Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

Aubrie DeBear, a sleep consultant with a doctorate in psychology, joins to tackle the tricky balance between setting a baby's sleep schedule and introducing solid foods. She debunks myths about babies sleeping through the night and explains why waiting until around six months to start sleep training is optimal. Aubrie shares insightful strategies for helping babies fall back asleep and emphasizes that sleep skills matter more than diet when it comes to restful nights for both babies and parents.

#145: Is your baby barely eating any of the food you offer? If most of the food ends up on the floor, in the high chair or everywhere except your baby’s mouth, you might be wondering if you’re doing something wrong. In this episode, I’m sharing what to expect when your baby is learning how to eat, why the amount they swallow isn’t the best way to measure progress and the simple feeding skills you can watch for instead. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why your baby may not eat very much when first starting solid foods 2. What feeding skills matter more than how much food your baby swallows 3. How to tell if your baby is making progress with baby-led weaning Shownotes for this episode can be found here https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/145 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 and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 • 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 73 - What to Do When Your Baby Won’t Eat • Episode 247 - 3 Signs that BLW is Going Well for Your Baby • 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 and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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

In this engaging discussion, Amy Bentley, a Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies at NYU and author of "Inventing Baby Food," dives into the rich history of baby food. She reveals how commercial baby food emerged from industrialization and societal changes. Bentley critiques modern feeding practices, emphasizing the need for whole foods over pouches that compromise family meals. Listeners will learn about shifting guidelines for introducing solids and the marketing myths that shape today’s parenting choices.

Learn how to make delicious fritters for your little one! Explore nutritious options with whole grains, vegetables, and proteins. Discover the best cooking techniques to avoid soggy disasters. Get tips on egg substitutions for allergenic needs and ideas for low-sodium sauces to enhance flavors. Make mealtime fun and safe with serving suggestions, ensuring your baby confidently self-feeds. Perfect for busy families navigating the transition to solid foods!

#142: Do you really need to wait 3 days between new foods? Does baby-led weaning mean no purees or spoons? And does your baby need to sit completely unsupported before starting solid foods? There are so many baby-led weaning “rules” floating around that it can be hard to know what’s actually true. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Gill Rapley, co-author of Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide, to debunk some of the most common baby-led weaning myths. Listen to learn what really matters when starting solid foods—and which outdated rules you can stop worrying about. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why so many outdated baby-led weaning myths and “rules” continue to persist 2. What Gill Rapley says baby-led weaning actually is—and what it is not 3. How babies develop the skills to safely self-feed, chew and manage different food textures. Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/142 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 and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 • 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 Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 1) • Episode 102 - The Future of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2) • Episode 500 - From Niche to Norm: The Evolution of Baby-Led Weaning with Gill Rapley, PhD • 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 and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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

#141:  Is your baby really ready to start solid foods? If you’re getting conflicting advice about starting at 4 months, waiting until 6 months, sitting independently or showing interest in food, it can be hard to know when it’s actually safe to begin. In this episode, I’m breaking down the signs of readiness that matter, what you don’t need to stress about, and how to know when your baby is developmentally ready to start learning how to eat. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to tell when your baby is developmentally ready to start solid foods 2. Which signs of readiness actually matter for safe baby-led weaning 3. Why showing interest in food does not necessarily mean your baby is ready to eat Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/141 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 and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 • 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 421 - 5 Baby Milestones to Begin Baby-Led Weaning Safely | What Your Baby Should Be Able to Do Before Starting Solids • Episode 113 - 4 & 5-Month Olds: Your Baby-Led Weaning Pre-Feeding Plan • Episode 290- Pre-Feeding Skills: What Can My Baby Do Before Beginning Solid Foods? with 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 and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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

#140: Why does starting solid foods make you feel like a brand-new mom all over again? Even parents who work in the baby space can feel nervous and unsure when it’s time to introduce real food. In this episode, I’m talking with Moms Interrupted hosts Natasha and Taylor about Taylor’s experience starting solid foods with her second baby, .especially after severe food allergy reactions with her first. Listen to hear what she was worried about before starting, what has surprised her so far, and why you don’t have to know exactly what you’re doing to confidently help your baby learn how to eat. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why starting solid foods can make even an experienced mom feel like a beginner 2. How a previous severe food allergy reaction can shape the experience of introducing foods to a second baby 3. What helped Taylor move through her fears and feel more confident starting solid foods with her baby Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/140 Links from This Episode: • Follow @momsinterruptedpod on Instagram • Follow @momsinterruptedpod on YouTube • Moms Interrupted website is here • Moms Interrupted Podcast episode with Katie on Baby-Led Weaning is here • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠⁠ and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 • 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 420 - Why am I So Stressed Out About Starting Solid Foods? with Andrea Niles, PhD • Episode 268 - Second Baby BLW: How I’m Doing 100 First Foods Differently for Baby #2 with Lauren McClure • Episode 168 - BLW Fears: Advice for Overcoming Infant Feeding Fears from 5 BLW Experts 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 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 and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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

#139: Your baby is almost ready to start solid foods…so what should you actually do the day before that first bite? In this episode, I’m walking you through the simple pre-feeding steps that can make starting solid foods safer and less stressful. You’ll learn how to confirm your baby is ready, set up the high chair for safe feeding, choose and prepare that first food, understand gagging vs. choking, and set realistic expectations for day one—so you can stop second-guessing every decision and start feeding with confidence. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to tell if your baby is truly ready to start solid foods 2. What to do before your baby’s first bite to make starting solids safer and less stressful 3. Why high chair setup, safe food preparation and understanding gagging vs. choking matter before day one Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcasts/139 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 113 - 4 & 5-Month Olds: Your Baby-Led Weaning Pre-Feeding Plan • Episode 03 - How to Prepare for Baby-Led Weaning: A Guide for Parents & Caregivers • Episode 497 - The First Few Days of Baby-Led Weaning: What Should I Expect? 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 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 masterclass 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 and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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

#138: What do you do when other people do not agree with the way you have decided to feed your baby? It can be especially hurtful when you feel judged by other parents for choosing baby-led weaning or bypassing traditional spoon-feeding. In this episode, stylist and digital content creator Chriselle Lim joins me to talk about mom-shaming, feeding judgment and how to handle criticism about your parenting choices. Whether you have one follower or millions, those comments can still sting. Listen to learn how to tune out the noise, move past unwanted opinions and feel more confident in the feeding choices you are making for your baby. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to handle mom-shaming when others criticize your feeding choices 2. What you can do to move past negative comments about your parenting decisions 3. Why the people you surround yourself with can influence your confidence as a parent Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/138 Links from This Episode: • Chrisells is the co-founder of a number of Bumo businesses: BÜMO means “parents” in Korean.  • Bumowork: Offers a well-designed work space and licensed, on-site childcare under one roof.  • YouTube Channel Catching Up with Chris Link • Chriselle Lim IG page HERE • Podcast Being Bümo with Chrisele Lim • TikTok Channel: @chrisellelim • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 • 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 episode related to this topic: • Episode 331 - Interviewing my Mom: How She Didn’t Like BLW at First & Why She Changed • Episode 22 - Grandparents, Spouses & Partners: Getting Doubters on Board with Baby-Led Weaning • Episode 184 - Positive Parenting: Staying Upbeat When You’re Feeling Defeated about Baby-Led Weaning with Candice Jones, 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 and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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

#137: Can your baby really get enough iron from baby-led weaning foods without relying on iron-fortified baby cereal? Yes…but you do need to know which foods to offer and how often to offer them. In this episode, I’m breaking down how much iron babies actually need, why you do NOT need to obsess over hitting 11 mg from food when your baby is just starting solids, and some of the best high-iron foods for babies. You’ll also learn the simple iron + vitamin C pairing that can help your baby absorb more iron and why introducing iron-rich foods early and often matters. If you’re worried your baby isn’t eating enough (...or wondering whether baby-led weaning can really meet your baby’s iron needs) this episode will help you know what to focus on. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How much iron your baby actually needs when starting solid foods 2. What high-iron foods your baby can safely learn to eat with baby-led weaning 3. Why pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C can help your baby absorb more iron Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/137 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 21 - 3 Easy Ways to Boost Your Baby’s Iron Absorption • Episode 375 - Plant Based Sources of Iron • Episode 374 - Iron Testing and Anemia Screening for Infants with Staffan Ahlandsberg, PhD • Episode 263 - Iron Drops: Does My Baby Need Iron Supplements? 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 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 and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 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