Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#400: It’s the 400th episode of the baby-led weaning podcast. In this episode Katie and Lauren look back and chat about a few things that might surprise you about this show: the most and least popular episode topics, why we don’t do bonus episodes anymore and a little insight into who helps make this podcast possible. Other episodes mentioned in episode 400 include: Episode 218 - Down Syndrome BLW...

#399: Your baby doesn’t need a high chair tray. That’s right…in most cases, your chair can be modified to bring your baby right up to the table to join your family at meals, even from the baby’s first bites. In this episode we’re looking at 3 distinct reasons why you should skip the tray with one important situation when that is just not possible. Tripp Trapp from Stokke: Receive a free Stokke Tri...

#398: If your baby is choking on food will one of those choking rescue devices actually work? In this episode I’m interviewing certified CPR instructor Brandon Doerksen about whether a choking device replaces CPR for choking rescue or is used as an adjunct. Listen to learn how the choking devices work to dechoke your baby (or not) and the one thing that all parents and caregivers should do before...

#397: Is it safe for babies to eat runny egg yolks? At a restaurant, probably…but at home, no. In this episode we’re covering egg safety and how to safely prepare eggs for baby-led weaning which includes not serving runny egg yolks, runny egg whites or runny scrambled eggs. We’ll also address some common home prepared recipes that you might not realize have raw egg in their ingredient list and sho...

#396: Are 360 spoutless cups the same as open cups? Or are they sippy cups? Do they hinder development or confuse your baby when learning to become an independent drinker? In this episode pediatric swallowing expert and speech language pathologist Dawn Winkelmann will share her thoughts about 360 spoutless cups and whether or not they work with for baby-led weaning. 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about whi...

#395: Is my baby overeating or eating too much too early after starting solid foods? In this interview I’m answering 3 moms’ questions about their concerns of babies overeating and addressing what typical consumption might look like at the various ages and stages of baby-led weaning…and why it’s ok if meals or days deviate from that routine. Listen to this episode to learn: What typical consumptio...

#394: Five years ago Consumer Reports tested heavy metal levels in 50 popular baby foods and found that more than ⅔ of them contained concerning levels of heavy metals. When they retested some of the same products this year, not much had changed. In this episode James Rogers, PhD who oversaw the Consumer Reports testing on both occasions is talking about what has and has not changed in the commerc...

#393: If you have a few mouths to feed at one time, then baby-led weaning is REALLY going to behoove you. In this episode we’re looking at the ways in which a baby-led approach particularly benefits families with multiples. We’ll talk about food swiping, when multiples are ready to eat on different timeframes, and how you can consolidate efforts to save time and money whether you’re feeding twins,...

#392: Are you overwhelmed by info about how to raise your baby? Pregnancy and parenting expert and author Sharon Mazel has some simple tips on how to handle information overload in the baby space. 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 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. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 W...

#391: How do the essential fatty acids in fish foods help your baby’s still developing brain? In this episode we cover both EPA and DHA exploring how your baby can safely get these fatty acids…even if your family doesn’t eat a lot of fish.  🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 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...

#390: What if my baby chokes on food? In this episode, certified CPR Instructor Brandon Doerksen from Thrive Training Institute tells us when and how to administer back blows for a baby under 12 months of age who is choking on food. Knowing CPR can save your baby’s life and be sure to take an infant refresher CPR course before your baby starts solid food. Right now you can get Brandon’s online CPR...

#389: Today’s episode is a little different - there’s not a lot of breaking news in the infant feeding world. But if you have been following the news perhaps you’ve heard about the applesauce pouch lead contamination story. I’m recording this on November 29, 2023 at which point now 52 children have reported to have high levels of lead in their blood potentially linked to consuming cinnamon applesa...

#388: Is your baby yawning in the middle of their meals? Are they tired? …just bored of your food? What gives?! In this episode SLP Dawn Winkelmann is exploring some reasons about why your baby is yawning at the table…and it’s not what you think! Follow Dawn on Instagram @msdawnslp.  🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list...

#387: I know you’re getting pressure to start solid foods prior to 6 months of age. There’s actually no upside to starting early…and it can be dangerous. In this episode I’m outlining 5 primary reasons to delay the introduction of solid foods until your baby is really ready to safely begin self-feeding. 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 1...

#386: When can I start cutting up my baby’s food into smaller pieces? Your baby needs their pincer grasp to pick up smaller pieces of food to self-feed…and for most babies, they won’t develop this skill until 9 or 10 months of age. In this episode Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC shared some insight on how babies develop their pincer grasp and what you can do to help along the way. Check out Rachel o...

#385: You don’t need a lot of fancy gadgets or a big budget to help your baby learn how to eat real food…but there are a few staple tools that will streamline your safe food preparation. In this episode I’m sharing 10 tools that I use every day to simplify feeding babies. 🛒 🛒 🛒 🛒 🛒 Links to tools and products mentioned in this episode. These are affiliate links and affiliate discount codes: C...

#384: What kind of lactation or breastfeeding support did you get BEFORE your baby was born? How about after? Did you have to pay for it or did your insurance? In this episode Andrea Ippolito from @simplifedbaby explains how our current baby feeding system is broken, and what continual help from a lactation specialist can do to improve breastfeeding rates, help maternal mental health, and create a...

#383: If your family eats animal foods then meats like beef are a good idea to incorporate into the weaning diet. Beef provides unique nutrition, taste and texture opportunities and in this episode I’ll share a number of ways to make beef safe for babies, including my favorite cuts of beef - and the main type of beef I recommend that you avoid for early eaters. Listen to this episode to learn: Whi...

#382: Offering food to your baby food is the only way to know if they’re allergic to it…but that doesn’t mean it’s not scary. In this episode pediatrician and food allergy practitioner and researcher Tina Sindher, MD is going to teach some basic tips for introducing allergenic foods as a means to help reduce the risk of food allergy in your baby. 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 Other podcast episodes related to th...

#381: If your baby goes to daycare and you’re starting solid foods, you’re probably wondering, “When do these 2 things link up? When is it ok to start sending finger foods to daycare?” In this episode, new mom - Yesenia Jacobo is sharing her own experience doing baby-led weaning with her daughter Sophia and how and when they decided to start sending finger foods to daycare. Download the free feedi...

#380: When you were at your 4 or 6 month well check with your baby, did your pediatrician mention the importance of introducing peanut early and often? In this episode pediatrician and researcher Dr. Ruchi Gupta is talking about why only 13% of parents and caregivers are aware of the recommendations to introduce peanuts to babies early and often. From her unique vantage point as one of the most pr...

#379: Which chairs are the best for feeding babies on the go? In this episode I’m sharing about 2 of my favorite portable high chair, which also work in a pinch if your current high chair at home isn’t cutting it. These 2 portable high chairs are durable and affordable and I think you’ll be a fan too! Here are links to my 2 favorite portable high chairs (these are affiliate links): https://amzn.to...

#378: Sensory enjoyment, sensory processing, sensory challenges…what emotions or feelings do these terms conjure up as you’re introducing new foods to your baby? Karen Dilfer, MS, OTR/L is a feeding therapist who helps children with motor, sensory and mealtime challenges. She’s talking about why some children react differently to sensory inputs, how this can affect mealtime progress and how to pro...

#377: Is your high chair too big for your baby right now? Don’t throw the baby out with the high chair just yet…we can fix that chair and make it a safe seat where your baby can eat. In this episode we’re looking at safe high chair positioning and a few simple steps you can do to modify your high chair in order to reduce the risk of choking. My favorite high chair is the Stokke Tripp Trapp! Receiv...

#376: If you suspect your baby is sensitive to food, is it worth your time and money to explore food sensitivity testing? In this episode, noted pediatrician and allergist David Stukus, MD explains why and how food sensitivity tests do NOT work…and what (if anything) you should be testing for at all with regards to your baby’s ability to tolerate food. Follow Dr. Stukus on Instagram @allergykidsdo...