

Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 21, 2025 • 30min
Tongue Ties & Lip Ties: Do These Affect Baby's Ability to Self-Feed? with Dr. Shaina Holman, DDS, PhD
#52: If your baby has a tongue-tie (or has had one released) you might be wondering: will this affect their ability to start solid foods?
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Shaina Holman, DDS, PhD, a dentist with a rare specialty in infant tongue-ties and a research background in infant feeding. She runs a multidisciplinary infant feeding clinic in North Carolina, working alongside lactation consultants, SLPs, and infant massage therapists to take a whole-body, team-based approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Shaina explains what tongue- and lip-ties are, how they can impact both milk feeding and solid feeding, and what to look out for if you’re considering - or have already done - a release. As a mom of three who’s done baby-led weaning with her own kids, she brings both clinical and practical insights to this conversation.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. What tongue ties are and why experts don’t always agree on treatment routes
2. How having a tongue tie does - and does not - impact your baby’s ability to breastfeed, bottle-feed and eat solid foods
3. Why babies who have had tongue tie releases sometimes struggle with solid foods and what to do if this happens to you
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/52
Links from this episode:
• Visit Dr. Shaina’s private practice website and her tongue tie clinic
• Follow Dr. Shaina on Instagram @holmanfamilydentalcare
• 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 148 - How Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate Babies can Succeed in Self-Feeding with Vikash K. Modi, MD
• Episode 438 - How to Brush Your Baby's Teeth with @firstgrin Ashley Lerman, DDS
• Episode 466 - Beginnings of a Bad Bite: How Purees Impact Jaw Growth with Ben Miraglia, DDS
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱
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

Jul 17, 2025 • 20min
Temperature: Should I Serve My Baby's Food Hot, Cold, Room Temp...Does it Matter?
Curious about food temperatures for your little one? Discover how to safely serve frozen, cold, and warm foods to enhance your baby's eating experience. Learn crucial tips for preparing proteins at the right temperature and reheating leftovers safely. If your baby is teething, find out the best chilled options that are safe and enjoyable. Plus, get practical advice on minimizing mess during meals and ensuring a comfortable feeding environment to support baby-led weaning.

Jun 29, 2025 • 31min
How Tube Fed Babies Can Become Independent Eaters with Jennifer Berry, MS, OT/L and Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC
#50: Many babies who rely on tube feeding can learn to eat independently…but traditional feeding approaches often fall short. In this episode, feeding therapists Jennifer Berry (OT) and Heidi Liefer Moreland (SLP) from Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics explain how trust, safety, and internal motivation play key roles in helping tube-fed babies become confident eaters. Learn how their intensive tube weaning program works, what signs to look for when a baby is ready to eat, and how responsive feeding principles apply—even with medically complex cases.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. WHY trust in the feeding relationship is so important regardless of whether the baby is weaning from breast, bottle or feeding tube
2. HOW parents and caregivers can help establish that trust with the baby…even if the medical team doesn’t have a clearly defined path for tube weaning
3. HOW families with babies on feeding tubes can be advocates for independent feeding and weaning off of the tube...even when some experts say it can’t be done
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/50
Links from this episode:
• Learn more about Jenny and Heidi’s feeding practice Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics and their tube weaning program
• Follow Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Instagram @thrivewithspectrum
• Listen to Jenny and Heidi and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatric’s podcast TUBE TO TABLE and subscribe to the podcast
• Jenny and Heidi are also feeding therapists who work with children and families both in-person and remotely. You can contact them via their Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics business
• 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 402 - How This Tube Fed Baby Also Safely Started Solid Foods with @walkietalkieeats Brooke Tibbett
• Episode 444 - You Can't Make Your Baby Eat with Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱
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

9 snips
Jun 24, 2025 • 21min
Eggs: 7 Easy Ways to Safely Offer Your Baby Eggs
#49: Introducing eggs early and often is key to helping prevent egg allergy…but, figuring out how to safely offer those eggs to your baby can be tricky. In this episode, I’m breaking down 7 easy ways to safely offer eggs using the baby-led weaning approach. From quick prep methods to texture tips that support self-feeding, you’ll walk away with practical ideas you can put to use in your own kitchen starting this week.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. Why eggs are one of the easiest allergenic foods to offer to your baby...and why we no longer wait on feeding babies egg white until after age 1
2. 7 different ways that babies can safely eat eggs - and why scrambled eggs aren’t the best bet for early eaters
3. A vegan substitute for eggs if you don’t eat eggs because of egg allergy or because your family does not eat animal products
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/49
Links from this episode:
• Easy zucchini egg cup recipe for baby-led weaning from my Instagram account @babyledweanteam is 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 15 - Egg: How to Introduce Your Baby to This Potentially Allergenic Food
• Episode 124 - Using an Egg Ladder for Babies with Egg Allergy with Carina Venter, PhD, RD
• Episode 143 - BLW Basics: How to Make Fritters for Self-Feeding Babies
• Episode 487 - Egg Substitute Ideas for Baby-Led Weaning (...that actually work)
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱
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

Jun 20, 2025 • 22min
How to Flavor, Season & Spice Your Baby's Food with Kanchan Koya, PhD
#47: Babies don’t have to eat bland food! In this episode, spice expert and cookbook author Kanchan Koya, PhD @chiefspicemama shares how to safely introduce seasonings and spices to your baby’s food. Learn which spices are safe, why they support health, and how to bring your family’s food culture into your baby’s diet from the start.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. Which spices are safe for babies, and which seasonings you’ll want to skip (and why)
2. How spices support your baby’s health and development of their flavor palate
3. What spices to add to kick the flavor up in your baby’s starter finger foods, even if you’re not a confident cook
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/48
Links from this episode:
• Get Kanchan’s book Spice Spice Baby on Amazon here
• Visit Kanchan’s website for the Spice Spice Baby book here
• Follow Kanchan on Instagram @chiefspicemama
• 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 33 - Salt: 3 Easy Ways to Minimize Sodium for Your Baby
• Episode 316 - Taste Preferences in Babies: When and How do They Develop? with Alison Ventura, PhD
• Episode 498 - Taste Training: Introducing Flavors to Babies with @getpermissioninstitute Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱
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

7 snips
Jun 17, 2025 • 22min
Oatmeal: How Your Baby Can Safely Self-Feed Oatmeal
Discover why oatmeal is an excellent first food for babies and how to introduce it safely. Explore different types of oatmeal, including quick-cooking, rolled, and steel-cut, and their iron content. Learn how to promote self-feeding while transitioning from purees, and find tips for pairing oatmeal with other foods. Plus, get insights into the benefits of innovative breastfeeding technology for busy parents. Perfect for those navigating the world of baby-led weaning!

Jun 12, 2025 • 16min
Celebrating Dads who Do Baby-Led Weaning
#46: Let’s shine the spotlight on dads who are diving headfirst into baby-led weaning. From pediatricians and military dads to first-timers and seasoned pros, these proud fathers share what they love most about watching their babies explore real foods. Whether your partner’s already on board or needs a little nudge, these dad stories are sure to inspire.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. How these dads learned to love baby-led weaning even though it freaked them out at first
2. Which foods are actually easier to get the dads to offer for the first time vs. moms
3. What a pediatrician dad and a deployed dad did to come around on baby-led weaning
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/46
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 22 - Grandparents, Spouses & Partners: Getting Doubters on Board with Baby-Led Weaning
• Episode 53 - Explaining Baby-Led Weaning to a Skeptic: 10 Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning
• Episode 203 - Vegan Mom, Cattle-Rancher Dad & a BLW Baby: Family Feeding Dynamics with Suzy Quebbeman
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱
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

5 snips
Jun 9, 2025 • 16min
How to Build a Balanced Baby-Led Weaning Plate
Discover how to create a balanced plate for your little one by introducing one new food daily while recycling familiar options. Learn practical tips for partitioning meals into manageable segments, maximizing enjoyment without overwhelming your baby. Explore innovative high chair features that support safe and comfortable dining. Finally, uncover the ideal food combinations to promote independent eating and streamline meal times, while also considering options for busy parents.

Jun 5, 2025 • 28min
Just Starting Baby-Led Weaning? Ask Me Anything...
#44: Are you just starting out with baby-led weaning and FULL of questions about whether your baby can safely self-feed? Well then, this is the episode for you! I’m going to rapid fire answering your questions about getting a SAFE start to baby-led weaning.
In this Ask Me Anything episode I’m covering the topics of readiness to feed, gagging, food refusal, scheduling, weaning from the bottle, dealing with doubters and family members who say, “you were spoon fed and you turned out fine!!”. Also diving into what your baby should drink, flavoring your baby’s food without salt and sugar, daycare, constipation and CHEESE!!
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. How much gagging is normal? My 7 MO seems to be hating BLW b/c he is gagging a lot
2. If baby refuses a food, should we get something different out or accept & try again next meal?
3. @ckbillman1 How many times a day offer BLW to 6-7m old, how many meals/d until 1 year
4. @mrsrobinson1229 How/When to wean from bottle, what should timeline be
5. @jessigreer1 What to tell family when they say “but you turned out fine” I didn’t; I don’t like veg
5. @jenc818 Do you offer water every meal? How much?
6. @patelzil how can i incorporate indian vegetables dishes with spices...trying to raise veg baby
7. @babielonian how do I know if my 6m old ready to start?
8. @vidd.au what cheese can 8 month old baby have?
9. @bri0085 v interested in BLW but do daycare 3X a week, recommend purees there?
10. @reginanelan how to deal with extreme constipation and pain?
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/44
Links from this episode:
• Use KATIE10 for $10 off on all Online CPR Training Courses
• Today’s podcast is brought to you by Baby Quip, the #1 baby equipment rental service delivering clean, safe & insured rented baby gear RIGHT to your door. They’re now available in more than 500 cities in the US & Canada & you can check them out at babyquip.com
• 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 55 - How to Drop a Milk Feed
• Episode 58 - What do I do if My Baby Has an Allergic Reaction? with Ron Sunog, MD
• Episode 368 - Using a Milk Ladder for Babies with Dairy Allergy with Carina Venter, PhD, RD
• Episode 227 - When Does the Food Allergy Prevention Window Close? 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

5 snips
Jun 2, 2025 • 16min
Sesame: How to Introduce Your Baby to this Potentially Allergenic Food
Discover the rising concerns around sesame allergies, which have made it a top contender for allergenic foods. Learn effective ways to safely introduce sesame to your baby's diet using tahini and black sesame seed powder. The focus is on practicality and safety, with tips to avoid choking hazards while monitoring for allergic reactions. Perfect for parents eager to explore new foods with their little ones!