Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#75: Most parents think everything their baby eats has to be fresh, homemade, and cooked from scratch…but that’s just not true. In this episode, I’m breaking down 10 safe canned foods from my 100 First Foods list that can make starting solid foods easier, cheaper, and more realistic for busy families. I’ll share why certain canned foods actually work better than fresh, how to spot the low-sodium a...

#74: What is your baby’s behavior at mealtime telling you? Is it possible to spoil a baby by feeding him too much? Can babies even exhibit “bad” behavior? In this episode author, child development and parenting specialist Tina Payne Bryson, PhD is joining me to break it ALL down when it comes to your baby’s behavior at mealtimes - diving DEEP into what the science says! Tina is the co-author of we...

#73: It is hard not to panic when your baby shows no interest in food. They ignore what you offer, barely taste anything, and you start worrying about nutrition, iron, and whether something might be wrong. This slow start is one of the most stressful parts of offering solid foods. The good news is that most babies take time to learn how to eat, and early disinterest is usually completely normal. I...

#72: Pressuring babies to eat more and pressuring babies to eat less can both lead to problematic outcomes when babies are learning to eat. But starting solids is a STRESSFUL time for many parents and caregivers, and sometimes without even realizing it we can be creating a feeding environment that is so high pressure both you AND your baby begin to dread mealtime. In this podcast episode Jessica S...

#71: Eating out with your baby doesn’t have to be a stressful, messy disaster (...even though it can definitely feel that way the first few times!) In this episode I’m sharing simple, real-world strategies to make restaurant dining with your baby calm, safe, and even enjoyable. You’ll learn what to pack, how to set your baby up for success in a restaurant high chair, and which foods from the menu...

#70: There is a real and credible body of emerging evidence that supports a baby-led approach to feeding. In this episode baby-led weaning expert, author, researcher and Professor Amy Brown is joining us to help break down the evidence behind baby-led weaning. Dr. Brown is the author of the book “Why Starting Solids Matters” and numerous research publications exploring the safety and efficacy of a...

#69: It’s peak pumpkin everything season…and you might be wondering how your baby can get a PIECE of that PUMPKIN action, right??!! Well pumpkin is totally safe for babies to eat - with a few caveats - and inside of this episode I’m sharing 5 Easy Ways Your Baby Can Safely Eat Pumpkin (with 5 easy baby-led weaning pumpkin recipes for you too!) Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How you can help y...

#68: We all know babies don’t need added sugar—but avoiding it is harder than you think. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robert Lustig, one of the world’s leading experts on sugar and metabolism, to uncover the hidden ways sugar sneaks into baby foods and what parents can do to keep it out. If you’ve ever wondered how to protect your baby from added sugar and help them build a lifetime of posit...

#67: So what’s the big deal about a baby eating 100 foods before they turn one? Diet diversity from your baby’s first bites can help build confident kids who love real food…and help you avoid severe picky eating and mealtime battles. In 2016 I created the original 100 First Foods approach to starting solid foods with baby-led weaning…and in today’s episode we’re hearing from some of the parents fr...

#66: How are parents supposed to navigate picking baby foods that contain the least amount of harmful toxins if food companies don’t disclose that info? A new California law, AB 899, requires baby food companies to test for toxic elements like lead and arsenic—and to post those results online. But when Consumer Reports writer and nutritionist Jessica D’Argenio Waller investigated 39 popular baby f...

#65: Social media can be an amazing tool for learning about baby-led weaning…but it can also spread a lot of misinformation. In this episode, I’m joined by five of my expert friends to break down the top five things social media gets wrong about baby-led weaning. From fear-based feeding advice to myths about choking and readiness to start solid foods, we’re setting the record straight with evidenc...

#64: Can your baby learn to use a spoon and still do baby-led weaning? You bet…and it starts with the pre-loaded spoon technique. In this episode, speech-language pathologist and feeding expert Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP, breaks down how to safely introduce spoons and purees while ensuring your baby is the one leading the way. Dawn shares her 3-step method for pre-loading spoons, explains the de...

#63: Imagine sitting down at the table with your baby who can now confidently eat and loves all the same foods you do. In this episode I’m sharing the history of my original 100 First Foods approach to baby-led weaning - one that I started back in 2016 - explaining how your baby can easily reach this important milestone that has helped tens of thousands of other families achieve diet diversity and...

#62: Sensory play doesn’t just mean bins of dried beans or rice (...which are a choking hazard for early eaters). Instead, it’s a powerful tool at the table for your baby. Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP joins me to explore how sensory play supports your baby’s feeding development…and we talk about why letting your baby touch, smell and even play with food helps build feeding skills, reduces severe p...

#61: Learn how to make leafy greens safe for your baby: raw greens like spinach are a choking hazard and crunchy kale chips are too. In this episode I’m walking you through some easy ways to make spinach safe for early eaters, plus combination food recipe ideas for older babies too. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why pouches that proclaim to include kale or spinach are really just fruit puree...

#60: Worried about introducing allergenic foods like peanut, egg, or tree nuts to your baby? You’re not alone…but the latest research shows that early, consistent introduction can actually help prevent food allergies. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kelly Clear, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and Medical Director of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), to unpack the new rules for allergen introduc...

#59: One of the biggest hurdles to baby-led weaning can be… the grandparents. When the people helping care for your baby don’t understand or agree with how you’re feeding them, tensions can rise. In this episode, I’m joined by Aaron Larsen, founder of The Grandparents Academy, to talk about how adult parents can better communicate with their own parents about baby-led weaning and other modern pare...

#58: What should you do if your baby has an allergic reaction to food? In this episode, pediatrician and food allergy expert Dr. Ron Sunog shares clear, practical guidance for parents navigating allergenic food introduction. You’ll learn the signs to watch for of true food allergy vs. a run-of-the-mill contact rash, how to be prepared for allergic reactions (...no, you don’t need to park in the em...

#57: Worried that you missed your chance to start baby-led weaning? Maybe you started with purees, got a late start start, or are scared to try out finger foods. Whatever the reason you’re feeling behind - it’s not too late to make the switch to solid foods. In this episode I’m explaining why starting solid foods around the 6 month mark isn’t the only path to success…and practical tips like how to...

#56: Sure it’s cute to see a dog licking up the baby’s leftovers...but is that actually a good idea? In this episode veterinarian Alexandra Parry is sharing tons of tips for your whole (furry) family when it comes to mixing dogs with starting solid foods. Dr. Parry is diving deep on all sorts of dog-related “Do’s and Don’ts”, some of which will surprise you. Like maybe you knew grapes were toxic t...

#55: How do you drop a milk feed? The whole point of weaning is that your baby gradually replaces the nutrition he or she was getting from breastmilk and/or formula and replaces that with the foods they’re learning how to eat. But at some point during the weaning process, we have to be proactive about dropping that first milk feed. In this episode I’m covering some ideas for gradually cutting back...

#54: Is your baby an overeager eater who stuffs too much food in at once? Overstuffing is actually pretty typical - but it’s also a little scary when you’re worried about choking. In this episode, pediatric feeding expert Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP shares practical tips for managing overstuffing, big bites and fast eaters. You’ll learn what’s developmentally appropriate, how to respond in the mo...

#53: Trying to explain baby-led weaning to someone who doesn’t believe in it? This episode breaks down 10 research-backed benefits of baby-led weaning, perfect for when you’re faced with a skeptic (or feeling unsure yourself). From reducing severe picky eating to supporting healthy weight, better speech development, and respecting your baby’s hunger cues, these talking points will help you confide...

#48: Babies don’t have to eat bland food! In this episode, spice expert and cookbook author Kanchan Koya, PhD @chiefspicemama shares how to safely introduce seasonings and spices to your baby’s food. Learn which spices are safe, why they support health, and how to bring your family’s food culture into your baby’s diet from the start. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Which spices are safe for ba...

#52: If your baby has a tongue-tie (or has had one released) you might be wondering: will this affect their ability to start solid foods? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Shaina Holman, DDS, PhD, a dentist with a rare specialty in infant tongue-ties and a research background in infant feeding. She runs a multidisciplinary infant feeding clinic in North Carolina, working alongside lactation consu...