Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#475: Cutting soft foods into finger food shapes is a surefire way to help your baby safely learn to self-feed. In this episode I’m sharing 6 Amazon cutting tools that will expedite and simplify your food prep time for baby-led weaning. The 6 cutting tools covered in this episode are available on Amazon here (these are affiliate links): https://amzn.to/4a3ux7G  https://amzn.to/3LkhN0c https://amzn...

#474: What is the best breast pump right now and how do you choose a breast pump with so many options available? Angela Lashbrook is a new mom and Consumer Reports reporter who has tested dozens of pumps and shares her thoughts on what features to look for when you are choosing your next breast pump. Listen to this episode to learn: Why wearable pumps are unlikely to meet your everyday, max breast...

#473: Is baby-led weaning safe? Does it work? Is there research to support skipping spoon-feeding? In this episode we’ll do a deep dive into the current research behind baby-led weaning and starting solid foods. Listen to this episode to learn: Why baby-led weaning does not lead to increased risk of choking compared to adult-led spoon feeding…but what parents need to know in order to reduce chokin...

#472: What if your baby suddenly stops breastfeeding around the time they also start solid foods. What is a nursing strike and how do you get your baby interested in breastmilk again? Erin Walsh is an SLP who also specializes in breastfeeding and she’s here to talk about nursing strikes and how breastfeeding changes when your baby starts solid foods. Listen to this episode to learn: What a nursing...

#471: Some foods sound unhealthy for babies and as a good parent you think, “When in doubt…leave it out.” In this episode we’re looking at 5 seemingly unhealthy foods for babies that are actually safe or ok for your baby to eat. Listen to this episode to learn: How one of the largest choking risk foods can be easily modified and made safe for your baby Which seasonings are ok for early eaters…and...

#470: Your baby starts drinking less breastmilk when they start solid foods…but your breastmilk can help other families beyond your own baby. Alison Wolf, Executive Director of the University of California Milk Bank explains how donating human milk works, who it benefits, why it’s safe and perhaps possibly something you could consider doing. Listen to this episode to learn: How just one bag of you...

#469: What if your baby bites off a small piece of food from the adult pinky sized shape of food you offer? Is this small bite a choking risk? In this episode we explore what to do when your baby bites off a piece of food and you are worried the baby is going to choke. Listen to this episode to learn: Why longer pieces of food are safer for early eaters to pick up What happen when your baby bites...

#468: Should you drive to your local hospital and sit outside the emergency department when you offer your baby a potentially allergenic food in case they have a food allergy reaction? Pediatric allergist Dr. David Stukus is here to talk about oral food challenges and introducing new foods to your baby at home vs. in the doctor’s office. Listen to this episode to learn: What to do if your baby has...

#467: Food manufacturers love to make “healthy” sounding products for babies to eat and you to buy. In this episode I’m looking at 5 seemingly healthy foods for babies that are actually unsafe…along with substitutes for other foods that are better for your baby. Listen to this episode to learn: Why manufacturers don’t make baby food desserts anymore…except for baby yogurt Why this type of sugar is...

#466 - Reliance on liquified and pureed foods in place of harder foods negatively impacts jaw growth in babies and young children. Ben Miraglia, DDS is here to talk about how earlier introduction of harder foods for babies helps improve jaw growth, airway health, sleep patterns, tooth spacing and behavior outcomes later in life. Listen to this episode to learn: WHY purees were not historically fed...

#465: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral compound that can contribute to the prevention of tooth decay. But does your baby need supplemental fluoride, or fluoridated toothpaste…and why do people on the internet distrust fluoride in the water supply? Listen to learn about fluoride and is it safe for your baby? Listen to this episode to learn: Why fluoride is added to the community water supp...

#464: The $20 Ikea Antilop high chair is ubiquitous and universally loved for its low price…but it’s not a safe seat for your baby to eat. Yeah Baby Goods co-founder Katie Kruithof is here to talk about how to make this high chair safer for baby-led weaning. Listen to this episode to learn: Why the Ikea Antilop high chair is unsafe as it is sold…and how to fix that Why Katie and her husband Brent...

#463: I know you talk to your baby when they’re eating…and even though they’re more focused on the food than your words, language does matter. In this episode I’m sharing 6 words I no longer use when talking to or about babies who are learning to eat and starting solid foods (and why). Listen to this episode to learn: Which word dietitians say all the time without realizing how it harmful it can b...

#462 - Where does typical picky eating stop and problematic restriction start? Internationally renowned pediatric dietitian and professor Rosan Meyer is here to explain what ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder) is and why your baby does not have ARFID. Listen to this episode to learn: What “normal neophobic disgust” is so that you know what’s typical behavior in toddlerhood Which symp...

#461: Can babies eat lunch meat? In this episode we’ll look at deli meats and explore whether cold cuts like turkey, ham, roast beef or salami are safe for your baby to eat.  Listen to this episode to learn: How the texture and nutrient profile of deli meats differs…and which ones to avoid Why deli meats are susceptible to foodborne illness…and how to reduce your baby’s risk Which preparation meth...

#460 - Why do we make starting solid foods SO complicated? Documentary filmmaker and mom of 2 Paulina Lagudi is here to talk about the new film project she is making about starting solid foods called A Solid 6 Months. She’s following her own son’s journey with baby-led weaning, interviewing experts and exploring parents’ + babies’ relationship with learning to eat real food. Listen to this episode...

#459: Twenty moms share their stories about how donating extra breastmilk or being recipients of donor human milk helped enriched their family life. Donor milk is essential for reducing the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a deadly bowel disease in premature babies…but there are so many other benefits to donating and utilizing human milk for babies too. Listen to this episode to learn: How...

#458: Did you know a common parenting practice of yesteryear involved withholding fruit like bananas from babies because fruit was associated with sin? Author Jennifer Traig joins me to discuss the history of infant feeding practices, how things have changed over the years and why your baby is probably going to be alright whether or not you decide to do baby-led weaning or adult-led spoon feeding...

#457: What if my baby vomits when doing baby-led weaning? Is vomiting normal when you start solid foods? It can be scary when your baby vomits, but it is not always a sign of a huge problem. In this episode I cover what you can expect as far as vomiting when your baby starts eating. Listen to this episode to learn: Why a little bit of vomit is to be expected when your baby starts solid foods How l...

#456: Do you brush your baby’s teeth? What if they could brush their own teeth? Dawn Winkelmann is here to talk about baby-led oral care and why babies benefit from having more control when it comes to your oral care routine. Listen to this episode to learn: Why the old way of brushing baby’s teeth leads to resistance, battles and poor oral health When to start implementing a baby-led oral care pr...

#455: Are you scared to offer your baby meat? Meat offers a variety of taste, texture and nutrition experiences, but it can be hard to make meat safe for your baby to eat. In this episode I’m sharing my favorite cuts of meat for baby-led weaning, how to make them safe and the best gateway meat to start with if you’re freaked out to feed your baby meat. Listen to this episode to learn: Which cuts o...

#454: Pregnancy complications are…complicated. Nobody plans to have a miscarriage or preterm birth or uncontrollable vomiting while pregnant. Emily Oster is here to talk about pregnancy complications and how to use data in preparation for your next pregnancy. Listen to this episode to learn: How to prepare for your next pregnancy…especially if the last one didn’t go as planned What words to avoid...

 #453: How do you do baby-led weaning if your baby goes to daycare? Daycare might say they only do purees, or they won’t offer finger foods. In this episode I share effective strategies for helping your daycare or childcare provider understand baby-led weaning and how and why your baby can safely self-feed even when they are away from home. Listen to this episode to learn: How to talk to your dayc...

#452: There’s a lot going on inside of your baby’s mouth when they start solid foods. Turns out that looking inside your baby’s mouth can give you a heads up if something is going wrong. Speech Language Pathologist Dawn Winkelmann is here to explain how and why to use a tongue depressor when your baby starts eating. Listen to this episode to learn: How to use a tongue depressor to search for pocke...

#451: How often should babies eat solid food? And do they eat before they have milk or after breastfeeding? Finding a schedule for starting solid foods can be tricky but in this episode I’m sharing my exact feeding schedule for babies in 3 different ages and phases of baby-led weaning. Listen to this episode to learn: How to schedule solid foods so most of your baby’s nutrition will come from food...