Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#425: What if my baby gags on food? And how is gagging different than choking? In this episode we cover why gagging is a good thing when your baby is learning to eat and what to do if your baby chokes on food. Listen to this episode to learn: Which foods are choking risks and how to modify them to make them safe for your baby Why it is important not to intervene during a gag…and how to react when...

#424: How often should you breastfeed once your baby starts solid foods? And what if your milk supply drops off once your baby starts eating? Jessica Smith, MSN, RN, IBCLC joins me to explain how you can succeed at continued and extended breastfeeding after 6 months of age and even past age 1. Listen to this episode to learn: When is the ideal time to drop a milk feed…and which one goes first? How...

#423: What can you do to help your baby get ready to start solid foods safely? From picking out the best high chair to knowing how to introduce allergenic foods like peanut, here are 5 things parents and caregivers can do to get prepared for baby-led weaning. Listen to this episode to learn: What the most important safety feature on your high chair should be…and why most high chairs don’t have thi...

#422: What if you don’t love cooking new foods, prepping food for your baby or your other kids…or even just being in charge of food in general? So much of what moms are tasked with falls under this banner of the “invisible load” that you’re probably hearing more mental health people in the parenting space talk about. Erica Djossa from @momwell is here to talk about HOW MUCH WORK being a mom is, an...

#421: Is your baby developmentally ready to safely start solids? Learn why the 6-month mark is pivotal, the significance of independent sitting, and why the disappearance of the tongue thrust reflex isn't the only readiness to eat signal to begin the weaning process. Listen to this episode to learn: Unveiling the significance of the 6-month mark for a safe baby-led weaning start, emphasizing exclu...

#420: Do you feel anxious about your baby starting solid foods? Nervous that your baby will choke on food? Raising babies is stressful…and we don’t always get the support we need as new moms. Today I’m joined by someone who thinks we should be doing things - and supporting new moms differently Her name is Andrea Niles, she’s a clinical psychologist and mom of 2. Andrea is the founder of Prospera M...

#419: Discover the ins and outs of baby-led weaning versus traditional spoon feeding, how it differs from parent-led feeding, and expert tips (pioneered by Gill Rapley, PhD) on safely introducing solid foods to your baby in this episode. Join me as I demystify baby-led weaning as a more developmentally appropriate introduction to solid foods and empower parents to make informed choices for your ba...

#418: What causes food allergies and can introducing certain foods early to your baby help prevent food allergy? Food allergy guidance and recommendations seems to be changing quite regularly and figuring out the best way to safely introduce allergenic foods is confusing.  In this episode dietitian Bob Earl from Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) at foodallergy.org updates us on everything...

#417: Is bone broth safe for babies? Can I give my baby bone broth before they start solid foods? Bone broth is having a moment…but it’s not a magical superfood that your baby needs. In this episode we’re looking at how to offer bone broth responsibly but why it should not be given to babies under 6 months of age. Shownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/417  🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 Othe...

#416: What are the signs that your baby is ready to start solid foods? What if your baby isn’t sitting up at 6 months, is it ok to do purees? Or what if you think your baby is ready EARLY even though they’re not 6 months yet?  In this episode Registered Dietitian and Early Intervention Specialist Amy Manojlovski, RDN shares some of the most important indicators that your baby is ready to start sol...

#415: Is your baby waking up in the middle of the night again since you started solid foods? Does this mean the baby is hungry or not getting enough? In this episode we’re looking at solid food and sleep schedules to help you and your baby get a good night’s sleep after you start solid foods. Shownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/415  🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 Other podcast episodes rel...

#414: It’s not uncommon for infants or toddlers to refuse food. Food refusal can be due to illness, tiredness, your baby’s temperament on that day…but, there is a disease that results in food refusal called Eosinophilic esophagitis or EOE. EOE is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus that causes damage that makes it difficult and uncomfortable for the baby or toddler to eat whi...

#413: Are foods before one just for fun…or does it really matter which foods we offer our baby? Saying food before one is just for fun is catchy…but confusing. In this episode we break down the idea about just having fun vs. intentionally picking foods for a reason before babies turn one. Shownotes for this episode are here: https://blwpodcast.com/413  🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 Other podcast episodes related...

#412: How do you stop your baby from playing with food or throwing food on the floor? Dietitian Dani Lebovitz from @kid.food.explorers joins me to discuss raising adventurous eaters…and why letting your baby drop food on the floor is actually a good thing! Check out Dani’s books on Amazon (affiliate links): Becoming a Food Explorer https://amzn.to/3TahFFM  Fun with Food https://amzn.to/3cQKOCa Whe...

#411: Can your baby eat ketchup? What about barbeque sauce? In this episode we’re exploring common condiments and whether or not they work for baby-led weaning. Listen to learn how to make no sugar, low salt swaps that will add flavor and make swallowing safer for your baby…all with condiments you already have in your kitchen. Download my free feeding guide “ 5 LOW SALT SAUCE RECIPES for Making Sw...

#410: Breastfeeding is hard. And racial and ethnic disparities don’t make breastfeeding any easier for Black and African American mothers. Dr. Toncé Jackson co-founded Cinnamoms to offer support and sisterhood in her WIC agency…but her mission has expanded much further in the parenting space. In this episode Dr. Jackson explains how the Cinnamoms model is increasing the rate of breastfeeding for B...

#409: Are multivitamins safe for babies? And do babies even need to be taking supplements like multivitamins? In this episode we’re going to look specifically at multivitamins, talking about what they are, whether or not they’re safe, which babies might benefit from these and then what could potentially go wrong if we start relying on supplements to meet baby’s nutrition needs. 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 Othe...

#408: Have you ever looked at your baby’s behavior or activity and thought, “Hmmm…is that normal?” If it’s not typical, what do we call it? In this episode Megan Champion from Mothers Together and @on.the.hard.days shares her experience raising Neurodivergent children and how her community supports moms who are doing the same.  🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get y...

#407: If you are brave enough to go on an airplane with your baby…what kind of snacks should you take? Snacks are essential for travel days, but what are some ideas of baby-led weaning snacks you can take on an airplane? In this episode I’m sharing some easy airplane snack ideas if you’re hitting the friendly skies with your baby-led weaning baby. 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer y...

#406: How healthy are your baby’s gums and teeth? And why does it even matter if they’re just baby teeth and are eventually going to fall out anyway?! Ashley Lerman, DDS is a pediatric dentist and a new mom and she’s here to answer all of your questions about baby tooth brushing and oral care. Check out Ashley’s company that provides oral care kits and digital dental education First Grin. Shownote...

#405: Nobody wants to give their baby a foodborne illness…but do you need to be buying produce washes to prevent disease? In this episode we’ll look at some produce washes including what they do, what they claim to do, and whether or not they’re any better than good old fashioned friction and running water when it comes to making fruits and vegetables safe for your baby to eat. Learn how to make 1...

#404: If you’re a pumping mom, where do you store your expressed milk? If you’re a working pumping mom and you go to an office or worksite, this is a major issue. The lunchroom refrigerator next to Bob’s bologna sandwich? Laura Vu, MPH, CLES started her company Mila’s Keeper to create an attractive, effective, easy-to-use solution for longer, safe breastmilk storage. In this episode she’s sharing...

#403: Unsure about how to introduce the potentially allergenic food tree nuts to your baby? Confused about WHICH tree nut to start with, HOW to prepare it, and how OFTEN to incorporate it? Listen in as I simplify the research on tree nut allergies & provide you with the confidence and knowledge you need to safely introduce this potentially allergenic food.  🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods...

#402: What if your baby was silently aspirating on milk? Wouldn’t take a bottle…squired and refused milk at every feed. This was Brooke Tibbett’s experience with her second baby who eventually ended up requiring a tube feeding for nutrition at 6 months of age. In this interview Brooke shares her family’s experience transitioning their tube fed child to solid foods and how they helped wean her off...

#401: Does it matter whether you offer your baby peanut before egg or milk before shellfish? In this episode we’re exploring the time-sensitive considerations about early introduction of potentially allergenic foods for your baby and whether or not it matters what order you offer these foods in. 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST...