

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

May 16, 2024 • 38min
Baby-Led Potty Training: Elimination Communication with @godiaperfree Andrea Olson
#432: Can you potty-train your baby? Is a life without diapers doable? Elimination Communication (EC) is a gentle, non-coercive way to respond to your baby’s natural hygiene needs…and nobody knows EC ike Andrea Olson from @godiaperfree. In this episode Andrea’s teaching us how babies can learn to self-potty from birth and if you’re currently using diapers, how you can stop a lot sooner than you might think.Check out Andrea’s website at https://www.godiaperfree.com/. Follow Andrea on Instagram @godiaperfree Listen to this episode to learn:
Why you should consider switching to self-pottying…even if you’re currently using diapers
How to identify your baby’s cues when they’re bearing down and ready to go!
What the 4 easy catches are…so you’ll gain confidence in your baby’s ability to self-potty
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/432Links from this episode
My high chair recommendations:
Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair on Amazon (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3X8iFM4
Nomi high chair on Amazon (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3gPd6LU
Other Episodes Related to this Topic
Episode 172 - High Chair Positioning: Reduce Choking Risk Using This One Simple Move with Jeff Durkee of Nomi High Chair
Episode 205 - High Chair Help: What if My Baby Won't Sit in the High Chair?
Episode 379 - Favorite Portable High Chairs for Feeding on the Go
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 2024 • 17min
Why Your Baby’s High Chair Needs a Footrest
#431: How does an adjustable footrest on your baby’s high chair help reduce the risk of choking? In this episode we’ll look at how your baby’s feet resting flat helps stabilize their core and support a safe swallow…and how to fix your high chair if it doesn’t have a footrest or if your baby’s feet don’t reach the footrest yet.Listen to this episode to learn:
Why your baby’s feet resting flat on a solid footplate helps reduce choking risk
How to build a DIY footrest if your high chair doesn’t have one
What to do if your high chair has a footrest, but your baby’s feet don’t reach yet
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/431Links from this episode
My high chair recommendations:
Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair on Amazon (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3X8iFM4
Nomi high chair on Amazon (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3gPd6LU
Other Episodes Related to this Topic
Episode 172 - High Chair Positioning: Reduce Choking Risk Using This One Simple Move with Jeff Durkee of Nomi High Chair
Episode 205 - High Chair Help: What if My Baby Won't Sit in the High Chair?
Episode 379 - Favorite Portable High Chairs for Feeding on the Go
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 2024 • 21min
Can Baby Massage Help Increase Infants’ Weight? with Helen Thompson
#430: Worried that your baby isn’t eating enough or getting enough nutrition from food? Being worried that your baby is going to lose weight is a real fear. There’s some data to suggest that infant massage can actually help increase your baby’s weight. Baby massage expert Helen Thompson is here to teach about baby massage and if it is a way you can help your baby gain weight.Check out Helen’s website here: https://www.mybabymassage.net/babyledweaningShownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/430 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧Other podcast episodes related to this topic:Episode 284 - Postural Support when Starting Solid Foods with Emma Hubbard, Pediatric OTEpisode 320 - Supporting Your Baby: Empathy, Readiness and Connection with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEdEpisode 372 - Mom's Mental Health: Strengthening Parenthood Through Therapy with @momwell Erica Djossa, PHM-C🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 2024 • 15min
Safe Food Sizes for Baby-Led Weaning
#429: 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.Listen to this episode to learn:
Why small pieces of food are NOT safer and actually increase choking risk for early eaters
How to prepare foods safely for baby-led weaning so that your baby doesn’t choke
Which foods are best when you are starting baby-led weaning
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/429Links 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
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 2024 • 29min
Mouthing Objects: What does this mean about my baby’s ability to start solid foods? with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA
#428: 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.Marsha’s Get Permission Institute is online at https://getpermissioninstitute.com/ and you can follow GPI on Instagram @getpermissioninstitute.Get 20% off Marsha’s Teether HEart Spoon with her code MARSHA20 when you shop here. Shownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/428 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧You may also be interested in these other interview episodes with Marsha Dunn Klein
Episode 320 - Supporting Your Baby: Empathy, Readiness and Connection with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd
Episode 290 - Pre-Feeding Skills: What Can My Baby Do Before Beginning Solid Foods? with Marsha Dunn Klein OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA
Episode 236 - Positive Tilt: Get Permission from Your Baby with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA
Episode 206 - Stay in Your Lane: Parent & Baby Roles in Infant Feeding with Marsha Dunn Klein OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA
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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 2024 • 22min
Purees Are Part of Baby-Led Weaning: How to Honor Self-Feeding Using My Purees for a Few Days™ Approach
#427: 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. Listen to this episode to learn:
Why combo feeding finger foods + adult-led spoon feeding is not baby-led weaning
How you can honor the self-feeding principles of baby-led weaning and still do purees
How to safely sequence 3 textures of the same food in one meal for early eaters
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/5Links 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 64 - How to Pre-Load A BLW Spoon Self-Feeding Technique with Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP
Episode 109 - I Started Purees Too Early: Should I Stop Before Switching to BLW?
Episode 200 - Combo Feeding: Can I Do BLW + Traditional Spoon-Feeding Together? with Gill Rapley, PhD
Episode 236 - Positive Tilt: Get Permission from Your Baby 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.👀 👀 👀 👀 👀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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2024 • 32min
Dog Training Tips When Your Baby Starts Solid Foods with Jake Schneider
Episode 426: 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. Check out Jake’s On Dog Training Academy, listen to his podcast Learn, Laugh, Bark and follow him on Instagram @ondogtrainingacademy. Shownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/426 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧Other podcast episodes related to this topic:Episode 332 - Baby Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat with @dogmeets_baby Dominika Knossalla-PadoEpisode 56 - Dog Meets Baby: BLW Do's + Don'ts For The Whole (Furry) Family with Alexandra Parry, DVM🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 2024 • 17min
Gagging vs. Choking: What is the Difference?
#425: 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.Listen to this episode to learn:
Which foods are choking risks and how to modify them to make them safe for your baby
Why it is important not to intervene during a gag…and how to react when your baby gags
What to do if your baby chokes on food
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/425Links from this episode:Take a refresher infant CPR course before your baby starts solid food. Use affiliate discount code KATIE10 for $10 off lifetime access to the online course I take each quarter here: https://courses.thrivetraininginstitute.com/pages/babyledweanteam
Other Episodes Related to this Topic
Episode 221 - Gagging: What do I do if My Baby Gags on Food?
Episode 390 - Back Blows for Babies: When Do I Administer CPR? with @thrivetraininginstitute Brandon Doerksen
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 snips
Apr 18, 2024 • 31min
Breastfeeding & Starting Solid Foods: When Will My Milk Supply Drop Off? with Jessica Smith, MSN, RN, IBCLC
#424: 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.Listen to this episode to learn:
When is the ideal time to drop a milk feed…and which one goes first?
How to handle declining milk supply after your baby starts solid foods
Why breastfeeding beyond 1 year has benefits most moms don’t know about
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/424Links from this episode:
Jessica’s website https://blueridgelactation.wixsite.com/ibclc
Kelly Mom https://kellymom.com/
IBL: The Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding & Lactation Education: https://lacted.org/
Infant Risk Center MommyMed for Moms: https://www.infantrisk.com/infantrisk-center-resources
Other Episodes Related to this Topic
Episode 55 - How to Drop a Milk Feed
Episode 235 - When to Move Milk Behind Food with Nicole Boehm
Episode 404 - Storing Breastmilk Safely with Lara Vu, MPH, CLES @milaskeeper
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 15, 2024 • 21min
How to Prepare for Baby-Led Weaning: A Guide for Parents & Caregivers
#423: 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.Listen to this episode to learn:
What the most important safety feature on your high chair should be…and why most high chairs don’t have this
What to do if your baby chokes on food and how to administer back blows if your baby does choke
How to safely introduce peanut…and which babies should consider peanut even before 6 months of age
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/423Links from this episode:
Online Infant Refresher CPR Course - use affiliate code KATIE10 for an additional $10 off lifetime access to this online CPR class
High Chair recommendations - look for an adjustable footrest…the Stokke Tripp Trapp is my favorite but here are some other high chairs that also have footrests.
Puffworks Baby Peanut puffs for introducing peanut protein: affiliate code BLWPOD for discount
ezpz First Foods Set for suction mat, baby-led weaning spoons and open cup: affiliate code KATIE10 for discount
Other Episodes Related to this Topic
Episode 132 - CPR Skills that can Save Your Baby's Life when Choking with Brandon Doersken
Episode 227 - When Does the Food Allergy Prevention Window Close? with @allergykidsdoc David Stukus, MD
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.👀 👀 👀 👀 👀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 and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive BLW community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices