

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

Feb 8, 2021 • 18min
Are Organic Foods Better for My Baby?
#99: Does my baby need to eat organic foods? Are organic foods “healthier” than their conventionally grown counterparts? If you can only afford or get access to certain types of organic foods, which ones should you offer to your baby?In this episode we’re looking at organic foods to determine if they are inherently better choices for babies than are non-organic foods. We’re analyzing the nutrition, taste, environmental impact and economic considerations of selecting or not selecting organic foods when starting solids with your baby.Listen to this episode to learn:
Whether or not organic foods differ significantly in nutrition content than their non-organic or conventionally grown counterparts
How to choose which foods to buy organic if you can’t afford or get access to all organic choices
Why organic junk food is still junk food and how Americans in particular equate “organic” labels with “healthier” food choices, even when that might not be the case
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/99Links 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 76: Sustainable Meat: Smart Selections for Starting Solids with Diana Rodgers, RD is here
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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

Feb 4, 2021 • 31min
Breastfeeding + Scheduling Solid Foods with @milkymamallc Krystal Duhaney, RN, IBCLC
#98: Are you a breastfeeding mom who is dreading the transition to solid foods? Like you JUST got this whole breastfeeding thing figured out and now it’s time to layer in having to feed your baby real food? If you’re nervous about making the switch from breastfeeding to baby-led weaning, do NOT worry: you can do both SUCCESSFULLY and Krystal Duhaney, RN, IBCLC from @milkymamallc is here to show you how!In this episode Krystal is breaking down some tips for transitioning to solid foods while also keeping your breastfeeding game STRONG. She’s talking about the “breast sandwich” to help protect your milk supply and why milk supply tends to drop when you start solid foods (but how you can fight to keep it up!)We’re also chatting about how to schedule your breastfeeding sessions once you start baby-led weaning. Things change in your breastfeeding journey when you are just starting to introduce food at 6 months, once your baby gets going with eating solid foods and then when you reach the one-year mark...and Krystal is going to help you succeed every step of the way!Listen to this episode to learn:
The community & environmental benefits of extended breastfeeding BEYOND nutrition...how breastfeeding conveys health benefits for mom and baby even if you can only do it for a short amount of time (or if you want to keep going!)
How to deal with decreasing breastmilk supply when you start solids….and why introducing solids before breastmilk at a feed can actually contribute to this problem. Her “breast sandwich” approach will help you succeed both at BLW while keeping your milk supply strong.
When is it time to drop that first milk feed? And what if you want to keep breastfeeding after 1 year? Krystal is sharing tips about combining breastfeeding and baby-led weaning to help you succeed at every step along the way.
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/98Links from This Episode:
Follow Krystal Duhaney on Instagram @milkymamallc , Twitter
To view her webpage or shop her line of products: here
You can CALL HER (on the phone!!) at 877-88-MILKY
Milky Mama Blog is here
Shop for Breastfeeding 101 course here
To read about or book private consultations with Milky Mama/IBCLC/CLC here
Information on the the Moms At Work Program 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 79: How to Pick a Milk When Your Baby Turns 1 is here
Episode 13: Milk Protein: How to Introduce Your Baby to this Potentially Allergenic Food is here
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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

Feb 1, 2021 • 16min
Mushrooms: How to Offer Mushrooms Safely to Babies
Explore the surprising nutritional benefits of mushrooms for babies! Discover how to safely introduce various mushroom varieties, from portobello strips to enoki and maitake. Learn innovative recipes like savory risottos and egg cups that make mealtime fun. Understand the blend trend for mixing ground meats with finely chopped mushrooms, enhancing flavors and textures. Plus, get tips on engaging toddlers with creative projects centered around these unique foods!

Jan 28, 2021 • 36min
How to Talk to Your Pediatrician About BLW with Mona Amin, DO
#96: What if my doctor isn’t on board with baby-led weaning? How do I talk to my pediatrician about baby-led weaning? Help! My doctor said baby-led weaning isn’t safe or it doesn’t work!! If you’ve dealt with or wondered about any of these scenarios, fear not because pediatrician Mona Amin is here to help you sort things out!In this episode Dr. Amin is sharing some practical tips for talking about baby-led weaning with your doctor. If you’re worried about choking or how to introduce allergenic foods safely to your baby, she’ll coach you through the important talking points to have these important discussions with your doctor.As a BLW mom herself plus a practicing pediatrician, Dr. Amin is the face behind the wildly popular instagram account @pedsdoctalk and host of The Peds Doc Talk podcast. In this interview she’s sharing her own baby-led weaning story about her son Ryaan as well as advice on how to talk to family members and practitioners who may not be totally on board with baby-led weaning (yet!)Listen to this episode to learn:
What to do if your pediatrician does not support your choice to do baby-led weaning...including how to talk about important issues like iron levels, growth faltering and nutrient gaps (all of which your baby is NOT at risk for if you do BLW!)
Why she decided to make the switch from traditional spoon-feeding of purees to baby-led weaning with her son Ryaan...and how her own family wasn’t entirely on board at first (but they eventually came to love BLW and now brag about how well Ryaan eats!)
How to talk to your doctor about baby-led weaning even if you’re not super confident in your own decision to do self-feeding
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/96Links from This Episode:
Follow Dr. Mona Amin on Instagram @pedsdoctalk
Check out Dr. Mona’s podcast The Peds Doc Talk podcast here
Her website is here & the new YouTube channel she is launching 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 58 “What do I do if My Baby Has an Allergic Reaction? with Ron Sunog, MD” here
Episode 84 “Why You DON'T Need to Wait 3-5 Days Between New Foods with Carina Venter, PhD, RD” here
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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

Jan 25, 2021 • 10min
Make Slippery Foods Easier to Pick Up (+ Add Iron) with these 5 Ingredient Hacks
Struggling with slippery baby food? Discover five clever ingredient hacks to help your little one grasp those tricky bites while boosting iron intake. From wheat germ to flaxseed meal, these tips not only enhance grip but also enrich your baby's diet. Tune in for creative ideas that make mealtime easier and more nutritious. Plus, learn about a free online workshop for even more baby-led weaning resources!

Jan 21, 2021 • 37min
Self-Care for You When Your Baby is Starting Solids with Christine Sterling, MD
#94: What’s your status with self-care these days? You hear the term “self-care” thrown around a lot in the motherhood and parenting space...but what does it actually mean? In this episode Christine Sterling, MD from The Sterling Life is joining us to talk about why self-care as a parent is so important. We need to be taking care of ourselves, especially during transition times in your baby’s life...like when you’re starting solids.Dr. Sterling is a board-certified OBGYN dedicated to helping moms navigate pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood. She is a straight-talker and if you’ve brushed the idea of self-care to the side, Dr. Sterling is going to put it back front and center.In our interview Dr. Sterling explains why as parents we tend to look to our children to fulfill areas of our lives where we’re feeling “not enough”. Her techniques will help you use self-care to move you closer to yourself, helping you feel more at peace in your life...while acknowledging that parenting will always be imperfect. Dr. Sterling’s mission is to help remind us that self-care can help bring joy among the imperfect.In Dr. Sterling’s words, “Do your children see you enjoying life even when the to-do list is not done?” If you’re like most of us and the answer is no, check out this episode with Christine Sterling, MD @drsterlingobgyn to get some self-care in your situation stat!Listen to this episode to learn:
How breastfeeding moms experience hormonal changes around the time your baby starts solid foods and how that can elevate risk for post-partum anxiety and depression
Why over focusing on one area of your child’s health or well-being can lead to negative health consequences for you as the caregiver...but how to stop this painful cycle
What exactly constitutes self-care and why finding joy and experiencing joy even when your to-do list is not done is so important for your children to see in you
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/94Links from This Episode:
Check out Dr. Sterling’s website with access to her courses, blogs & workbooks at www.thesterlinglife.com
Follow Dr. Sterling on Instagram @drsterlingobgyn
Join Dr. Sterling’s free facebook group here and her FB page 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
🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱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

4 snips
Jan 18, 2021 • 12min
Reintroducing Familiar Foods Back on Your Baby's Plate
Introducing new foods to your baby doesn't mean you can't bring back familiar ones! Repeated exposure helps build comfort with a variety of tastes, particularly allergenic foods, which can reduce the risk of allergies. An effective mealtime strategy includes letting your baby explore a new food while also enjoying familiar favorites. Practical tips emphasize structured meal approaches and engaging activities that support toddlers beyond screens. Discover how small changes can make a big difference in your baby's feeding journey!

Jan 14, 2021 • 36min
How to Choose a Safe Seat for Your Baby to Eat with High Chair Designer Kirsti Vandraas
#92: Have you ever looked at your baby’s high chair and wondered, “Who in the world designed this thing?” In this episode I’m joined by Kirsti Vandraas, a physiotherapist and ergonomist who works closely with Peter Opsvik, designer of the Tripp Trapp and Nomi high chairs. Kirsti is taking us on a tour behind the design of Opsvik’s Tripp Trapp and Nomi high chairs, including how they promote freedom and fellowship at mealtimes from baby’s first bites. From the absence of a tray, to the inclusion of an adjustable footplate and why European versions of these chairs do not include straps, prepare yourself to learn more about your child’s chair design than you ever thought imaginable!Listen to this episode to learn:
How American and European safety standards differ and how that results in different expectations about what a high chair is for and what role it plays in the family...particularly important is why Peter Opsvik designed the Tripp Trapp and the Nomi to NOT have a tray and instead come right up to the table for family meals.
How straps can be encumbering and don’t promote freedom or function at meals. Kirsti uses her ergonomics background to explain the benefits of allowing children to climb in and out of their chairs, and she shares about her own grandchildren teaching her when they were ready to have the guard from the infant feeding chair removed.
Why an adjustable footrest or footplate is essential for torso control and she shares great analogies about stable feet supporting a “victorious” posture...something we can implement even from baby’s first bites.
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/92Links from This Episode:
Peter Opsvik’s company page at opsvik.no - here you can learn about the Tripp Trapp and Nomi design, features and benefits as well as Peter’s other iconic design work
Stokke has sold over 12 million Tripp Trapp chairs - this is an investment but certainly one that grows with your child. Click here for the Tripp Trapp on Amazon (this is an affiliate link).
The Nomi is the next generation high chair Peter Opsvik designed and dedicated to his grandchildren. It is available in a number of colors with varying wood choices to suit your aesthetic and design preferences. Click here for the Nomi on Amazon (this is an affiliate link). Be sure to select the Nomi high chair vs. the Nomi chair (the high chair setup is for babies age 6m+)
Follow @peteropsvik on Instagram
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 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

Jan 11, 2021 • 15min
Pantry Planning for Baby-Led Weaning
Discover how to effortlessly start baby-led weaning with pantry staples you likely already own. Learn about safe spices, canned fruits and vegetables, and versatile legumes perfect for little ones. Get inspired by practical strategies from a 10-day pantry challenge and tips on reading labels. The importance of nutrition and proper preparation methods shines through, making mealtime enjoyable and safe for your baby. Plus, receive helpful resources for easy meal planning and ideas to incorporate into your kitchen routine!

Jan 7, 2021 • 18min
Picky Eater Siblings & BLW Babies feat. Molly Ferraro
#90: Parents of picky eaters know that by the time the next baby rolls around they’re looking for any solution to avoid picky eating in the new baby. Baby-led weaning doesn’t promise to prevent picky eating, but it sure can help minimize the severity of the picky eating.In this episode I’m joined by my oldest daughter Molly, a “recovering” picky eater who has 6 younger siblings who are BLW grads. Molly will be the first to share that lots of foods are “not her favorite” but we make it work.Molly and I are chatting about some tips for incorporating your older kids in the kitchen when your new baby is learning how to eat...plus some ideas on how to encourage that picky eater to be more adventurous in the context of their BLW sibling.Listen to this episode to learn:
How to get your older kid more involved in meal prep...because children who help prepare foods are more likely to EAT them!
Language to use for your toddler when introducing the baby to a new food...any chance you have to talk or explore foods for kids of ALL ages is beneficial!
Why toddlers like the “challenge” of trying new foods & how you can gamify this to help expand your older child’s palate as the new one is learning how to eat
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/90Links from This Episode:
Little Partners Learning Tower - we have 2 of these that you pull up to the counter so your toddlers and bigger kids can safely help you cook. Linking to this tower on Amazon here (this is an affiliate link).
Check out Dani Lebovitz’s books about fruits and vegetables… she has tons of resources for getting kids more aware about produce, teaching them in age appropriate ways & her site with all of her resources is here and she’s on Instagram @kids.food.explorers
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 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