Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#100: Gill Rapley, PhD helped give baby-led weaning its name, and more importantly, its philosophy: feeding led by your baby, not done to your baby. In Part 1 of our interview, Gill shares how baby-led weaning took shape, why waiting until babies are truly ready matters, and what she says to the skeptics who still doubt a baby’s ability to self-feed. Listen to this episode to learn: 1.  How Gill’s...

#99: Organic foods can feel like the “best” choice for your baby…until you’re staring at the price tag and wondering if you’re cutting corners if you buy conventional. In this episode, I break down what the word organic actually means, what it changes (and what it doesn’t), and how to shop confidently on any budget, so that your baby can eat more fruits, veggies, and real foods without you feeling...

#98: Picky eating can feel like it comes out of nowhere…one day your baby eats everything and then the next day - boom - you have a picky eater on your hands. But did we maybe make picky eating up? In this episode, I’m talking with food historian Helen Zoe Veit, author of Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History. Helen helps us zoom out and understand how picky eating bec...

#97 Mushrooms are one of the trickiest textured foods to offer safely to your baby…because that rubbery, spongy texture can make it hard for early eaters to manage. In this episode, I’m breaking down why sautéed mushrooms don’t reliably pass the squish test for 6–7 month olds, when your baby can try mushrooms, and why they’re worth working in early and often. Then I’ll walk you through two of my f...

#96: If you want to do baby-led weaning but you’re worried your pediatrician won’t support it, this episode will help you walk into that conversation with more confidence. You’ll learn what to say when a doctor raises concerns about choking, gagging, allergenic foods, or “what to feed,” plus how to tell the difference between a true medical red flag and a provider who just isn’t up to date. Pediat...

#95 Slippery foods like avocado, ripe pear, banana, and cooked apples can be frustrating for your baby to pick up…especially early on before that pincer grasp kicks in. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quick “roll it in this” ingredient hacks that add traction and help you sneak in a little extra iron while your baby practices self-feeding. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to make slippery fo...

#94 Around 8 months, many babies start eating more confidently, drinking a little less milk, and transitioning from 3 naps to 2…so it can feel like your whole routine suddenly stops working. In this interview, pediatric sleep specialist Alejandra Zúñiga explains what’s happening during this “8-month reset,” how sleep impacts your baby’s attention at the table and family mealtimes, and what to twea...

#93 If you offered a new food once and your baby wasn’t into it, that doesn’t mean it’s a “no”...it just means it needs to come back around in your rotation. In this mini training episode, I’ll show you a simple, realistic system for reintroducing familiar foods while you keep moving forward with one new food a day, including my easy plate formula and rotation routine. You’ll leave with a concrete...

#92: Ever wonder why some high chairs seem to “work” for starting solid foods while others leave your baby slumped, feet dangling, and frustrated? In this episode, I’m joined by physiotherapist and ergonomist Kirsti Vandraas to break down what a safe, supportive baby seat should actually do. We cover the key features that matter most for independent eating—like a stable base, an adjustable footres...

#91: Starting solid foods doesn’t mean buying special baby food, or adding weird ingredients to your shopping list. In this episode, I’m showing you how to use pantry staples you already have to support baby-led weaning. You’ll learn what to look for on labels, which shelf-stable foods actually work for babies, and how pantry planning can make offering new foods feel less overwhelming and more rea...

#90: If you’re starting solid foods with your baby and feeding an older child who’s more selective, this episode is for you. In this throwback conversation, I’m joined by my oldest daughter Molly, who was six years old at the time of this recording (and is now eleven). As the big sister to six younger siblings who learned to eat using baby-led weaning, Molly had a front-row seat to what it looks l...

#89 The freezer aisle isn’t off-limits when you’re starting solid foods…you just need to know what to look for. In this episode, I’m breaking down 5 freezer aisle finds that actually work for baby-led weaning, including what to check on labels and how to serve these foods safely to your baby. If you’ve been avoiding the middle of the store because you thought frozen foods were packed with junk you...

#88: Many parents come into starting solid foods carrying their own food baggage harboring worries about picky eating, pressure at the table, or repeating patterns from their own childhood. It’s easy to fear projecting those concerns onto your baby before they’ve even taken their first bites. In this episode, pediatrician and trained chef Dr. Julia Nordgren shares how to write your family’s food s...

#87: I’ve been a dietitian for 25 years and teaching baby-led weaning exclusively for almost a decade…but that doesn’t mean I didn’t make mistakes when my own babies were starting solid foods. In this episode, I’m getting personal and sharing 7 baby-led weaning mistakes I made when my quadruplets first started eating real food. Looking back at old photos and videos, I cringe…but my goal is to help...

#86: The real foods your baby learns to eat don’t just provide nutrition, they also help build the jaw, shape the airway, and influence how your baby breathes and sleeps. When babies learn to chew real, safe foods instead of relying only on soft purées, they’re doing important developmental work with their mouths that supports healthy jaw and facial growth. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kevin...

#85: Sardines are one of the best baby foods out there. You might personally not like sardines...a lot of people don’t, but don’t discount sardines for baby-led weaning. Sardines are packed with nutrition, they represent unique taste and texture opportunities for your baby, plus sardines are an easy way to introduce your baby to one of the potentially allergenic food categories: fish. I’m going to...

#84: Have you been told to wait 3–5 days between introducing new foods to your baby? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carina Venter, PhD, RD—one of the world’s leading experts in pediatric food allergy prevention—to explain why this advice is outdated and unsupported by research. We break down when allergic reactions actually occur, why introducing one or more new foods per day is safe, and how...

#83: When does your baby start eating meals with the rest of the family? In this episode, you’ll learn how baby-led weaning supports family meals from your baby’s very first bites, what eating with the family looks like early on, and how to safely include your baby at the table without making separate meals. We’ll cover where family meals happen, what foods your baby can and cannot eat, how often...

#82: Many moms expect their bodies to “bounce back” after having a baby…but months later, odds are they’re still dealing with leaking, pressure, weakness, or discomfort and wondering if this is just how it’s going to be forever? In this episode, I’m joined by Marcy Crouch, DPT, a board-certified women’s health physical therapist and founder of The Down There Doc, to break down what postpartum core...

#81: Not everything marketed as a “baby-led weaning essential” belongs in your kitchen. In this episode, I explain 5 things you should skip when starting solid foods…and why some popular feeding products can delay development or encourage the wrong skills. Fewer gadgets, more confidence, and a baby who learns to eat real food, it’s all in here! Listen to this episode to learn:  1. Why some popular...

#80: In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian and new mom Jackie Laniado Sutton, whose baby, Alexandria, completed the 100 First Foods approach using baby-led weaning while keeping a kosher home. Jackie shares how she adapted foods, timing of meat and dairy, and meal prep to stay true to kosher guidelines without compromising safety or variety when starting solid foods. If your family k...

#79: What changes in feeding when your baby turns 1? Honestly...not a whole lot. But we do make the transition to cow’s milk and that can be kind of tricky for some families. In this episode we’re looking at how to pick milk when your baby turns 1. From questions about how much to feed, what types of cow’s milk to try, transitioning from breastmilk and/or formula to cow’s milk and milk alternative...

#78: When baby-led weaning was still considered risky and unconventional, Jessica Coll, RD, was already teaching workshops to parents in Canada. Now, as the founder of the International Baby-Led Weaning Network for Health Professionals, she’s helping clinicians around the world feel confident supporting families through this feeding approach. In this episode, Jessica shares how she built her profe...

#77: Understanding your baby’s hunger and fullness cues is one of the most important parts of responsive feeding, but it’s also one of the most confusing for parents. In this episode, you’ll learn how to recognize early hunger cues, spot the signs that your baby is finished, and troubleshoot those moments when the cues just don’t make sense. Discover how honoring these signals supports self-regula...

#76: Did you know that feeding milestones can actually help your baby hit their speech milestones too? In this episode, I’m joined by Stephanie Cohen, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC, a speech-language pathologist, feeding therapist, and certified lactation counselor who breaks down the fascinating connection between eating and talking in babies. We’re exploring how responsive feeding, oral motor skills, and ear...