Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro
Is your baby ready to start solid foods but you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused about baby-led weaning? Babies can eat so many more foods than we give them credit for and you don’t have to force-feed or spoon-feed to get them to eat real food!
I’m Katie Ferraro, Registered Dietitian specializing in infant feeding and baby-led weaning. I’m a college nutrition professor and mom of 7, and my goal is to help you start solid foods safely using baby-led weaning.
On this podcast I share practical tips on safe food preparation and starting solid foods, as well as in-depth interviews with other feeding experts. Listen to learn how you can get your baby to safely enjoy real food so that you can start enjoying mealtimes again too!
51
Why You Don’t Need to Wait 3-5 Days Between Off...
You do not need to wait 3-5 days between offering new foods to your baby. In fact, waiting that long can actually slow down your baby’s progress and prevent diet diversity. In this episode we look at the research that supports quicker introduction of new foods; it is safe to offer 1 (or more) new food(s) per day and this approach can help reduce the risk of severe picky eating and help your baby learn to safely eat and like real food.
14 min
52
How to Introduce Allergenic Foods to Your Baby
What if your baby has an allergic reaction to a food? The only way to know if your baby is allergic is to offer them that food…but there are some safety guidelines you want to know about. In this episode we’ll look at the recent research and updated guidelines that support early introduction of potentially allergenic foods and then how to safely prepare those foods to help lower your baby’s risk of food allergy.
14 min
53
5 Feeding Mistakes Most Parents Make...and How ...
We all make mistakes when we are learning something new! In this episode I’m covering 5 feeding mistakes most parents make and how you can avoid them. I’ve made many of these baby feeding mistakes myself; but, luckily there are a few simple...
17 min
54
Can My Baby Start Solid Foods Before 6 Months?
Is it ever safe for babies to start solid foods before 6 months of age? In one instance: yes…but for the remainder of babies, there is no upside - and only potential harm - in starting solid foods too early.
14 min
55
15 Foods Never to Feed Your Baby
Which foods should babies avoid? Babies can eat so many more foods than we give them credit for - but certain foods are choking risk foods or are harmful to developing babies for other reasons. This episode contains 15 foods to not feed your baby in order to preserve their health.
17 min
56
Why Your Baby’s High Chair Needs a Footrest
How does an adjustable footrest on your baby’s high chair help reduce the risk of choking? In this episode we’ll look at how your baby’s feet resting flat helps stabilize their core and support a safe swallow…and how to fix your high chair if it doesn’t have a footrest or if your baby’s feet don’t reach the footrest yet.
16 min
57
Safe Food Sizes for Baby-Led Weaning
Contrary to common belief, cutting food into tiny pieces can actually heighten choking risk for early eaters. In this episode, learn why longer, spear-like shapes of soft foods (pinky finger size) are safer for self-feeding and other safe food cuts that reduce choking risk during the introduction of starting solid foods using baby-led weaning.
12 min
58
The Purees for a Few Days™ Approach to Starting...
Baby-led weaning does not mean skipping purees. In this episode, I’ll help you bridge your baby’s transition from an infant milk liquid diet to soft solid strips of food using my unique Purees for a Few Days™ approach to starting solid foods with baby-led weaning.
18 min
59
Gagging vs. Choking: What is the Difference?
What if my baby gags on food? And how is gagging different than choking? In this episode we cover why gagging is a good thing when your baby is learning to eat and what to do if your baby chokes on food.
14 min
60
5 Things Parents and Caregivers Should Be Able ...
What can you do to help your baby get ready to start solid foods safely? From picking out the best high chair to knowing how to introduce allergenic foods like peanut, here are 5 things parents and caregivers can do to get prepared for baby-led weaning.
17 min
61
5 Things Your Baby Should Be Able to Do Before ...
Not all babies are ready to start solid foods right at 6 months of age. Listen to learn about 5 key milestones your baby should have down pat before you start solid foods.
12 min
62
Everything You Need to Know About Baby-Led Wean...
Welcome to the Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro podcast! In this kickoff episode we’re diving into all things baby-led weaning. Learn how baby-led weaning differs from adult spoon-feeding and what research supports it. Discover the origins of baby-led weaning including insights from Gill Rapley, the co-author of the original baby-led weaning book. We’ll explore the benefits - and the challenges - of this natural approach to starting to solid foods so you can determine whether or not baby-led weaning will work for your family.
21 min
63
From Niche to Norm: The Evolution of Baby-Led W...
Baby-Led Weaning is not a made up thing on the internet…it’s a revolutionary approach that has transformed how we think about feeding babies. Once a fringe idea, baby-led weaning has entered the mainstream, backed by research and embraced by parents and professionals worldwide. In this special final episode, Gill Rapley, the founding philosopher of the baby-led weaning movement and co-author of the original baby-led weaning book reflects on its incredible evolution, its impact on families and child development, and why trusting your baby’s instincts is more important than ever. Join us as we celebrate this remarkable journey and look ahead to the future of infant feeding.
35 min
64
Ten Food Textures for Your Baby to Try
Name another texture besides puree that your baby can safely eat. Most people can’t describe safe textures for finger foods…but that’s exactly what we’re doing in this episode - running down 10 new food textures for your baby to try…that aren’t purees.
15 min
65
Taste Training: Introducing Flavors to Babies w...
Taste training can help familiarize your baby with the diverse tastes, textures and smells of food - even before they start solid food. Marsha Dunn Klein from the Get Permission Institute explains how to safely initiate taste training.
34 min
66
The First Few Days of Baby-Led Weaning: What Sh...
What if your baby isn’t eating that much early on? Or they’re spitting everything out or crying in their high chair. What finger foods do I even offer? In this episode I’m walking you through the first few days of baby-led weaning and starting solid foods so you know what to expect when you and your baby get going.
19 min
67
Understanding the Gag Reflex and Why Babies Gag...
The gag reflex is a natural and necessary part of your baby’s feeding development, but it can be a source of anxiety for parents starting solid foods. In this episode, Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and pediatric feeding expert, breaks down what the gag reflex is, why babies gag on food, and how to distinguish between gagging and choking. Learn practical strategies to support your baby through this phase and build confidence in their ability to learn to safely eat real food.
35 min
68
Winding Down the Baby-Led Weaning Podcast
I feel like 500 episodes is a good place to wrap it up with this podcast. Here’s how I’m winding down the podcast at the end of the year…but how I’m also keeping the baby-led weaning content flowing for you.
20 min
69
Eat This, Not That: 5 Safe Food Swaps for Baby-...
Baby-led weaning is all about introducing your baby to real food…but not all foods are safe for early eaters. In this episode, we’re breaking down five common foods that could pose a choking hazard or aren’t ideal for babies in the first phase of baby-led weaning…and then I explain how to safely swap and prepare versions of each food so you are confident your baby CAN safely eat these 5 new foods.
21 min
70
Vegetarian Baby-Led Weaning: A Practical Guide ...
Can vegetarian families do baby-led weaning? In this episode, we explore how plant-based families can successfully navigate baby-led weaning while ensuring their baby gets all the nutrition they need. Learn about key nutrients such as iron, protein, and omega-3s, plus practical tips for preparing safe, baby-led weaning-friendly vegetarian finger foods. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just looking to add more plant-based options to your baby’s meals, this episode will explain how to raise a confident eater…even without meat in the mix.
18 min
71
Mockingbird High Chair Review with @hello_mocki...
A stroller brand that designed an amazing high chair? It’s almost unheard of but the Mockingbird High Chair is one of the best high chairs for baby-led weaning. Mockingbird’s VP of Product Stephanie Kaplan explains the unique design and safety features that set this high chair apart (...without breaking the bank).
43 min
72
Cybex Lemo 3-in-1 High Chair Review: Is It Wort...
The German-engineered Cybex Lemo 3-in-1 high chair outshines almost every standard American high chair…yet it’s surprisingly under the radar in the US. The Lemo is a standout, offering exceptional quality and thoughtful design that you might consider if you’re shopping for a safe seat where your baby can learn to eat.
17 min
73
Tripp Trapp vs. Nomi High Chair: Which One is B...
The Tripp Trapp by Stokke and Stokke Nomi high chairs are two of the best for baby-led weaning…but how do you decide? Listen to hear how both of these chairs stack up with regard to design, ease of use and cleaning, portability and price.
22 min
74
Unilove Grow with Me and FeedMe High Chair Revi...
Can a safe, functional high chair also blend beautifully into your home? Stin Kuo thinks so. He’s co-founder of the baby brand Unilove that recently launched 2 high chairs in the US market: the Grow with Me and FeedMe Go portable high chair which are revolutionizing mealtimes for busy families.
18 min
75
Best High Chairs for Baby-Led Weaning
A high chair is the biggest purchase you’ll make in the second half of infancy. In this episode we’ll cover some high chairs that support a safe swallow, support independent eating, accommodate early eaters but grow with your child as well…all without breaking the bank.
20 min