Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

Is your baby ready to start solid foods but you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused about baby-led weaning? Babies can eat so many more foods than we give them credit for and you don’t have to force-feed or spoon-feed to get them to eat real food! I’m Katie Ferraro, Registered Dietitian specializing in infant feeding and baby-led weaning. I’m a college nutrition professor and mom of 7, and my goal is to help you start solid foods safely using baby-led weaning. On this podcast I share practical tips on safe food preparation and starting solid foods, as well as in-depth interviews with other feeding experts. Listen to learn how you can get your baby to safely enjoy real food so that you can start enjoying mealtimes again too!

  1. 4 & 5-Month Olds: Your Baby-Led Weaning Pre-Feeding Plan

    2D AGO

    4 & 5-Month Olds: Your Baby-Led Weaning Pre-Feeding Plan

    #113: Your baby does not need solid foods at 4 or 5 months…but that does not mean there is nothing to do. In this episode, I’m walking you through the pre-feeding skills that help your baby get ready for a safer, smoother start to solid foods at 6 months. We’ll cover what to practice now, what not to rush, and how to use this waiting window to feel more confident before that first bite. Listen to this episode to learn: 1.  Why your baby does not need solid foods at 4 or 5 months…and what you can focus on instead 2.  How to practice pre-feeding skills like sitting, mouthing, and high chair acclimation before the first bite 3. What gear, safety steps, and readiness signs to have in place before starting solid foods at 6 months  Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/113 Links from This Episode: • Check out the ezpz Oral Development Tools as a good activity for 4-5 month olds in the pre-feeding phase and get 15% off when you purchase ezpz using the affiliate discount code BABYLED here: ezpzfun.com/BABYLED?q=oral-development-tools  • Marsha Dunn Klein’s teether heart is available at 20% off with code MARSHA20 here • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠  and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. •  Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠ Other Episodes Related to This Topic: • Episode 290 - Pre-Feeding Skills: What Can My Baby Do Before Beginning Solid Foods? with Marsha Dunn Klein OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA • Episode 338 - Breastmilk Popsicles? Try this Pre-Feeding Activity with Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠ and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠@babyledweanteam⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠ or ⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min
  2. You Might Also Like: When Science Finds a Way

    2D AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: When Science Finds a Way

    Introducing What happens when fungi find their way into our brains? from When Science Finds a Way. Follow the show: When Science Finds a Way It might sound like something out of TV shows like The Last of Us, but brain-invading fungi are a real-world problem. Alisha Wainwright speaks to Drs. Rachael Dangarembizi and Rebecca Drummond, an immunologist and a neuroscientist collaborating across continents to tackle Cryptococcal Meningitis – the leading cause of fungal death worldwide. Dr Kyla Murphy also talks about the new tests and treatments saving lives from the disease, and Alisha shares the story of her own mother's brush with a dangerous fungal infection. **** We want to hear from you! Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** Mentioned in this episode and further reading: Will climate change lead to more fungal infections? An explainer by Wellcome (wellcome.org/insights/articles/will-climate-change-lead-more-fungal-infections) Wellcome Fungal Adaptation Call Awardees (wellcome.org/research-funding/funding-portfolio/funded-grants?f%5B0%5D=funding_scheme_grants_awarded%3ABiology%20of%20fungal%20adaptation Global incidence and mortality of severe fungal disease, David W Denning, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00692-8/fulltext) The WHO fungal priority pathogens list as a gamechanger, Matthew C. Fisher & David W. Denning, Nature Reviews Microbiology (nature.com/articles/s41579-023-00861-x#citeas) How fungi shape our world...and how the climate is shaping our fungi – The Naked Scientist Podcast in partnership with Wellcome (thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists-podcast/how-fungi-shape-our-world) When Science Finds a Way is brought to you by Wellcome, an independent global foundation that supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. For more information and podcast transcripts visit wellcome.org/podcast DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Ditching Diet Culture: Fostering Your Baby’s Healthy Food Relationship with Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD

    6D AGO

    Ditching Diet Culture: Fostering Your Baby’s Healthy Food Relationship with Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD

    #112: If you’ve ever thought, I do not want my baby to grow up with all of the messed up food stuff I grew up with, this episode is for you. In this conversation, registered dietitian Vanessa Rissetto joins me to talk about diet culture, the pressure parents feel around feeding, and how to start fostering a healthier relationship with food for your baby from the very beginning. Vanessa breaks down what diet culture actually looks like in real life, how our own food beliefs can shape the way we feed our kids, and why less pressure around eating often leads to better outcomes over time. We also talk about food language, feeding dynamics at home, and simple ways to help your child feel more comfortable and confident around food. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to lay off the pressure around kids eating...and practical tips for being less food focussed around children 2. Which words to use when discussing food with your babies and children to help them have positive associations with food instead of food-related phobias 3. Why parents feel pressure from outside sources to give in to the diet culture...with a discussion on what the diet culture really even is (and isn’t!) Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/112 Links from This Episode: • Follow Vanessa Rissetto on FB here • Follow Vanessa on Instagram at @vanessarissetord • Follow Culina Health (her private practice) on Instagram at @culinahealth • Read Blog here • Learn more about the NYU dietetic internship where Vanessa is the director here  • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program  and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. •  Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners Other Episodes Related to This Topic: • Episode 72 - How to Create a Pressure-Free Feeding Environment with Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDRD-S • Episode 174 - Fostering Food Neutrality from Baby's First Bites with @raisingbodypositivekids Riley Peterson, RD • Episode 210 - How to Raise an Intuitive Eater: Part I with Sumner Brooks, MPH, RD, CEDRD 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. CLICK HERE TO JOIN and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow @babyledweanteam on Instagram and our Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts or rate this show on Spotify podcasts and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
  4. Baby-Led Weaning Grocery Shopping: What to Buy & What to Skip

    MAY 11

    Baby-Led Weaning Grocery Shopping: What to Buy & What to Skip

    #111: What should you actually buy at the grocery store when your baby is getting ready to start solid foods? In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple first-week grocery list for baby-led weaning: what to buy, what to skip, and why you do not need special “baby” foods to give your baby a safe start. From produce to proteins, allergenic foods, dairy, and the baby food aisle, you’ll learn how to shop smarter without spending a ton of money or second-guessing every label. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. What foods to buy for your baby’s first week of baby-led weaning without overcomplicating your grocery list 2. How to spot foods that can be made safe for early eaters using the squish test and right sizing 3. Why you can skip most “baby” foods at the store and focus on real foods your family already eats Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/111 Links from This Episode: • Download your copy of the free Baby-Led Weaning Pantry Planning Guide here https://babyledweaning.co/resources • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program  and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners Other Episodes Related to This Topic: • Episode 91 - Pantry Planning for Baby-Led Weaning • Episode 317 - Trader Joe's: 10 BLW Foods to Buy from Trader Joe's 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. CLICK HERE TO JOIN and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow @babyledweanteam on Instagram and our Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts or rate this show on Spotify podcasts and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 min
  5. Catch-Up Weight: Why Starting Solids Early Will Not Help Your Baby Gain Weight with Rosan Meyer, PhD, RD

    MAY 7

    Catch-Up Weight: Why Starting Solids Early Will Not Help Your Baby Gain Weight with Rosan Meyer, PhD, RD

    #110: If your baby is on the smaller side and you’ve been told to start solid foods early to help your baby gain weight, this episode is for you. That advice can feel scary and confusing, especially if your baby is not showing the signs of readiness to start solid foods yet. In this episode, pediatric dietitian Rosan Meyer, PhD, RD explains why starting solid foods early will not help with catch-up weight, what growth charts are actually telling you, and why milk feeds, not solid foods, are the priority when weight gain is a concern. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to tell the difference between normal growth variation and true growth faltering when you look at your baby’s growth chart 2. What catch-up growth really means, and why starting solid foods early is not the right strategy for helping your baby gain weight 3. Why shared decision making with your practitioner matters when setting safe, realistic feeding goals for your baby Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/110 Links from This Episode: • Rosan Meyer’s website for her pediatric nutrition practice Step by Step Kidz Nutrition is here  • You can follow Rosan on Twitter here and Instagram here • The video about obtaining infant length and height measurements Rosan mentioned in the interview is located here  • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program  and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. CLICK HERE TO JOIN and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow @babyledweanteam on Instagram and our Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts or rate this show on Spotify podcasts and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min
  6. Purees to Baby-Led Weaning: How to Transition to Finger Food

    MAY 4

    Purees to Baby-Led Weaning: How to Transition to Finger Food

    #109: Still stuck in puree mode, but know your baby needs to move to finger foods? In this episode, you’ll learn exactly how to transition from spoon-feeding to baby-led weaning, what to do if you started too early, and how to offer finger foods safely without second-guessing every bite. And even if finger foods still feel a little scary right now, if your baby is ready, I’m going to help you feel more confident taking that next step. Listen to this episode to learn: 1.  What to do if you started with purees but want to switch to baby-led weaning without feeling like you messed anything up 2. How to move from spoon-feeding to finger foods safely, including when to use the pre-loaded spoon approach 3. Why finger foods may feel scary at first, but can absolutely be doable when your baby is ready and you have the right plan Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/109 Links from This Episode: • The Tiny Spoon from ezpz is my favorite for using the pre-loaded spoon approach. Get 15% off all ezpz feeding gear when you check out using the code BABYLED here: https://ezpzfun.com/BABYLED • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program and save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50 • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners Other Episodes Related to This Topic:• Episode 5 - The Purees for a Few Days™ Approach to Starting Solid Foods with Baby-Led Weaning: a Feeding Guide • Episode 149 - Pouches: Why Your Baby Doesn't Need to Suck Pureed Food Out of Pouches with @msdawnslp Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP • Episode 343 - Is 8 Months Too Late to Switch to Finger Foods? 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠ and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠@babyledweanteam⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠ or ⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min
  7. Do Babies Need Probiotics? with James Marin, RD, EN and Dahlia Marin, RDN, LD

    APR 30

    Do Babies Need Probiotics? with James Marin, RD, EN and Dahlia Marin, RDN, LD

    #108: Do babies need probiotics? If you’ve been hearing all the buzz about gut health, the microbiome, and supplements — and wondering whether your baby needs probiotics too — this episode will help you cut through the noise. In this episode, registered dietitians James Marin, RD, EN and Dahlia Marin, RDN, LD of Married to Health break down what parents actually need to know about probiotics for babies. Learn how your baby’s microbiome develops, when probiotic supplements may or may not make sense, and why a food-first approach is often the better place to start. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How your baby’s microbiome develops — and which environmental and feeding factors can shape gut health early on 2. Why probiotics and other gut health supplements are not always necessary for babies — and when a food-first approach may make more sense 3. What James and Dahlia Marin, a married dietitian team, see in their nutrition practice when parents ask about probiotics, supplements, and supporting baby gut health through real food Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/108 Links from This Episode: • James & Dahlia’s website MARRIED TO HEALTH is here • Follow @marriedothealth on Instagram here  • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program  and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. •  Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. CLICK HERE TO JOIN and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow @babyledweanteam on Instagram and our Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts or rate this show on Spotify podcasts and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min
  8. Back to Work & Baby-Led Weaning: How 3 Moms Did It

    APR 27

    Back to Work & Baby-Led Weaning: How 3 Moms Did It

    #107: Heading back to work and wondering if baby-led weaning can still work for your family? In this episode, you’ll hear from three real moms who share how they balanced work, daycare, and starting solid foods…all without giving up on their goal of raising an independent eater. And if daycare is the part you’re most worried about, grab my free guide How to Be a Baby-Led Weaning Advocate at Daycare at babyledweaning.co/resources (...it has the exact scripts to use with your daycare to get them on board with this feeding approach!) Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why your baby still deserve to learn how to self-feed…even if you’re going back to work. 2. How three real moms handled daycare, schedules, and the logistics of starting solid foods. 3. Which practical tips can make BLW feel doable in real life…even if you hate meal-prepping. Shownotes for this episode can be found here: https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/107 Links from This Episode: • Download the free feeding guide “How to Be a Baby-Led Weaning Advocate at Daycare” (...with the exact scripts to use at daycare) here: www.babyledweaning.co/resources • Get 15% off ezpz suction mats, bowls WITH LIDS when you checkout using the affiliate discount code BABYLED - click here to shop: https://ezpzfun.com/BABYLED • Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠ and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. • Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners Other Episodes Related to This Topic: • Episode 265 - BLW at Daycare: How These Parents Made it Work  • Episode 381 - When Can I Start Sending Food to Daycare? with Yesenia Jacobo • Episode 453 - Daycare: How Can I Get Caregivers on Board with Baby-Led Weaning 🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱 Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠. 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠ and use the code BLWPOD50 to save $50 when you sign up. 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Be sure to follow ⁠@babyledweanteam⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠ or ⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    16 min
4.9
out of 5
1,450 Ratings

About

Is your baby ready to start solid foods but you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused about baby-led weaning? Babies can eat so many more foods than we give them credit for and you don’t have to force-feed or spoon-feed to get them to eat real food! I’m Katie Ferraro, Registered Dietitian specializing in infant feeding and baby-led weaning. I’m a college nutrition professor and mom of 7, and my goal is to help you start solid foods safely using baby-led weaning. On this podcast I share practical tips on safe food preparation and starting solid foods, as well as in-depth interviews with other feeding experts. Listen to learn how you can get your baby to safely enjoy real food so that you can start enjoying mealtimes again too!

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