Your Child is Normal: with Dr Jessica Hochman

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Why are so many kids picky eaters, and what can parents do about it? Should you make a separate meal when your child refuses dinner? Is it okay for a child to go to bed hungry? And how can we make family meals less stressful?
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, I’m joined by Dr. William G. Wilkoff, MD, a pediatrician who practiced for decades in Maine and has spent much of his career helping parents navigate everyday challenges of raising children. He is the author of Coping with a Picky Eater: A Guide for the Perplexed Parent, a practical guide to managing picky eating and reducing mealtime battles.
We discuss why children become picky eaters, how parents can encourage children to try different foods without turning meals into a struggle, and why a parent’s job is to provide food rather than pressure a child to eat it. We also talk about second dinners, desserts, family meals, screens at the table, and when picky eating may deserve closer attention.
One of Dr. Wilkoff’s central messages is that the goal isn’t to force children to eat. It’s to offer food in a pleasant environment, set reasonable expectations, and take the conflict out of mealtimes.
If feeding your child has become a daily source of stress, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on how to approach picky eating with more patience and less pressure.
About Dr. Wilkoff’s book: Coping with a Picky Eater: A Guide for the Perplexed Parent by William G. Wilkoff, MD.
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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 some children snore or breathe through their mouths while sleeping? When is it normal, and when might it be a sign of a problem?
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, I’m joined by Dr. Reddy, a pediatric ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist, to talk about noisy breathing, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing in children.
We discuss the signs parents should pay attention to, when it may be reasonable to wait and see whether symptoms improve with time, and when further evaluation or treatment is important.
We also take a closer look at popular airway-focused treatments, including palate expanders and tongue-tie and lip-tie releases. With so much information circulating on social media, how can parents tell what is supported by good evidence?
Dr. Reddy shares a thoughtful perspective on balancing parental concerns with evidence-based care, and why children with suspected sleep apnea should receive appropriate medical evaluation rather than delaying care for alternative treatments.
As always, the goal is to help parents understand what may be a normal part of childhood, what deserves attention, and how to make informed decisions for their families.
Connect with Dr. Reddy: IG: @pedsentdoc 

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
How can parents and teachers support children with ADHD?
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal,  Mike McLeod, founder of Grow Now ADHD discusses  how parents and teachers can work together to support children with ADHD at school.
This conversation is intended to give parents and teachers practical ideas for supporting children with ADHD while helping them build the skills they will need as they get older.
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
What exactly is the gut microbiome—and how much does it really matter for our kids?
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with Stephanie Culler, PhD, microbiome scientist and co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences.
Stephanie explains how the microbiome develops beginning in infancy, why Bifidobacterium may be particularly important early in life, and how birth, diet, antibiotics, pets, siblings, fiber, and fermented foods can influence the bacteria living in our gut.
We also talk about:
• What the microbiome actually does
• Why researchers are studying the connection between the gut and immune health
• What we can learn from Amish, Mennonite, and hunter-gatherer populations
• Fiber and fermented foods such as yogurt and kefir
• Whether kids really need probiotics
• What antibiotics do to the microbiome
• The connection between the microbiome, eczema, allergies, and asthma
• Why correlation and causation are still important to distinguish
• Whether at-home microbiome testing is useful
• What microbiome science may look like in the future.
Learn more about Stephanie Culler and Persephone Biosciences:
My Baby Biome research and Persephone’s science: available through Persephone’s website
As always, this conversation is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.
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
Is your child's repetitive behavior just a normal childhood phase—or could it be OCD?
In this episode of Your Child Is Normal, pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman talks with child psychiatrist Dr. Emily Aron about how obsessive-compulsive disorder can show up in children and how parents can recognize when everyday worries, rituals, and routines have crossed the line into something that needs support.
We discuss the difference between OCD and anxiety, intrusive “junk thoughts,” compulsions, reassurance-seeking, perfectionism, and why well-intentioned parents can sometimes accidentally reinforce OCD by repeatedly reassuring or accommodating their child.
Dr. Aron also explains Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for pediatric OCD, when medication may be considered, and why early treatment can make such a difference.
About Dr. Emily Aron
Dr. Emily Aron is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who specializes in children's mental health. She is passionate about helping parents better understand their children's emotional and behavioral health and making evidence-based information accessible to families.
Dr. Aron writes about children's mental health for Pediatric News and offers parent guides and resources on her website, including information about recognizing and managing OCD.
Learn more from Dr. Emily Aron:
🌐 Website: emilyaron.com
📩 Newsletter: Sign up for Dr. Aron's newsletter on her website for regular information about children's mental health and parenting.
📝 Pediatric News: Find Dr. Aron's articles on children's mental health in Pediatric News.
🎙️ Your Child Is Normal — evidence-based pediatric guidance to help parents worry less and connect more.
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.