Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

Katie Ferraro
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Nov 13, 2025 • 42min

The Evidence Behind Baby-Led Weaning with Amy Brown, PhD

#70: 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. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why it’s kind of even ridiculous that we have to PROVE that babies can feed themselves since prior to the advent of commercial baby food, that’s all babies for generations have been DOING! (...but also, Amy’s doing the research, so SHE is allowed to call it ridiculous :) 2. How there’s no evidence to support all of the things opponents of BLW sometimes claim: it does NOT increase choking risk, BLW babies do NOT have growth faltering, they do NOT have nutrient deficits...and a ton more info about what the research DOES show as benefits including responsive feeding outcomes, family bonding and self-pacing intake. 3. Differences in the US vs. UK when it comes to advertising of baby foods, infant formula and toddler or “follow-on” formulas as they’re called in the UK. And why parents and caregivers would be better served to totally bypass the commercial infant food aisle at their local stores, no matter WHERE you live! Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podast/70⁠ Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Professor Amy Brown’s website is ⁠here⁠. • Follow Amy on Instagram⁠ @prof_amybrown⁠. • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Her book “Why Starting Solids Matters” is ⁠here⁠. • Dr. Brown’s review article “Baby-Led Weaning: The Evidence to Date” is ⁠here⁠. This is a great place to start your lit review or jump off to her other research (...all of which is located under the Research tab on her website, first link above). • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠ 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 3, 2025 • 21min

Pumpkin: 5 Easy Ways Your Baby Can Safely Eat Pumpkin

Dive into pumpkin season with tips on how to safely introduce this nutritious fruit to your baby! Discover five easy and creative recipes, like pumpkin hummus and a tasty pumpkin curry, perfect for baby-led weaning. Learn about the unique texture of pumpkin and why it behaves like a vegetable nutritionally. Plus, get insights on modern breast pump innovations that help busy parents manage feeding. Explore great ways to keep your little one engaged with screen-free activities, all while ensuring a wholesome eating experience!
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Oct 27, 2025 • 37min

Sugar and Why Your Baby Should Avoid it with Robert Lustig, MD, MSL

#68: 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. 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. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to spot hidden sugars in common baby foods, pouches and yogurts - and then which real food alternatives you can swap in instead. 2. Why Dr. Lustig believes pureeing vegetables for your baby does not convey the same health beliefs as eating the intact versions of these foods 3. What the difference between apples, applesauce and apple juice is when it comes to fiber and carbohydrate load and impact on blood sugar levels Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podast/68 Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Lustig’s personal / professional website is located at www.robertlustig.com • The non-profit Eat Real that Dr. Lustig is the Chief Medical Officer of is located here: https://eatreal.org/about/ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Lustig’s UCSF Sugar Science resource (...the one that vetted 8,000 clinical research articles down into a few infographics for you :) is located here: https://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/ ⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Lustig’s books on Amazon (affiliate links) • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity and Disease • Metabolical: The Lure and Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine (release May 2021) Movies that Dr. Lustig has been featured in that were mentioned in the podcast episode • Fed Up • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sugar Coated: How the Food Industry Seduced the World One Spoonful at a Time • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sugar the Bitter Truth (...Dr. Lustig in the longest viral video you’ll ever watch!) Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro Links • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: • Episode 269 - Agave: Is it Safe to Offer Babies Agave in Place of Added Sugar? • Episode 309 - Added Sugars: Which Ones to Avoid for BLW • Episode 328 - Managing Blood Sugar + Gestational Diabetes with Casey Seiden, RDN, CDCES⁠ 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 20, 2025 • 33min

100 First Foods Graduates: Success Stories from Around the World

#67: 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! Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How these moms got their babies to eat 100 foods before turning one…even though they work full time and some of them hate cooking! 2. Why and how parents around the world are modifying the foods on the 100 First Foods list depending on where they live or what’s available 3. What steps you can take to get your baby eating 5 new foods per week, 20 foods per month so that in 5 short months your baby also gets to 100 foods before turning one! Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podast/67 Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here and get $50 off using the code BLWPOD50: https://babyledweaning.co/program • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: •  Episode 65 - A History of the 100 First Foods Approach to Starting Solid Foods with Baby-Led Weaning • Episode 268 - Second Baby BLW: How I'm Doing 100 First Foods Differently for Baby #2 with Lauren McClure 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 16, 2025 • 33min

Behind the QR Code: How Baby Food Companies Are (and Aren’t) Complying with Toxin Testing Laws with @consumerreports Jessica D'Argenio Waller

#66: 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. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. What California’s new baby food transparency law requires…and why it matters even if you don’t live in California 2. How Consumer Reports investigated the 39 baby food brands they studied…and which ones you probably won’t be buying anymore 3. Why you can’t totally prevent toxic element exposure for your baby (even if you don’t buy baby food), but how you can minimize risk if you’re doing baby-led weaning Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/66⁠ Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get $10 off first year of Consumer Reports membership when you sign up here (this is not an affiliate link): https://www.cr.org/blw • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠ • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: •  Episode 208 Heavy Metals in Baby Food with @consumerreports James E. Rogers, PhD • Episode 232 Tuna Talk: Is it Safe for Babies to Eat Canned Tuna with @consumerreports Michael K. Hansen, PhD • Episode 394 How Heavy Metal Levels in Baby Food Have & Haven't Changed in 5 Years with @consumerreports James E. Rogers, PhD • Episode 474 How to Pick Your Next Breast Pump with @consumerreports Angela Lashbrook • Episode 448 The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Baby’s Food with Consumer Reports' James E. Rogers, PhD • Episode 482 - High Chair Safety Testing with @consumerreports Joan Muratore 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 13, 2025 • 17min

5 Things Social Media Gets Wrong About Baby-Led Weaning

#65: 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. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. What bugs Gill Rapley - the lady who pioneered this approach - the most about baby-led weaning on social media 2. Why short-form content often misrepresents what baby-led weaning is really about…but how to harness its powers for good when you’re starting solid food 3. How to spot credible baby-led weaning advice online (...it’s out there!) but tune out the fear-based noise in the meantime Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/65 Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Aileen Cox Blundell on Instagram @babyledfeeding and her website Baby-Led Feeding • Follow Jessica Coll on Instagram @healthlyinstitute and her website International Baby-Led Weaning Network • Follow Dawn Winkelmann on Instagram @mwdawnslp and her website MsDawnSLP.com • Follow Marsha Dunn Klein on Instagram @getpermissioninstitute and her website the Get Permission Institute • Read Gill Rapley’s original Baby-Led Weaning book, available on Amazon here • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠ • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: • Episode 40 - 6 Reasons to Skip the Sippy Cup with Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP • Episode 134 - Sauces, Dippers & Toppers for Making BLW Foods Safe with @babyledfeeding Aileen Cox Blundell⁠ • Episode 241 - How did Baby-Led Weaning Get its Name? with Gill Rapley, PhD • Episode 320 - Supporting Your Baby: Empathy, Readiness and Connection with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 9, 2025 • 29min

The Right Way to Use a Pre-Loaded Spoon with Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP

#64: 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. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. The exact steps you can take during the first few days of baby-led weaning to help promote your baby’s ability to independently feed from his or her first bites 2. Why most of the baby spoons on the market are designed for PARENTS to feed babies and why she developed the ezpz Tiny Spoon that lets BABIES be in charge of self-feeding 3. How your baby learns to dip and then scoop and then eat independently - Dawn’s walking us through the various spoon-related feeding milestones in infant feeding Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/64 Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Dawn’s website at msdawnslp.com and follow her on Instagram @msdawnslp • Check out the ezpz Tiny Spoons and get 15% off with the code BABYLED here (this is an affiliate link) • This is the ezpz Developmental Utensil Set that parents love and get 15% off with the code BABYLED here (this is an affiliate link) • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: • Episode 5 - The Purees for a Few Days™ Approach to Starting Solid Foods with Baby-Led Weaning: a Feeding Guide • Episode 200 - Combo Feeding: Can I Do BLW + Traditional Spoon-Feeding Together? with Gill Rapley, PhD 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 6, 2025 • 23min

A History of the 100 First Foods Approach to Starting Solid Foods with Baby-Led Weaning

#63: 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! Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How the 100 First Foods approach began and why it’s the original method designed to help your baby safely discover more foods 2. The easiest way to select 5 new foods each week…without driving you crazy in the kitchen 3. Why getting your baby to 100 safe foods before one is actually easier (and cheaper) than you originally thought…and how you can get started today Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/63 Links from this episode: • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: • Episode 100 - The History of BLW with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 1) • Episode 268 - Second Baby BLW: How I'm Doing 100 First Foods Differently for Baby #2 with Lauren McClure⁠ 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 12, 2025 • 32min

Why Sensory Play Matters when Starting Solid Foods with Dawn Winklemann, MS, CCC-SLP

#62: 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! Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How sensory play supports your baby’s feeding development and why it’s easier than you think 2. What words to say besides “good job” when you’re at the table with your baby 3. Which foods to include in sensory play…even if you’re not one of those “play with your kids” moms Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/62 Links from this episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Learn more about Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP on her website www.msdawnslp.com and her Instagram @msdawnslp ⁠⁠⁠ • ezpz Play Mat - use the code BABYLED for a 15% discount, shop here (this is an affiliate link): https://ezpzfun.com/BABYLED ⁠⁠ • ezpz Oral Development Tools - great for pre-feeding sensory exploration and code BABYLED works for 15% off here. • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: • Episode 170 - Sensory 101: What Motivates Babies to Eat? with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd • Episode 378 - Building Sensory Enjoyment at Mealtimes with Karen Dilfer, MS, OTR/L 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 9, 2025 • 21min

Forget the Salad: 5 Safe Ways to Offer Spinach for Baby-Led Weaning

#61: 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. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why pouches that proclaim to include kale or spinach are really just fruit purees masquerading as vegetables 2. Why pouches that proclaim to include kale or spinach are really just fruit purees masquerading as vegetables 3. How to help your baby learn to love bitter vegetables like leafy greens…even if they have a tendency for fruit right now Shownotes for this episode can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/61⁠ Links from this episode: • ⁠Try the ezpz TinyPops for a spinach popsicle - these are great for early eaters and the affiliate code BABYLED gets you 15% off all ezpz products, click here to shop. • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠ ⁠ Other episodes related to this topic: • Episode 137 - Iron: Can My Baby Get Enough Iron from Baby-Led Weaning Foods? • Episode 169 - Iron: Does My Baby Really Need to Eat 11mg Iron Per Day? • Episode 478 - Nightshade Vegetables: Can My Baby Be Allergic to Eggplant? with @allergykidsdoc David Stukus, MD 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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