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!
176
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
177
Mouthing Objects: What does this mean about my ...
Is your baby ready to eat just because they bring objects to their mouth. How is mouthing related to your baby’s readiness to eat and what is mouthing telling you about your baby’s ability and desire to self-feed. Celebrated pediatric feeding expert Marsha Dunn Klein is here to explain all about mouthing and why this is an important first step in starting solid foods.
25 min
178
Purees Are Part of Baby-Led Weaning: How to Hon...
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
179
Dog Training Tips When Your Baby Starts Solid F...
Is it safe for your dog to eat food your baby drops on the floor? Should the dog even be around your baby in a high chair? In this episode certified dog trainer Jake Schneider from @ondogtrainingacademy shares tips on establishing boundaries and rules for your dog when your baby starts eating solid food.
29 min
180
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
181
Breastfeeding & Starting Solid Foods: When Will...
How often should you breastfeed once your baby starts solid foods? And what if your milk supply drops off once your baby starts eating? Jessica Smith, MSN, RN, IBCLC joins me to explain how you can succeed at continued and extended breastfeeding after 6 months of age and even past age 1.
27 min
182
How to Prepare for Baby-Led Weaning: A Guide fo...
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
183
Unpacking the Invisible Load of Feeding the Hou...
What if you don’t love cooking new foods, prepping food for your baby or your other kids…or even just being in charge of food in general? So much of what moms are tasked with falls under this banner of the “invisible load” that you’re probably hearing more mental health people in the parenting space talk about, including Erica Djossa from Momwell.
35 min
184
5 Baby Milestones to Begin Baby-Led Weaning Saf...
Is your baby developmentally ready to safely start solids? Learn why the 6-month mark is pivotal, the significance of independent sitting, and why the disappearance of the tongue thrust reflex isn't the only readiness to eat signal to begin the weaning process.
12 min
185
Why am I So Stressed Out About Starting Solid F...
Do you feel anxious about your baby starting solid foods? Nervous that your baby will choke on food? Raising babies is stressful…and we don’t always get the support we need as new moms. Clinical psychologist Andrea Niles is here to help you stop stressing about starting solid foods.
26 min
186
Everything You Need to Know About Baby-Led Wean...
Discover the ins and outs of baby-led weaning versus traditional spoon feeding, how it differs from parent-led feeding, and expert tips (pioneered by Gill Rapley, PhD) on safely introducing solid foods to your baby in this episode. Join me as I demystify baby-led weaning as a more developmentally appropriate introduction to solid foods and empower parents to make informed choices for your baby's nutrition journey.
21 min
187
Everything You Need to Know About FOOD ALLERGIE...
What causes food allergies and can introducing certain foods early to your baby help prevent food allergy? In this episode dietitian Bob Earl from Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) at foodallergy.org updates us on everything new and notable in food allergies including allergen labeling for the newest allergen on the Top 9 which is sesame.
24 min
188
Is Bone Broth Before Food Good for My Baby?
Is bone broth safe for babies? Can I give my baby bone broth before they start solid foods? Bone broth is having a moment…but it’s not a magical superfood that your baby needs. In this episode we’re looking at how to offer bone broth responsibly but why it should not be given to babies under 6 months of age.
11 min
189
Is My Baby Developmentally Ready to Start Solid...
What are the signs that your baby is ready to start solid foods? What if your baby isn’t sitting up at 6 months, is it ok to do purees? Or what if you think your baby is ready EARLY even though they’re not 6 months yet? Amy Manojlovski is here to tell us if your baby is developmentally ready to start solid foods.
22 min
190
Waking Up at Night Again: Is My Baby Too Hungry...
Is your baby waking up in the middle of the night again since you started solid foods? Does this mean the baby is hungry or not getting enough? In this episode we’re looking at solid food and sleep schedules to help you and your baby get a good night’s sleep after you start solid foods.
17 min
191
Infant Food Refusal: Is it Reflux or EoE (Eosin...
It’s not uncommon for infants or toddlers to refuse food. Food refusal can be due to illness, tiredness, your baby’s temperament on that day…but, there is a disease that results in food refusal called Eosinophilic esophagitis or EOE.
22 min
192
Food Before One is Just for Fun: True or False?
Are foods before one just for fun…or does it really matter which foods we offer our baby? Saying food before one is just for fun is catchy…but confusing. In this episode we break down the idea about just having fun vs. intentionally picking foods for a reason before babies turn one.
10 min
193
What To Do if Your Baby Plays with Food with @...
How do you stop your baby from playing with food or throwing food on the floor? Dietitian Dani Lebovitz from @kid.food.explorers joins me to discuss raising adventurous eaters…and why letting your baby drop food on the floor is actually a good thing!
20 min
194
Condiments And Baby-Led Weaning: Do They Mix?
Can your baby eat ketchup? What about barbeque sauce? In this episode we’re exploring common condiments and whether or not they work for baby-led weaning. Listen to learn how to make no sugar, low salt swaps that will add flavor and make swallowing safer for your baby…all with condiments you already have in your kitchen.
18 min
195
Empowering Black and African American Breastfee...
Breastfeeding is hard. And racial and ethnic disparities don’t make breastfeeding any easier for Black and African American mothers. Dr. Toncé Jackson co-founded Cinnamoms to offer support and sisterhood in her WIC agency…but her mission has expanded much further in the parenting space.
25 min
196
Does My Baby Need a Multivitamin?
Are multivitamins safe for babies? And do babies even need to be taking supplements like multivitamins? In this episode we’re going to look specifically at multivitamins, talking about what they are, whether or not they’re safe, which babies might benefit from these and then what could potentially go wrong if we start relying on supplements to meet baby’s nutrition needs.
15 min
197
Is My Baby Neurodivergent? with @on.the.hard.da...
Have you ever looked at your baby’s behavior or activity and thought, “Hmmm…is that normal?” If it’s not typical, what do we call it? In this episode Megan Champion from Mothers Together and @on.the.hard.days shares her experience raising Neurodivergent children and how her community supports moms who are doing the same.
33 min
198
Airplane Snacks: Portable travel food ideas tha...
17 min
199
Baby Tooth Brushing and Oral Care with @firstgr...
How healthy are your baby’s gums and teeth? And why does it even matter if they’re just baby teeth and are eventually going to fall out anyway?! Ashley Lerman, DDS is a pediatric dentist and a new mom and she’s here to answer all of your questions about baby tooth brushing and oral care.
31 min
200
Are Produce Washes Helpful or Hogwash for Food ...
Nobody wants to give their baby a foodborne illness…but do you need to be buying produce washes to prevent disease? In this episode we’ll look at some produce washes including what they do, what they claim to do, and whether or not they’re any better than good old fashioned friction and running water when it comes to making fruits and vegetables safe for your baby to eat.
10 min