The J-Pops: Attempting Parenting in Japan

Months 5, 10, 22, 24, & pregnancy week 20. Wow, the list of ages is getting long. Partly because there's another baby on the way, and partly because we have a new host who brought along a baby of his own! Welcome Joe! He's guest-hosted a time or two, so J-Pop regulars will known him well. Today, he catches us up on Yuki, his 10 month old. Other topics for discussion include: wisdom teeth, epidurals, and the toys we hate. Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 16, 17, & pregnancy week 33. Obon vacation is kicking off, and the J-Pops have the kids at home for a while. We talk family Obon plans, as well as a COVID week for one pop and a cruise week for the other. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4, 21, & 23. Japan has lots of rules, and we wonder how this impacts a kid's mental state. This week, we look at a study or two and discuss our personal experiences/concerns about childhood mental health. Also, there's some Noto earthquake round up. Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3, 20, & 22. J-Pop Jeff Wu takes a turn in the guest host seat today. He's a Japan resident from Taiwan with a 10-month-old baby boy. His wife is also from Taiwan, so he talks about navigating parenthood in Japan without a citizen in the family. We also discuss moving the Christmas holiday, public baths, large fish, and Christmas parties. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 2, 20, & 21. It's a rite of passage for any parenting podcast: the poop episode. This week we scat about toddler constipation and how to alleviate it. We stray off topic a few times, but it all keeps coming back around to poop. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 1, 18, & 20. This episode could save your baby's life! And we're not just whistling click bait. That is, once you further learn about the safety tips we discuss in today's episode from more reputable sources, you'll better know how to handle emergencies. So go do that! Topics also include: colic, twins vs not twins, and a very special Brian in Fukuoka contribution. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 18, 19, & a 2-week-old. Screen for young kids is an evil, right? Maybe. Probably. This week we look at an interesting article on screen time that puts it in a slightly different light. There's also talk of health checks, trading babies, and peeing one's pants. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 17, 18, & pregnancy week 37. Toddlers gonna YouTube, so the J-Pops bring you the choicest channels to entertain/educate them. Other talking points include: in-laws in the house, the ABCs, giant Costco teddy bears, and cornhole. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 15, 16, & pregnancy week 29. The J-Pops are unfit parents... in that they've really let themselves go. Today we talk about carving out time for diet and exercise with a baby in the house, baby sign language fails, the Tanabata holiday, and much, much more. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 14, 16, & pregnancy week 25. Updates galore and then we get down to the issue of screen time for babies. Other talking points include vendettas against Elmo and Emo. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 13, 15, & pregnancy week 21. Anyone in Japan knows that we had big ol' earthquake recently, and one of the J-Pops reports from the epicenter! There were some health issues at the other J-Pop's, so we have front-line reporting from the doctor's office as well. Our main topic though is the kids showing favoritism toward one parent over the other (spolier alert: both our kids favor the parent with the hit podcast), and we talk about communicating with your kid when he's an old, old man. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 12, 14, & pregnancy week 17. We have a couple of one year olds now, so is it time to start disciplining them? We discuss an article that takes a hard approach to that question. There's also some daycare talk, some first words, and we toy with the idea of giving up our toys. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 11, 13 & pregnancy week 13. Today the Pops talk about time and how to manage that bucking broncress. We also get into shots, post-breakfast clean up, and babies feeding themselves. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 10 & 12. Mark and family are back in Japan. He talks a bit about the trip, and somehow we wander into a classic US vs Japan gun culture discussion. Don't worry--we end up being right about everything. This episode is mostly about the updates, and Mark breaks some news that just may change The J-Pops forever. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 9 & 11. Babies are dynamic little creatures. Some baby stuff gets way harder through their first year, other things get easier, and other things get harder, then easier, then harder again. We pick that apart this episode, and we talk about getting into daycare, tips for flying with babies, and much more. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 8 & 10. Early edition! Celebrating Christmas and New Year's in another country lets you pick and choose the traditions you want for your family. Today we discuss what our holidays abroad look like, plus IKEA, bruises, chess, cold temperatures, and Satan. I mean Santa. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 7 & 9. Justin sits down with Jessica Riley, a 12-year veteran of the Head Start childcare program. She gives her advice on several best practices for raising young kids, with topics including educational toys, schedules, baby-proofing, conflict resolution, conscious discipline, and much more. The J-Pops also talk tattoos and the fame that likely awaits their boys. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 6 & 8. Mark has a quiz this week about baby best practices, and Justin has the answers, mostly. We also talk Halloween, discipline, and a Japanese nursery rhyme. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 7. Well, it finally happened. We've had the first sick J-Baby. Today, we discuss the road back to baby health, some baby firsts, and our ideal family sizes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4 & 5. This week, we come clean about bath time. We have a couple hundred baby baths under our belts at this point, and we share all the tips and tricks we've happened upon so far. We also discuss what we've changed about ourselves since having kids. And finally, the dad jokes take a tragic turn. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.