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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 skills—without rigid rules or one-size-fits-all approaches.

Together, they discuss:

•  What’s normal for newborn sleep (and what’s not) 
•  How to build a healthy sleep foundation in the first months 
•  The difference between “sleep training” and “sleep learning” 
•  How to think about crying—and when to step in 
•  The “10-minute method” and how to adapt it to your child 
•  Co-sleeping: when it works, and how to transition away from it 
•  Why parental sleep matters just as much as baby sleep 

About Chrissy:

 Chrissy is a licensed marriage and family therapist, mom of four, and the founder of The Peaceful Sleeper. She is the author of The Peaceful Sleeper: An Intuitive Approach to Baby Sleep, where she helps parents navigate sleep in a flexible, individualized way that supports both children and families.

 Instagram: @thepeacefulsleeper
 Website: thepeacefulsleeper.com

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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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 explains, that relief can come with trade-offs.

Together, they discuss:

•  Why diagnoses can reduce anxiety for families 
•  The risks of overdiagnosis—and getting it wrong 
•  How labels can shape a child’s identity 
•  The rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses 
•  Why modern parenting feels more anxious than ever 
•  And why something as simple as sleep may be one of the most powerful tools we have 

This is a thoughtful, nuanced conversation about how to support kids—without letting a diagnosis define them.

Dr. William Wilkoff is a pediatrician who practiced for decades in Maine, caring for children in a rural and suburban community since the 1970s. Over the course of his career, Dr. Wilkoff is also the author of several parenting books, including How to Say No to Your Toddler, The Maternity Leave Breastfeeding Plan, and a guide on managing picky eating, all aimed at helping families navigate everyday challenges with more confidence. He has also spent more than 30 years writing a monthly column for pediatric publications, sharing practical, thoughtful insights on child health and parenting. 

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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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 readiness, and creating spaces where boys can thrive.

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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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, how parents can help kids expand their diets, and simple ways to move babies from purees to more textured foods.

They also discuss developmental milestones — how to interpret them without panic, when to seek extra support, and how everyday routines can naturally support language development.

Key Takeaways

• Why picky eating is often normal
 • The difference between food preferences and feeding problems
 • Easy ways to introduce new textures to babies
 • How milestones should be used as a guide — not a source of anxiety
 • Simple routines that naturally support language development
 • Why parents don’t need fancy toys to support development

Resources 

Jordan Koveleski Gorman – Eat Play Say

Instagram @eatplaysay

Free resources for parents
 https://eatplaysay.com/handbooks

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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 thoughtful, reassuring conversation about raising kids with more confidence and less fear.

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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 looks like in young children, how to think about ADHD concerns in active kids, and why frequent colds and ear infections are often part of normal childhood.

They also talk about one of the most common worries parents have: fever and developmental delays. Dr. Block explains when parents should be concerned. This episode is full of reassuring, practical advice for parents!

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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 Gray's work here:

• His Substack: Play Makes Us Human
• His website: petergray.org
• His book: Free to Learn

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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 of a self-directed school model, why curiosity matters more than pressure, and how to support kids at home without turning evenings into “more school.”

Part 2 is all about play + independence — and why they’re essential for raising confident, capable kids.

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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 time struggles, late crawling, and toe walking — and Allison explains what’s normal, what deserves attention, and what a pediatric PT actually does to help. We also clear up myths (including the idea that late crawling causes ADHD or autism), talk safety around walkers, and share simple, low-tech strategies that can make a real difference.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal… and what should I do next?” this conversation will give you practical guidance on what to look for, and ideas for what you can do at home to help support your child.

Show notes:

• Milestone ranges (& why steady progress matters more than “deadlines”)
• Simple ways to support motor development at home (hint: floor time beats most gear)
• Walkers: the important safety distinction (sit-in vs push walkers)
• Torticollis: what it is, what parents can look for, and why early help matters
• Tummy time: what “counts,”  and when to pause (reflux/pain)
• Late crawling: myths vs what we actually worry about 
• Toe walking: tight muscles vs sensory seeking, and practical home ideas
• Lightning round: shoes vs barefoot, favorite low-tech movement toys, and a message for anxious parents

Tots on Target website: totsontarget.com

03:24 Milestone Timelines: Rolling, Sitting, Crawling, Walking

05:41 Simple At-Home Setup: Floor Time, Fewer Gadgets, Better Toys

08:46 Walkers Explained

11:04 Torticollis

18:30 Tummy 

21:53 Late Crawlers: Debunking Myths + Why Crawling Matters

29:03 Toe Walking 

31:56 Lightning Round: Walking Myths, Barefoot vs Shoes, Best New-Walker Footwear

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

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 effective treatments such as CBIT therapy and when medication might be necessary. Additionally, Dr. Greenberg emphasizes the importance of differentiating between normal tics and those that may indicate other co-occurring conditions like ADHD and OCD. This episode is a must-watch for parents seeking reassurance and practical advice on managing their child's tics.

Erica Greenberg, M.D. is an assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a child/adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where she is the Director of the Pediatric Psychiatry OCD and Tic Disorders Program. Dr. Greenberg is also a co-Director of the MGH Tourette Association of America (TAA) Center of Excellence and the co-president of the Medical Advisory Board of the TAA. Her interests include Tourette syndrome (TS), OCD, “Tourettic OCD,” ADHD, body-focused repetitive behavior disorders, and other Tourette syndrome spectrum conditions. She has authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts on TS, OCD, and related disorders, and has presented on these conditions nationally and internationally. Dr. Greenberg graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College with Alpha Omega Alpha honors, and completed her general psychiatry residency at Harvard Longwood and her child/adolescent fellowship training at MGH.

Contact Dr Greenberg: MassGeneral Brigham; Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
Pediatric Psychiatry OCD and Tic Disorders Program
Email: [email protected]
617-643-2780

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.

Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

Shop my favorite products for kids on Amazon here

If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.

To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA 

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only.  She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals.  If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.