledge, perspective, and reassurance.

Ep 158: How to treat and care for cleft lip and/or palate! With Dr Victor Chien, pediatric craniofacial surgeon

Ep 157: When are parents "Too Much" with their children? How can parents navigate challenges with parenting without getting overly involved? Terri Cole, MSW, LCSD, author of Too Much

Ep 156: Understanding Pediatric Burns: Prevention and treatment with Matt Young, MD

Ep 155: How can child discipline lead to connection? with Dr Tina Payne Bryson, co-author of "No-Drama Disclipline"

Ep 154: How to talk to our kids? with Ned Johnson (Part 2)

Free Resources

The Common Cold: What Parents Should Know Bedwetting: A Guide for Parents Fever in Children: What Parents Should Know Iron for Growing Brains Helping Your Child with Constipation

Welcome To “Ask Dr Jessica”!

Ep 158: How to treat and care for cleft lip and/or palate! With Dr Victor Chien, pediatric craniofacial surgeon

Ep 157: When are parents "Too Much" with their children? How can parents navigate challenges with parenting without getting overly involved? Terri Cole, MSW, LCSD, author of Too Much

Ep 156: Understanding Pediatric Burns: Prevention and treatment with Matt Young, MD

Ep 155: How can child discipline lead to connection? with Dr Tina Payne Bryson, co-author of "No-Drama Disclipline"

Ep 154: How to talk to our kids? with Ned Johnson (Part 2)

Ep 153: How to fostering autonomy in our children, with Ned Johnson, co author of "The Self-Driven Child"

Ep 152: Strategies to manage our parenting worries, with Dr Hope Seidel pediatrician and parenting coach

Ep 151: Promoting Jaw Health: tips with teeth grinding, sleep apnea, migraines and more! with Dr Victoria Wexley, oral facial pain specialist

Ep 150: Back pain & adolescents: posture, stretching, backpacks and more! with Dr David Skaggs

Ep 149: Truths and Myths: What can be done to prevent sports injuries? With Dr David Skaggs, pediatric spine surgeon

Ep: 148 How to talk and connect with your teen, with Janine Halloran LMHC

Ep 147: What you need to know from a pediatric neurosurgeon: a conversation about head injuries, head size, epilepsy and more!

Ep 146: An integrative pediatrician's take on environmental toxins, co-sleeping, screen time, sunscreen and more! ! Part 2 with Integrative Pediatrician Dr Joel "Gator" Warsh

Ep 145: Parenting at your Child's Pace: by Integrative Pediatrician Dr Joel "Gator" Warsh

Ep 144: Strategies for Alleviating Anxiety in the Operating Room, with Dr Nina Shapiro, Pediatric ENT

Ep 143: A parents guide to common summertime illness! Part 2 with Dr Wendy Hunter, Pediatrician

Ep 142: How to keep our kids safe throughout the summer, Part 1 with Dr Wendy Hunter Pediatrician

Ep 141: Type 1 Diabetes and children: a conversation about treatment, support and hope! with Dr Laura Jacobsen

Ep 140: Managing summertime anxiety! Sleepaway camp, bees, swimming and more! with Dr Dawn Huebner

Ep 139: Free Range Kids! How to raise safe, self-reliant children. With author and journalist, Lenore Skenazy!

Ep 138: Integrative approach to a healthy gut microbiome, with Elisa Song MD

Ep 137: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, how to diagnose and treat! With gastroenterologist, Dr Iris Wang (Part 2)

Ep 136: Preventing constipation in kids! With gastroenterologist Iris Wang MD, author of "Boo Can't Poo!"

Ep 135: A public health miracle: preventing HIV transmission from mother to child. With Dr Mitch Besser, founder of Mothers 2 Mothers.

Ep 134: How to balance quality time vs earning money in parenting? Part 2: Mike Rucker, author of The Fun Habit

Ep 133: Why we need to schedule time for fun and experiences! Part 1: Mike Rucker, PhD, Author of "The Fun Habit"

Ep 132: A holistic approach to seasonal allergies, with integrative pediatrician Elisa Song MD

Ep 131: Practicing mindfulness in parenting, with Dr Jill Campbell, clinical psychologist

Ep 130: Why freedom, independence and play is important for child development, and how overprotection can be harmful. With Peter Gray, neuroscientist and psychologist

Ep 129: Talking to children about cancer, with child life specialist & therapist Kelsey Mora

Ep 128: Your child's sleep: how to get more of it? with Katie Pitts, Founder & CEO of Sleep Wise Consulting

Ep 127: Headed to college? Here's what you need to know. With Jennifer Tabbush, college counselor

Ep 126: How to treat pain in children? w/ Drs Lonnie and Paul Zeltzer, pioneers in the field of pediatric pain treatment

Ep 125: Bladder and bowel issues? Consider constipation! The perspective of a pediatric urologist, Dr Steve Hodges

Ep 124: Divorce and Children, with Christina McGhee

Ep 123: How can minimalist principles help with parenting? With Diane Boden, host of The Minimalist Mom podcast

Ep: 122 How to talk about sex & puberty with your teen? with Dolly Klock MD founder of Adolessons!

Ep 121: “Mommy brain”! what it is and how to offer support, with Jodi Pawluski, neuroscientist and psychologist

Ep 120: How to make parenting around food feel less hard, with Dr Sheila Carroll, Pediatrician and Obesity Medicine Physician

Ep 119: How to strive for greatness in parenting! with Saul Blinkoff, "Life of Awesome" podcast host

Ep 118: How to help our children form a healthy relationship with food? With Charlene Lichtash, MD Obesity specialist

Ep 117: How to reduce fear and anxiety around vaccines? with Jody Thomas, CEO of Meg Foundation for pain

Ep 116: Nourished, Connection, Food and Caring for our kids, w/ Dr Deborah MacNamara

Ep 115: When do kids see a plastic surgeon? w/ Andrew Cohen MD

Ep 114: Grow Wild--how to get our kids to move more outside! Katy Bowman

Ep 113: How should parents handle "unwanted behaviors"--like anger, lying and swearing? with Dr Siggie Cohen

Ep 112: Sibling rivalry, advice for parents! with Dr Siggie!

Ep 111: How to teach our kids to read? with Ruth Rothfeld-Hochman

Ep 110: Insects and Animals bites--how to prevent and treat! Part 2: with David Epstein MD FAAP

Ep 109: How to avoid and treat common pediatric injuries? Part 1: with David Epstein, MD, MS FAAP

Ep 108: Chaos to connected--Helping parents navigate challenging behavior with connection, with Kaili Zeiher

Ep 107: Slumberkins: Using play to support your child's emotional growth ! with Kelly & Callie, creators of Slumberkins

Ep 106: A new RSV shot for kids--should your child get it? with Michael Hochman MD, MPH

Ep 105: Scoliosis in children--an overview! With Michael Heffernan MD, pediatric spine surgeon,

Ep 104: The Explosive Child w/ Kim Hopkins LCSW

Ep 103 How to form secure attachments with our children? with Dr Sarah Bren

Ep 102: Fainting (Syncope)-- when to worry? w/ Electrophysiologist & Pediatric Cardiologist Dr Silka, MD

Ep 101: When is a gluten-free diet helpful? with Harry Cynamon MD, pediatric gastroenterologist

Screen addiction and what we can to do to prevent this, with Dr Nicholas Kardaras

Autism--an overview! With Dr Taryn Liu, pediatric neurologist.

How to keep our eyes and vision healthy? with Dr Bryce Applebaum, OD, FCOVD

Let them Play! The Benefits of Free Range Kids, with author Pam Lobley

Preventing child sexual abuse: with Feather Berkower LCSW

Updates in Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Dr Mel Heyman, director of UCSF Pediatric IBD program

The psychology of twins: Dr Joan Friedman, twin expert, psychologist and author

How can parents help children with learning differences? Dr Victoria Waller

How to talk to children about grief? Randi Wolfson, Grief Educator

The Puberty Podcast! Puberty 101 with Cara Natterson MD and Vanessa Kroll Bennett

Anemia, blood clots, nose bleeds, bruises and more! Gavin Roach MD , pediatric hematologist.

Artificial Intelligence & the future of Medicine: Dr Joel "Gator" Warsh & Amy Kelly co-founder Miri Health

Advice from a Pediatric Surgeon; lumps, bumps, hernias, appendicitis and safety! with Cathy Shin MD

Create more rest in your child’s life : with Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith MD

Your child's eyes! Everything you need to know, with pediatric ophthalmologist Dr Anya Sebring

How to parent a child with ADHD? with Jessica Huddy

Occupational therapy! Handwriting, picky eating and behavior therapy with Leah Hiller OT

Seasonal allergies- how to treat? & how to think about Allergy testing?! with Michelle Yasharpour

Kids Eat in Color! Tips for the picky eater. With Jennifer Anderson

Dandruff & Keratosis and Moles---an overview! With Dermatologist, Dr David Reid

The holistic approach to eczema & practical tips for picky eaters, with Dr Ana Maria Temple