Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#102 Gill Rapley is the co-author of the original baby-led weaning book and the founder of the BLW movement. In this second part of our 2-part interview series, Dr. Rapley is looking ahead at where she sees the BLW movement going in the future. (In episode 100 Gill Rapley discussed the earlier stages and the history of baby-led weaning.)In this interview we’re talking about the future of baby-led weaning, including the research being done on BLW, the role of social media and how it has helped but also hindered the BLW philosophy. Dr. Rapley shares her thoughts on BLW Facebook communities and other forums, including tips on how parents can relinquish control and begin to respect their baby’s ability to safely self-feed from 6 months on.Listen to this episode to learn:  How parents can relinquish control in feeding and begin to trust their baby’s inborn abilities to self-feed from 6 months on Why GIll Rapley disagrees with the idea of repeatedly trying foods to get the baby to “accept” the new food...and why it’s not our job to make feeding fun, but to simply make it “less miserable” Why she doesn’t intervene in Facebook groups and other forums that are misrepresenting her original intent of the philosophy of BLW and the role she sees social media playing in the future of baby-led weaning Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/102Links from This Episode: Episode 101 “The History of BLW with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)” is here The original BLW book “Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide” that Gill Rapley co-authored has been completely overhauled and updated for its 10th anniversary edition and is available 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

Dawn Winkelmann, a pediatric swallowing expert and speech-language pathologist, shares her insights on the developmental journey of teaching babies to drink from cups. She discusses the importance of both straw and open cups, emphasizing their role in feeding and speech milestones. Dawn reveals the innovative design of her ezpz Mini Cup + Straw Training System, which features beginner and advanced straw options. She also introduces her 3-Phase Developmental Drinking System, ensuring children have the tools to transition safely and independently in their drinking skills.

#100: Gill Rapley will be the first to tell you she didn’t “invent” baby-led weaning. But if you’ve read Rapley’s original baby-led weaning book, you’ll agree that she did a lot more than, as she so modestly claims, “...just gave it a name and a theoretical base”. As the founder of the baby-led weaning philosophy, GIll Rapley opened our eyes to the reality that when it comes to feeding: babies can do so much more than we give them credit for. To celebrate the 100th episode of the BABY-LED WEANING MADE EASY podcast, I’m thrilled to bring you a two-part interview series with the lady who started it all: Gill Rapley, PhD. Listen to this episode to learn:  How Gill came to realize that during her time as a practicing Health Visitor in the UK, when she saw babies refusing food she realized it wasn’t the FOOD they were refusing but the way that they were BEING FED When Gill Rapley started promoting baby-led weaning and sharing her message with parents how it was met with skepticism by many in the infant feeding and child development worlds. She also shares how the perception of baby-led weaning has changed with the advent of the internet & social media in the 23 years since the original publication of her BLW book Why she collaborated with Tracey Murkett and how they came to write the original baby-led weaning book together despite the fact that they had never met in person prior to commencing the project. This interview is part of a 2-part series with Gill Rapley, PhD. In this episode (100) we cover the history of baby-led weaning with its founding philosopher. In the next interview with Gill (102) we will talk about her ideas for the future of BLW and where she sees the movement going and what she would like to see more of (and less of) when it comes to promoting self-feeding from baby’s first bites.Shownotes for this episode can be found here:https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/100Links from This Episode: Rapley’s book “Baby-Led Weaning: Completely Updated and Expanded Tenth Anniversary” edition available on Amazon here (this is an affiliate link). Gill Rapley’s website is rapleyweaning.com. Rapley spoke at length about the importance of Amy Brown’s research on baby-led weaning. My podcast interview with her “The Evidence Behind Baby-Led Weaning with Amy Brown, PhD” is available here. Listen to part 2 of this interview with Gill Rapley in episode 102, “The Future of BLW with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)” 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

#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

#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

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!

#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

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!

#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

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!