

Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro
Katie Ferraro
Is your baby ready to start solid foods but youโre feeling overwhelmed or confused about baby-led weaning? Babies can eat so many more foods than we give them credit for and you donโt have to force-feed or spoon-feed to get them to eat real food!Iโm Katie Ferraro, Registered Dietitian specializing in infant feeding and baby-led weaning. Iโm 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 9, 2024 โข 21min
Can Baby Massage Help Increase Infantsโ Weight? with Helen Thompson
#430: Worried that your baby isnโt eating enough or getting enough nutrition from food? Being worried that your baby is going to lose weight is a real fear. Thereโs some data to suggest that infant massage can actually help increase your babyโs 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 Helenโs website here: https://www.mybabymassage.net/babyledweaningShownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/430 ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง ๐งOther 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-C๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 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 doesnโt 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 Foodsโข Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program
Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foodsโข list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 29min
Mouthing Objects: What does this mean about my babyโs 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 babyโs readiness to eat and what is mouthing telling you about your babyโs 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.Marshaโs Get Permission Institute is online at https://getpermissioninstitute.com/ and you can follow GPI on Instagram @getpermissioninstitute.Get 20% off Marshaโs Teether HEart Spoon with her code MARSHA20 when you shop here. Shownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/428 ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง ๐งYou 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
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 22min
Purees Are Part of Baby-Led Weaning: How to Honor Self-Feeding Using My Purees for a Few Daysโข Approach
#427: Baby-led weaning does not mean skipping purees. In this episode Iโll help you bridge your babyโs transition from an infant milk liquid diet to soft solid strips of food using my unique Purees for a Few Daysโข 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 Foodsโข Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program
Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foodsโข 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
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 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 Jakeโs 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 ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง ๐ง ๐งOther 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, DVM๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 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 gagโฆand 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
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 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 feedโฆand 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 donโt know about
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/424Links from this episode:
Jessicaโs 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
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 โข 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 beโฆand why most high chairs donโt 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 peanutโฆand 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 footrestโฆthe 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
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 11, 2024 โข 39min
Unpacking the Invisible Load of Feeding the Household with Erica Djossa, founder & CEO of Momwell
#422: What if you donโt love cooking new foods, prepping food for your baby or your other kidsโฆor even just being in charge of food in general? So much of what moms are tasked with falls under this banner of the โinvisible loadโ that youโre probably hearing more mental health people in the parenting space talk about. Erica Djossa from @momwell is here to talk about HOW MUCH WORK being a mom is, and how we can set more realistic expectations to get food on the table without killing ourselves over it.Listen to this episode to learn:
Why you are putting unreasonable expectations on yourself and how to STOP
If your parenting partner is deploying โweaponized incompetenceโ and how to handle that
How to sort the most important values to you right now (...and effectively ignore the rest)
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/422Links from this episode:Check out Erica and Momwellโs website: https://www.momwell.com/ and follow Momwell on Instagram @momwell Other Episodes Related to this TopicEpisode 372 - Mom's Mental Health: Strengthening Parenthood Through Therapy with @momwell Erica Djossa, PHM-C
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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 8, 2024 โข 15min
5 Baby Milestones to Begin Baby-Led Weaning Safely | What Your Baby Should Be Able to Do Before Starting Solids
#421: Is your baby developmentally ready to safely start solids? Learn why the 6-month mark is pivotal, the significance of independent sitting, and why the disappearance of the tongue thrust reflex isn't the only readiness to eat signal to begin the weaning process.Listen to this episode to learn:
Unveiling the significance of the 6-month mark for a safe baby-led weaning start, emphasizing exclusive infant milk feeding for younger babies as their primary source of nutrition.
Exploring the developmental stages of independent sitting after 6 months and its correlation with enhanced head control in babies.
Debunking myths surrounding the disappearance of the extrusion or tongue thrust reflex as the sole indicator of readiness for solid foods.
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/2Links from this episode:
Episode 119 - Premature Babies: How to Estimate & Adjust Age for Starting Solids https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/119
Episode 158 - How Premature Babies Can Succeed with BLW with @doctorterrimd Terri Major-Kincade, MD https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/158
Episode 110 - Catch-Up Weight: Why Starting Solids Early Will Not Help Your Baby Gain Weight with Rosan Meyer, PhD, RD https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/110
Episode 144 - What Did Babies Eat Before Baby Food was Invented? with Amy Bentley, PhD https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/144
Other Episodes Related to this Topic
Episode 109 - I Started Purees Too Early: Should I Stop Before Switching to BLW? at https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/109
Episode 141 - BLW Basics: Is My Baby Ready to Start Solid Foods? at https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/141
Episode 147 - BLW Basics: Help! Nobody Around Me Understands Baby-Led Weaning at https://babyledweaning.co/podcast//147
Episode 172 - High Chair Positioning: Reduce Choking Risk Using This One Simple Move with Jeff Durkee of Nomi High Chair at https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/172
Episode 199 - Beginner's Guide to Baby-Led Weaning: Starting Solid Foods Safely with BLW at https://babyledweaning.co/podcast/199
๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ฑNot 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.๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏWant guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODSโข 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐Be 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.๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐If 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


