Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

The host shares hard-earned lessons from their chaotic journey with quadruplet baby-led weaning. They emphasize the importance of waiting for your baby's readiness instead of succumbing to pressure. Learn how proper foot positioning aids safe swallowing, and why using suction plates can be a game changer for early eaters. Discover the value of cycling familiar foods with new textures, flavors, and allergens. Get ready for an entertaining mix of reflection and practical advice for navigating the wild world of solid foods!

Dawn Winkelmann, a Baby-led weaning expert and speech-language pathologist, shares her insights into how babies learn to chew and swallow. She discusses the critical role of tongue movements and the surprising fact that teeth aren't necessary for starting solids. Dawn introduces innovative feeding products she's designed, which support developmental milestones. Addressing parent concerns, she reassures them that gagging is normal and emphasizes the benefits of early exposure to various textures for fostering independent eating skills.

#253: How much salt or sodium is safe for babies to eat? In the United States we do not have clear-cut, evidence-based guidance for upper limits of sodium for infants…but other countries do have some standards for salt. In this episode we’re looking at what other countries’ nutrition and health bodies recommend as far as the amount of salt that babies can or should be eating. If you’re interested in sodium and feeding babies, another episode I did on this topic that you might want to listen to is: Episode 33 “Salt: 3 Easy Ways To Minimize Sodium For Your Baby”.Need more ideas on foods that babies CAN eat? Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20LinkFollow @babyledweanteam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/Shownotes with all the links mentioned in this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/253Learn something you liked in this episode? Would you kindly subscribe, rate and review where you’re seeing this? (...it really helps other parents find this BLW info too!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#252: Commercially prepared infant formula is a safe and effective substitute for human milk. Homemade infant formula has been linked to documented, serious injuries and negative health outcomes in babies. In this episode Farryl Bertmann, PhD, RDN joins me to talk about the risks and dangers of homemade infant formulas.  Farryl Bertmann is a Senior Lecturer in the UVM Nutrition and Food Sciences Department and faculty with the University of Vermont Food Systems Program. She works in the area of food security and nutrition assistance programs and co-authored the paper The Risk of Homemade Infant Formulas: Historical and Contemporary Considerations. The four primary problems with homemade infant formula that are discussed in this interview are:  Inadequate nutrition and provision of nutrients in homemade infant formula Kidney health concerns due to inaccurate provision of minerals in homemade infant formula Food safety concerns and potential for foodborne illness from homemade infant formula Food allergy risk for babies Read Dr. Bertmann and colleagues’ paper The Risk of Homemade Infant Formulas: Historical and Contemporary Considerations here.  Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20Link Follow @babyledweanteam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/ Shownotes with all the links mentioned in this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/252 Learn something you liked in this episode? Would you kindly subscribe, rate and review where you’re seeing this? (...it really helps other parents find this BLW info too!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#251: Cutting foods the right shape and size is important for safe swallowing in baby-led weaning. In this episode I’m sharing some convenient kitchen tools for making BLW foods safe - many of which you probably already have in your kitchen! Cutting Products Mentioned in this Episode include: OXO grape cutter  Crinkle cutter  Pineapple corer Egg slicer Pizza cutter  Other BABY-LED WEANING MADE EASY podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 37 “Soy: How to Introduce Your Baby to this Potentially Allergenic Food”  📲 📲 📲 📲 The shownotes for this episode are located here https://blwpodcast.com/251 The full BABY-LED WEANING MADE EASY podcast website is located here. 👀 💯 👀 💯 👀 💯 Looking for Katie Ferraro’s original 100 FIRST FOODS LIST?! Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20LinkFollow @babyledweanteam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ Did you hear something you liked or learn something new in this BLW podcast episode? Would you kindly leave a review of the podcast for me?! (...it really helps other parents find this BLW info too!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#250: DYK 72% of packaged baby food snacks in the UK make claims about baby-led weaning? But are packaged baby foods healthier than real foods? Can you believe the health claims on pouches and other processed baby foods? In this episode I’m joined by researcher Ada Lizbeth Garcia, PhD who studies the impact of misleading marketing claims on baby foods in the UK.  Dr. Garcia is a researcher in Scotland who has looked at health claims, marketing claims and nutrient claims on foods that are packaged, processed and sold for babies to consume. In this episode we’re talking about terms you see on baby foods, like “ideal finger foods”, “encourages self feeding”, “perfect for small hands,” “great for your little”, “grab”...why there is no evidence to support these claims and the impact of such statements used in marketing of baby foods, including how this can impact breastfeeding rates and encourage early and unsafe introduction of solid foods in some cases.Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20LinkFollow @babyledweanteam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/ Shownotes with all the links mentioned in this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/250 Learn something you liked in this episode? Would you kindly subscribe, rate and review where you’re seeing this? (...it really helps other parents find this BLW info too!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the best first foods to introduce to your baby for baby-led weaning. Learn essential tips for the first 10 days as you embark on this culinary adventure. Emphasis is placed on variety and a relaxed approach to feeding. The episode also touches on the importance of selecting the right shapes and sizes for baby food. Get ready to expand your baby's palate while enjoying the process!

#248: Does your baby have a preference for sweet foods? What flavors of foods are best to offer baby? In this episode we are exploring how babies develop taste and flavor preferences during infancy with Erin Ross, PhD, CCC-SLP. Dr. Ross is a neonatal feeding and pediatric feeding development expert who developed the SOFFI method: Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants. Shownotes for this episode with podcast transcript are at: https://blwpodcast.com/episodes/248 In this episode you will learn:  How babies develop flavor preferences beginning in utero Feeding concerns that premature babies may experience Recommendations for transitioning older infants off of the bottle Other BABY-LED WEANING MADE EASY podcast episodes mentioned:  Ep 119 Premature Babies: How to Estimate & Adjust Age for Starting Solids  Ep 110 Catch-Up Weight: Why Starting Solids Early Will Not Help Your Baby Gain Weight with Rosan Meyer, PhD, RD  Ep 158 How Premature Babies Can Succeed with BLW with @doctorterrimd Terri Major-Kincade, MD Guest Resources - Erin Ross, PhD, CCC-SLP www.feedingfundamentals.com Instagram @soffimethod  Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20LinkFollow Katie Ferraro @babyledweanteam on Instagram Shownotes with all the links mentioned in this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/248 Learn something you liked in this episode? Would you kindly subscribe, rate and review this podcast where you’re seeing this? (...reviews especially help other parents find this BLW info too!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#247: Looking for ways to know if baby-led weaning is going well for your baby? Feeling like you’re about to throw in the towel because you don’t know if it is working? In this episode I am going to redefine what a win and a success is when doing BLW. So do not stress because you will learn about three clear signs that you and your baby are successfully navigating your blw journey. Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20Link Follow @babyledweanteam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/ Shownotes with all the links mentioned in this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/247 Learn something you liked in this episode? Would you kindly subscribe, rate and review where you’re seeing this? (...it really helps other parents find this BLW info too!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#246: You can’t “buy your way out” of the heavy metal in baby food conversation. Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are present in whole foods that we modify for baby-led weaning.In this episode I’m interviewing Charlotte Brody, RN and Jane Houlihan from Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF). Their landmark 2019 study “What’s in My Baby’s Food?” found that 95% of baby foods tested contained toxic chemicals that lower babies’ IQ, including arsenic and lead.Charlotte Brody is the HBBF National Director and Jane Houlihan is the HBBF Research Director and in this interview they are explaining:WHY heavy metals end up in our food supply to begin with…and why buying organic does not erase the problemWHICH foods have higher heavy metal concentrations…and why simple steps like removing the skin from sweet potatoes can help cut exposure for your babyHOW to prepare foods to lower risk for your baby…boiling rice like it’s pasta in lots of cooking water, choosing baby spinach over bigger pieces and more tips for making your baby’s food safeGet your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie’s free BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS workshop: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop?utm_source=Shownotes&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Episode%20Link Follow @babyledweanteam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/ Shownotes with all the links mentioned in this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/246 Learn something you liked in this episode? Would you kindly subscribe, rate and review where you’re seeing this? (...it really helps other parents find this BLW info too!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices