Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#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 Sc...

#249: Which foods should I start with for baby-led weaning? What are the best FIRST FOODS for my baby? Babies can eat so many more foods than we give them credit for and in this episode I’m sharing some tips for how to select the first foods you offer your baby.   Other episodes mentioned in this mini BLW training episode: Episode 185 “6-7 Months Old Babies: Sample BLW Feeding Schedule”  Episode 2...

#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 epi...

#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...

#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 teste...

#245: Interested in going on a BLW grocery haul with ME? This is your opportunity to plan ahead and shop for groceries that are the most appropriate to offer your baby during baby-led weaning. In this episode, we will be touching on WHAT to look out for when you are at the grocery store, HOW to plan and WHERE to start on the list of foods that you can offer to your baby…I have to say that I also h...

#244: A WIC mom who found ways to turn her WIC-approved foods into easy, budget-friendly recipes is turning heads! In case you are not familiar, WIC is the US Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, a program that is designed to offer nutritious food and nutrition education to income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding...

#243: Finding yourself hesitant to start baby-led weaning with your baby because of the constant feeding push-backs you encounter as a parent? Feeling a bit overwhelmed because of the fear of watching your baby gag when eating? Preparing for what is to come and understanding the natural process of transitioning to solid foods will help a parent become confident in their baby’s ability to self-feed...

#242: Here it is again…the second annual BABY-LED WEANING DAY! The mid-year mark, July 1, was chosen to recognize and celebrate a baby’s ability to feed themselves and I wanted to provide you with ways to do just that! In this episode I will share five different options for parents to be able to celebrate this special day along with family and their BLW baby. I want to wish you a Happy Baby-Led We...

#241: Ever wondered why baby-led weaning was called “baby-led weaning”? To answer this question, I went ahead and asked the creator herself! In this episode I am joined by Gill Rapley, PhD, co-author of the original BLW book and founding philosopher of the baby-led weaning movement. In this interview Gill shares her reasoning behind why she chose to coin the method “baby-led weaning” and why she f...

#240: Wondering what the best baby-led weaning gear is for your baby? When it comes to baby gadgets or feeding essentials there are endless possibilities to choose from. To avoid unnecessary purchases, Jennifer LaBracio who is the expert and baby gear editor at Babylist joins me to talk about the must-have baby-led weaning gear for parents whose babies are transitioning to solid foods.     Get you...

#239: Looking for ways to offer your baby an easy, yet balanced breakfast meal? This is the episode for you! It’s not unusual for parents to stress over the idea of preparing breakfast for their babies and the question is often: WHAT can I give my baby for breakfast? In this episode we are diving into breakfast ideas for baby-led weaning, looking into how you can make simple meals and how to make...

#238: Is choking serious business? Of course it is! Although rare, choking is a real risk and a primary concern for all parents when starting their baby on solids. To help ease this anxiety, I am joined by Brandon Doerksen who is the founder of Thrive Training Institute which is an online CPR program aiming to help parents gain knowledge and confidence in case they encounter a choking baby. Brando...

#237: Worried that your baby’s grandparents may never be on-board with baby-led weaning? You’re a grandparent feeling anxious that your grandchild is skipping purees? In this episode, I am joined by two grandmas who will share their personal experiences with baby-led weaning their grandchildren and what convinced them to jump on the BLW wagon.     Get your copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS list on Katie...

#236: Having our babies reject food at mealtimes almost always turns into a stressful situation. The question is, should you offer your baby food and patiently wait for acceptance or demand that they eat it? To answer this question, I am joined by Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, M.Ed., FAOTA, a pediatric occupational therapist who has spent over fifty years specializing in children with feeding challeng...

#235: How can I switch my baby’s feeding schedule so they eat solids before offering milk? Will my baby need to drink less bottles when eating more food? As a baby nears the one year mark, it is important to prepare them for the transition into cow’s milk by switching solids before milk feeds but also gradually reducing the amount of milk that they drink. In this episode, I am joined by first-time...

#234: Why is my baby so upset during mealtimes? How can I make feeding less stressful? An upset baby often results in a stressed-out parent, especially during mealtimes. Inadvertently our emotions can also trigger an upset baby but it is necessary for parents to co-regulate with their babies to allow them to develop their ability to cope and deal with their own emotions.    In this episode, I am i...

#233: Can I travel with a baby-led weaning baby? The answer is yes! Hitting the road with your baby does not need to turn into a road battle; in fact, there are lots of ways to make feeding a baby while traveling much easier and less stressful. In this episode I am walking you through some basic tips on WHERE, HOW and WHAT you can do when you are feeding your baby on-the-go while baby-led weaning....

#232: Can I offer my baby canned tuna? Does all tuna contain mercury? Well Consumer Reports has issued an important wake-up call for the topic of mercury in tuna and its safety for babies and pregnant women. In this episode we are joined by Michael K. Hansen, PhD, he is the Senior Scientist at Consumer Reports who will be discussing the current safety guidelines for offering tuna to babies and wha...

#231: How can I offer my baby the BIG 9 allergenic foods? What are some of the safer ways to prepare allergenic foods while baby-led weaning? In this episode I am sharing some of my favorite allergenic food recipes that are great for introducing the big nine foods that account for about 90% of food allergies. In my mini-course that I co-teach with pediatrician Dr. Ron Sunog, you will find complete...

#230: What is FPIES? How do I know if my baby has FPIES? Although food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome is a very rare food allergy reaction in babies, it is important for parents to understand the difference between an IgE and non IgE mediated allergy, as they are often mistaken for the other. In this episode, I am joined by a global expert on the topic of FPIES, Marion Groetch, MS, RDN who...

#229: In recent months, there has been a downpour of information that has been released in regards to the current formula recall which has resulted in a considerable amount of formula shortages. In this episode, I am joined by researcher and writer Helena Bottemiller Evich who is the senior food and agriculture reporter at Politico and has followed closely on the topic. Helena is here to provide u...

#228: How can I help lower the risk of food allergies for my baby? Why should babies be introduced to foods early and often? Can allergenic foods be prepared safely for my baby?...In this episode I am sharing some of the best allergy prevention tips from five different feeding experts who specialize in food allergy research and practice. Listen and learn the latest facts about how the introduction...

#227: Did you know that babies may have a window of opportunity to prevent allergies in the future? The new and emerging data on infant allergy states that early and often introduction of foods to babies may help prevent food allergies in the long run. In this episode, I am joined by leading allergist Dr. Stukus who gives us insight on this window available for babies to eat the BIG 8 +sesame food...

#226: What if my doctor is not on board with feeding my baby the allergenic foods? How do I know it’s safe to offer my baby peanuts? My doctor said to hold-off on offering any of the BIG 8 allergenic foods to avoid possible allergic reactions! If this is or has been the case, this episode is for you.    In this episode, Dr. Ron Sunog, who is a pediatrician specializing in preventing food allergy w...