What changes in feeding when your baby turns 1? Honestly...not a whole lot. But we do make the transition to cow’s milk and that can be kind of tricky for some families. In this episode we’re looking at how to pick milk when your baby turns 1. From questions about how much to feed, what types of cow’s milk to try, transitioning from breastmilk and/or formula to cow’s milk and milk alternatives, I’m answering all your questions on how to pick a milk when your baby turns 1.

When baby-led weaning was still considered risky and unconventional, Jessica Coll, RD, was already teaching workshops to parents in Canada. Now, as the founder of the International Baby-Led Weaning Network for Health Professionals, she’s helping clinicians around the world feel confident supporting families through this feeding approach. In this episode, Jessica shares how she built her professional network, why she believes dietitians and other providers should be involved in baby-led weaning, and what still needs to change in the way we educate professionals about starting solid foods.

Understanding your baby’s hunger and fullness cues is one of the most important parts of responsive feeding, but it’s also one of the most confusing for parents. In this episode, you’ll learn how to recognize early hunger cues, spot the signs that your baby is finished, and troubleshoot those moments when the cues just don’t make sense. Discover how honoring these signals supports self-regulation, reduces mealtime battles, and helps you raise a confident, independent eater with baby-led weaning.

Did you know that feeding milestones can actually help your baby hit their speech milestones too? In this episode, I’m joined by Stephanie Cohen, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC, a speech-language pathologist, feeding therapist, and certified lactation counselor who breaks down the fascinating connection between eating and talking in babies. We’re exploring how responsive feeding, oral motor skills, and early mealtime experiences lay the foundation for communication. Stephanie shares practical examples of how everyday feeding moments, from mouthing to chewing support speech development, plus tips for creating positive, communication-rich mealtimes. Stephanie’s new board book I Can Say… Eat!, is designed to help families celebrate feeding milestones and foster language development through playful, baby-friendly interactions. Whether your baby is just starting solid foods or already exploring tons of tastes and textures, this conversation will help you understand how feeding and talking go hand in hand.

Most parents think everything their baby eats has to be fresh, homemade, and cooked from scratch…but that’s just not true. In this episode, I’m breaking down 10 safe canned foods from my 100 First Foods list that can make starting solid foods easier, cheaper, and more realistic for busy families. I’ll share why certain canned foods actually work better than fresh, how to spot the low-sodium and no-added-sugar versions, and the quick label checks I use to make sure a canned food is safe for babies.

What is your baby’s behavior at mealtime telling you? Is it possible to spoil a baby by feeding him too much? Can babies even exhibit “bad” behavior? In this episode author, child development and parenting specialist Tina Payne Bryson, PhD is joining me to break it ALL down when it comes to your baby’s behavior at mealtimes - diving DEEP into what the science says! Tina is the co-author of well-known parenting books such as The Whole-Brain Child and No Drama Discipline (...aka the BIBLE when my quadruplets were toddlers and I had NO idea how to compassionately discipline!) I love Tina’s science-based approach to tackling topics and she’s covering a TON of baby behavior in her new book The Bottom Line For Baby. Tina is walking us through a TON of positive parenting techniques, like how to react when your baby starts throwing food, responding to family members or friends who question your decision to do baby-led weaning and how to establish boundaries when baby starts pushing your buttons!

It is hard not to panic when your baby shows no interest in food. They ignore what you offer, barely taste anything, and you start worrying about nutrition, iron, and whether something might be wrong. This slow start is one of the most stressful parts of offering solid foods. The good news is that most babies take time to learn how to eat, and early disinterest is usually completely normal. In this episode, I explain why many babies ignore food at first, how to support them during this learning phase, what to avoid, and when it might be helpful to get extra guidance.

Pressuring babies to eat more and pressuring babies to eat less can both lead to problematic outcomes when babies are learning to eat. But starting solids is a STRESSFUL time for many parents and caregivers, and sometimes without even realizing it we can be creating a feeding environment that is so high pressure both you AND your baby begin to dread mealtime. In this podcast episode Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDRD-S is talking us through all sorts of tips for creating a pressure-free feeding environment. Jessica is a world renowned eating disorder dietitian who has also worked extensively in pediatrics with children who have feeding disorders. She’s sharing some best practices for helping us avoid feeding problems as we set out with our babies who are learning to eat solid foods.

Eating out with your baby doesn’t have to be a stressful, messy disaster (...even though it can definitely feel that way the first few times!) In this episode I’m sharing simple, real-world strategies to make restaurant dining with your baby calm, safe, and even enjoyable. You’ll learn what to pack, how to set your baby up for success in a restaurant high chair, and which foods from the menu are actually safe for baby-led weaning. Whether you’re heading out for brunch, dinner with friends, or just want to stop avoiding restaurants altogether, this episode will help you feel prepared, not panicked if you’re doing baby-led weaning.

There is a real and credible body of emerging evidence that supports a baby-led approach to feeding. In this episode baby-led weaning expert, author, researcher and Professor Amy Brown is joining us to help break down the evidence behind baby-led weaning. Dr. Brown is the author of the book “Why Starting Solids Matters” and numerous research publications exploring the safety and efficacy of a baby-led approach to feeding.

It’s peak pumpkin everything season…and you might be wondering how your baby can get a PIECE of that PUMPKIN action, right??!! Well pumpkin is totally safe for babies to eat - with a few caveats - and inside of this episode I’m sharing 5 Easy Ways Your Baby Can Safely Eat Pumpkin (with 5 easy baby-led weaning pumpkin recipes for you too!)

We all know babies don’t need added sugar—but avoiding it is harder than you think. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robert Lustig, one of the world’s leading experts on sugar and metabolism, to uncover the hidden ways sugar sneaks into baby foods and what parents can do to keep it out. Dr. Lustig—professor emeritus of pediatrics at UCSF and author of Metabolical—explains how processed foods, purees, and fruit pouches condition babies’ palates early on, and why real, intact foods are key for developing healthy eating habits and proper oral growth. If you’ve ever wondered how to protect your baby from added sugar and help them build a lifetime of positive food preferences, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s really going on in our food supply—and what you can do about it.

So what’s the big deal about a baby eating 100 foods before they turn one? Diet diversity from your baby’s first bites can help build confident kids who love real food…and help you avoid severe picky eating and mealtime battles. In 2016 I created the original 100 First Foods approach to starting solid foods with baby-led weaning…and in today’s episode we’re hearing from some of the parents from around the world who have had success with this approach. These success stories will inspire you to start expanding your baby’s palate, safely, simply and with a proven plan and roadmap to self-feeding success!

How are parents supposed to navigate picking baby foods that contain the least amount of harmful toxins if food companies don’t disclose that info? A new California law, AB 899, requires baby food companies to test for toxic elements like lead and arsenic—and to post those results online. But when Consumer Reports writer and nutritionist Jessica D’Argenio Waller investigated 39 popular baby food brands, she found that some are making it nearly impossible for parents to access that information. In this episode Jessica joins me to explain what AB899 means for parents everywhere (...not just in California), which companies are stepping up with true transparency and why finding out what’s really in your baby’s food shouldn’t require a scavenger hunt.

Social media can be an amazing tool for learning about baby-led weaning…but it can also spread a lot of misinformation. In this episode, I’m joined by five of my expert friends to break down the top five things social media gets wrong about baby-led weaning. From fear-based feeding advice to myths about choking and readiness to start solid foods, we’re setting the record straight with evidence-based insights from professionals who actually know what they’re talking about.

Can your baby learn to use a spoon and still do baby-led weaning? You bet…and it starts with the pre-loaded spoon technique. In this episode, speech-language pathologist and feeding expert Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP, breaks down how to safely introduce spoons and purees while ensuring your baby is the one leading the way. Dawn shares her 3-step method for pre-loading spoons, explains the developmental milestones behind spoon use, plus a rundown of what’s wrong with most baby spoons and how to get your baby on board with self-feeding by spoon.

Imagine sitting down at the table with your baby who can now confidently eat and loves all the same foods you do. In this episode I’m sharing the history of my original 100 First Foods approach to baby-led weaning - one that I started back in 2016 - explaining how your baby can easily reach this important milestone that has helped tens of thousands of other families achieve diet diversity and 100 safe foods before turning one too!

Sensory play doesn’t just mean bins of dried beans or rice (...which are a choking hazard for early eaters). Instead, it’s a powerful tool at the table for your baby. Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP joins me to explore how sensory play supports your baby’s feeding development…and we talk about why letting your baby touch, smell and even play with food helps build feeding skills, reduces severe picky eating and supports overall sensory regulation. Bonus points for using the food you’re already making for baby-led weaning to make this happen!

Learn how to make leafy greens safe for your baby: raw greens like spinach are a choking hazard and crunchy kale chips are too. In this episode I’m walking you through some easy ways to make spinach safe for early eaters, plus combination food recipe ideas for older babies too.

Worried about introducing allergenic foods like peanut, egg, or tree nuts to your baby? You’re not alone…but the latest research shows that early, consistent introduction can actually help prevent food allergies. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kelly Clear, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and Medical Director of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), to unpack the new rules for allergen introduction. We’re breaking down why so many parents still feel fear, what the Eat Early, Eat Often campaign is all about, and how to confidently feed allergenic foods—even if food allergies run in your family.

One of the biggest hurdles to baby-led weaning can be… the grandparents. When the people helping care for your baby don’t understand or agree with how you’re feeding them, tensions can rise. In this episode, I’m joined by Aaron Larsen, founder of The Grandparents Academy, to talk about how adult parents can better communicate with their own parents about baby-led weaning and other modern parenting choices.. If you want to honor the important role your baby’s grandparents play while sticking to your feeding philosophy, this episode will show you how.

What should you do if your baby has an allergic reaction to food? In this episode, pediatrician and food allergy expert Dr. Ron Sunog shares clear, practical guidance for parents navigating allergenic food introduction. You’ll learn the signs to watch for of true food allergy vs. a run-of-the-mill contact rash, how to be prepared for allergic reactions (...no, you don’t need to park in the emergency department driveway to introduce your baby to peanut!), and how to get past your fear of allergic reactions so you can safely offer your baby allergenic foods early and often (since it’s the only way you can help lower your baby’s risk of food allergy down the road!)

Worried that you missed your chance to start baby-led weaning? Maybe you started with purees, got a late start start, or are scared to try out finger foods. Whatever the reason you’re feeling behind - it’s not too late to make the switch to solid foods. In this episode I’m explaining why starting solid foods around the 6 month mark isn’t the only path to success…and practical tips like how to “turn the spoon around” as a way to move beyond purees into self-feeding trickier textures. We’ll cover the “flavor window” - a phase when babies are most receptive to trying new foods and flavors and tastes and textures, which you can definitely use to your advantage, even if you’re feeling a little late and need to catch your baby up with real foods.

Sure it’s cute to see a dog licking up the baby’s leftovers...but is that actually a good idea? In this episode veterinarian Alexandra Parry is sharing tons of tips for your whole (furry) family when it comes to mixing dogs with starting solid foods. Dr. Parry is diving deep on all sorts of dog-related “Do’s and Don’ts”, some of which will surprise you. Like maybe you knew grapes were toxic to dogs and they shouldn’t have chocolate…but she goes through the 100 First Foods list with other foods that can be dangerous to dogs too. As a mom of two who is doing baby-led weaning in real time, Dr. Parry understands the desire for parents to have their dogs involved at mealtimes; but as a vet who was also bit in the face by her own dog as a child, she shares some valuable insight about behaviors to avoid in order to protect your baby as they start solid foods while still fostering a good relationship with your dog.

How do you drop a milk feed? The whole point of weaning is that your baby gradually replaces the nutrition he or she was getting from breastmilk and/or formula and replaces that with the foods they’re learning how to eat. But at some point during the weaning process, we have to be proactive about dropping that first milk feed. In this episode I’m covering some ideas for gradually cutting back on your baby’s milk intake as food intake increases. Do you cut the night feed? The morning milk? And how do we set up a feeding schedule such that milk follows food as we approach your baby’s first birthday? Listen in for all you need to know about dropping milk feeds!