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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 channel: Ask Dr Jessica

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

-For a plant-based, USDA Organic certified vitamin supplement, check out : Llama Naturals Vitamin and use discount code: DRJESSICA20

-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 conditi...

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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 channel: Ask Dr Jessica

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

-For a plant-based, USDA Organic certified vitamin supplement, check out : Llama Naturals Vitamin and use discount code: DRJESSICA20

-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 conditi...

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 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 channel: Ask Dr Jessica

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

-For a plant-based, USDA Organic certified vitamin supplement, check out : Llama Naturals Vitamin and use discount code: DRJESSICA20

-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 conditi...