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!
101
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
102
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
103
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
104
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
105
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
106
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
107
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
108
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
109
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
110
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
111
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
112
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
113
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
114
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
115
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
116
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
117
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
118
Egg Substitute Ideas for Baby-Led Weaning (...t...
What if your baby can’t eat or doesn’t eat eggs? The internet is full of egg substitute ideas, but a lot of them don’t actually work. Here are the ones I use when making egg-free foods for babies.
14 min
119
Toddlers at the Table: Understanding the Shift ...
What’s going to change at mealtimes when your baby becomes a toddler? Dr. Cathryn Tobin from @healthiest_baby is here to explain toddler behavior and the shift in eating patterns you’ll experience as your baby gets bigger.
30 min
120
Silicone Feeding Gear Tastes Like Soap? Here's ...
Does your baby’s silicone feeding gear ever taste like soap? There are some easy household remedies to get rid of the soapy smell so your baby can get back to tasting all of the new foods you’re offering.
7 min
121
Will My Baby Get Enough Nutrition with Baby-Led...
Can your baby eat enough to meet their nutrition needs if you skip spoon-feeding? Researcher Kinzie Matzeller discusses her recent research about baby-led weaning and whether or not it actually works.
29 min
122
Which Thanksgiving Foods Can Babies Safely Eat?
Bring that baby up to the table for Thanksgiving! In this episode we're digging through the Thanksgiving menu to find foods that babies can safely eat for baby-led weaning.
11 min
123
High Chair Safety Testing with @consumerreports...
Picking a high chair is overwhelming. You want it to look nice, be affordable, fit in your kitchen, be easy to clean…but most importantly your high chair should provide a safe seat where your baby can eat. Joan Muratore is in charge of high chair safety testing for Consumer Reports and in this interview she walks us through every safety feature you didn’t know your high chair has plus how they test high chairs for safety (...so you don’t have to!)
28 min
124
Chicken: How to Make Chicken Safe for Baby-Led ...
How do you make chicken safe for babies to eat? If your family eats animal foods then there are nutrition, flavor, taste and texture benefits to trying out chicken. But learning how to make chicken safely for early eaters can be a challenge. Listen to learn the best ways to make chicken for baby-led weaning to help lower choking risk.
9 min
125
Recapping Phase 1 of Baby-Led Weaning: The Firs...
Does your baby really go from drinking infant milk to eating actual avocado? New mom Kelsey Joy Tran shares her experience of the first 8 weeks of starting solid foods with baby-led weaning for her son Maverick. From his potential egg allergy to getting over their parental fear of choking, Kelsey explains how she and her husband helped Maverick eat 50 new foods already using baby-led weaning.
34 min