Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

#144: What did babies eat before baby food was invented? Food historian Amy Bentley, PhD, author of Inventing Baby Food, joins me to unpack how commercial baby food, changing medical advice and clever marketing transformed the way we feed babies. If you’ve ever stood in the baby food aisle wondering whether your baby actually needs all of those jars, pouches and products, this episode will help you understand how we got here—and why babies are capable of eating real food from the start.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. What babies ate before commercial baby food became the norm

2. How medical advice and marketing transformed the way parents feed babies

3. Why jars, pouches and other baby food products became so popular

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/144

Links from This Episode:

• 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 458 -Bananas are Bad for Babies…and Other Historical Infant Feeding Practices with Jennifer Traig

• Episode 250 - Misleading Marketing Claims on Baby Foods with Ada Lizbeth Garcia, PhD

• Episode 149 - Pouches: Why Your Baby Doesn’t Need to Suck Pureed Food Out of Pouches with @msdawnslp 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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#143: How is your baby supposed to eat tiny foods like quinoa, rice or finely chopped vegetables if they can’t pick them up yet? Fritters are one of my favorite ways to transform hard-to-grasp foods into soft, manageable pieces your baby can self-feed. In this episode, I’m sharing my simple baby-led weaning fritter formula, how to combine grains, vegetables and protein, what to use if your baby can’t have egg, and how to keep fritters soft and moist for easier swallowing.

Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How to turn grains, vegetables and protein into soft fritters your baby can self-feed

2. What simple fritter formula you can use without following a complicated recipe

3. How to keep baby-led weaning fritters soft, moist and easy for your baby to eat

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/143

Links from This Episode:

• 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 487 - Egg Substitute Ideas for Baby-Led Weaning (…that actually work)

• Episode 151 - Whole Grains: How to Safely Feed Whole Grains for Baby-Led Weaning

• Episode 207 - 5 BLW Sauce Recipes to Make Swallowing Safer

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#142: Do you really need to wait 3 days between new foods? Does baby-led weaning mean no purees or spoons? And does your baby need to sit completely unsupported before starting solid foods?

There are so many baby-led weaning “rules” floating around that it can be hard to know what’s actually true. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Gill Rapley, co-author of Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide, to debunk some of the most common baby-led weaning myths. Listen to learn what really matters when starting solid foods—and which outdated rules you can stop worrying about.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why so many outdated baby-led weaning myths and “rules” continue to persist

2. What Gill Rapley says baby-led weaning actually is—and what it is not

3. How babies develop the skills to safely self-feed, chew and manage different food textures.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/142

Links from This Episode:

• 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 100 - The History of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 1)

• Episode 102 - The Future of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)

• Episode 500 - From Niche to Norm: The Evolution of Baby-Led Weaning with Gill Rapley, PhD

• Episode 200 - Combo Feeding: Can I Do BLW + Traditional Spoon-Feeding Together? with Gill Rapley, PhD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#141: Is your baby really ready to start solid foods? If you’re getting conflicting advice about starting at 4 months, waiting until 6 months, sitting independently or showing interest in food, it can be hard to know when it’s actually safe to begin. In this episode, I’m breaking down the signs of readiness that matter, what you don’t need to stress about, and how to know when your baby is developmentally ready to start learning how to eat.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to tell when your baby is developmentally ready to start solid foods

2. Which signs of readiness actually matter for safe baby-led weaning

3. Why showing interest in food does not necessarily mean your baby is ready to eat

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/141

Links from This Episode:

• 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 421 - 5 Baby Milestones to Begin Baby-Led Weaning Safely | What Your Baby Should Be Able to Do Before Starting Solids

• Episode 113 -4 & 5-Month Olds: Your Baby-Led Weaning Pre-Feeding Plan

• Episode 290- Pre-Feeding Skills: What Can My Baby Do Before Beginning Solid Foods? with Marsha Dunn Klein OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#140: Why does starting solid foods make you feel like a brand-new mom all over again? Even parents who work in the baby space can feel nervous and unsure when it’s time to introduce real food. In this episode, I’m talking with Moms Interrupted hosts Natasha and Taylor about Taylor’s experience starting solid foods with her second baby, .especially after severe food allergy reactions with her first. Listen to hear what she was worried about before starting, what has surprised her so far, and why you don’t have to know exactly what you’re doing to confidently help your baby learn how to eat.

Listen to this episode to learn: 1. Why starting solid foods can make even an experienced mom feel like a beginner

2. How a previous severe food allergy reaction can shape the experience of introducing foods to a second baby

3. What helped Taylor move through her fears and feel more confident starting solid foods with her baby

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/140

Links from This Episode:

• Follow @momsinterruptedpod on Instagram

• Follow @momsinterruptedpod on YouTube

• Moms Interrupted website is here

• Moms Interrupted Podcast episode with Katie on Baby-Led Weaning is here

• 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 420 - Why am I So Stressed Out About Starting Solid Foods? with Andrea Niles, PhD

• Episode 268 - Second Baby BLW: How I’m Doing 100 First Foods Differently for Baby #2 with Lauren McClure

• Episode 168 - BLW Fears: Advice for Overcoming Infant Feeding Fears from 5 BLW Experts

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#139: Your baby is almost ready to start solid foods…so what should you actually do the day before that first bite? In this episode, I’m walking you through the simple pre-feeding steps that can make starting solid foods safer and less stressful. You’ll learn how to confirm your baby is ready, set up the high chair for safe feeding, choose and prepare that first food, understand gagging vs. choking, and set realistic expectations for day one—so you can stop second-guessing every decision and start feeding with confidence.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to tell if your baby is truly ready to start solid foods

2. What to do before your baby’s first bite to make starting solids safer and less stressful

3. Why high chair setup, safe food preparation and understanding gagging vs. choking matter before day one

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcasts/139

Links from This Episode:

• Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠

• 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 113 - 4 & 5-Month Olds: Your Baby-Led Weaning Pre-Feeding Plan

• Episode 03 -How to Prepare for Baby-Led Weaning: A Guide for Parents & Caregivers

• Episode 497 - The First Few Days of Baby-Led Weaning: What Should I Expect?

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 masterclass 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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#138: What do you do when other people do not agree with the way you have decided to feed your baby? It can be especially hurtful when you feel judged by other parents for choosing baby-led weaning or bypassing traditional spoon-feeding. In this episode, stylist and digital content creator Chriselle Lim joins me to talk about mom-shaming, feeding judgment and how to handle criticism about your parenting choices. Whether you have one follower or millions, those comments can still sting. Listen to learn how to tune out the noise, move past unwanted opinions and feel more confident in the feeding choices you are making for your baby.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to handle mom-shaming when others criticize your feeding choices

2. What you can do to move past negative comments about your parenting decisions

3. Why the people you surround yourself with can influence your confidence as a parent

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/138

Links from This Episode:

• Chrisells is the co-founder of a number of Bumo businesses: BÜMO means “parents” in Korean.

• Bumowork: Offers a well-designed work space and licensed, on-site childcare under one roof.

• YouTube Channel Catching Up with Chris Link

• Chriselle Lim IG page HERE

• Podcast Being Bümo with Chrisele Lim

• TikTok Channel: @chrisellelim

• 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 episode related to this topic: • Episode 331 - Interviewing my Mom: How She Didn’t Like BLW at First & Why She Changed • Episode 22 - Grandparents, Spouses & Partners: Getting Doubters on Board with Baby-Led Weaning • Episode 184 - Positive Parenting: Staying Upbeat When You’re Feeling Defeated about Baby-Led Weaning with Candice Jones, MD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#137: Can your baby really get enough iron from baby-led weaning foods without relying on iron-fortified baby cereal? Yes…but you do need to know which foods to offer and how often to offer them.

In this episode, I’m breaking down how much iron babies actually need, why you do NOT need to obsess over hitting 11 mg from food when your baby is just starting solids, and some of the best high-iron foods for babies. You’ll also learn the simple iron + vitamin C pairing that can help your baby absorb more iron and why introducing iron-rich foods early and often matters.

If you’re worried your baby isn’t eating enough (...or wondering whether baby-led weaning can really meet your baby’s iron needs) this episode will help you know what to focus on.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How much iron your baby actually needs when starting solid foods

2. What high-iron foods your baby can safely learn to eat with baby-led weaning

3. Why pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C can help your baby absorb more iron

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/137

Links from This Episode:

• Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program

• 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 21 - 3 Easy Ways to Boost Your Baby’s Iron Absorption

• Episode 375 - Plant Based Sources of Iron

• Episode 374 - Iron Testing and Anemia Screening for Infants with Staffan Ahlandsberg, PhD

• Episode 263 - Iron Drops: Does My Baby Need Iron Supplements?

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#136: Early introduction of peanut protein can help reduce the risk of peanut allergy, but how do you safely introduce peanut when thick globs of peanut butter can be a choking hazard for babies?

In this episode, I’m joined by Greg Murphy, founder and President of Puffworks and a food allergy dad. Greg shares how Puffworks Baby peanut puffs became a simple, food-first option for introducing peanut protein to babies.

We’re talking about why early and ongoing peanut exposure matters, how peanut puffs fit into baby-led weaning, and why Greg prefers real food over powders and supplements for introducing allergenic foods. We also go behind the scenes of Puffworks and the process of creating a puff that’s appropriately sized and dissolvable for babies starting solid foods.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why a food-first approach can make introducing peanut protein to your baby easier and more sustainable

2. How Puffworks Baby peanut puffs differ from traditional baby puffs in their ingredients, size and dissolvability

3. What parents can do to safely introduce peanut early and often when starting solid foods

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/136

Links from This Episode:

• Check out Puffworks line of products on their site www.puffworks.com and use code BABYLED for 15% off (this is my affiliate code).

• 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

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#135: Does my baby need a toddler milk or a toddler formula after turning 1? What if you’re worried about growth or brain development or immunity, do these products make toddlers healthier? The answer is no, you don’t need to be buying these formula products and I’m breaking down every reason why.

In this episode we’re looking at toddler milks, the fastest growing sector of the US formula market...and for good reason. The marketing behind these products is INSANE and you’ll be amazed at how brazen the formula companies are in pushing these products (that your toddler does not need!)

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. What are they and how are they different from infant formula?

2. What ingredients are in toddler formulas and why shouldn’t children have them?

3. But if my toddler isn’t eating great, aren’t these just like extra nutrition insurance?

4. What SHOULD 1 year olds be drinking (and HOW should they be drinking)?

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/135

Links from This Episode:

• My favorite open cup for BLW: the Tiny Cup from ezpz - this is for babies 6-12 months and you can get 10% off with my affiliate discount code BABYLED and click here to shop the Tiny Cup to start practice open cup drinking as early as 6 months of age

• 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 13- Milk Protein: How to Introduce Your Baby to this Potentially Allergenic Food

• Episode 113 - Transitioning to Cow's Milk: How Do I Do This?

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#134: Dry meats and breads can be a choking hazard...but adding sauces, dippers and toppers is an easy way to make these foods safer for baby-led weaning. I’m joined by Aileen Cox Blundell of @babyledfeeding who is sharing some super sauce ideas for BLW.

The commercial sauces you buy at the store also tend to be too high in sodium for babies to eat, so Aileen is dishing on making dips and homemade sauces that are affordable, easy to put together and that you can freeze for future use.

Be sure to check out the shownotes page for this episode to grab 2 of Aileen’s BLW sauce recipes: her Easy-Peasy Basil & Spinach Pesto and The Best Ever Curry-in-a-Hurry recipe. I’m also sharing a free download with additional recipes for BLW friendly sauces and dippers and toppers that will have your baby safely swallowing in no time!

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. What kind of sauces babies can eat and how to make low salt sauces for baby-led weaning

2. Ideas for sauce to go on top of fish...which can be dry and flaky and present a choking hazard if not sauced up the right way!

3. How freezing even small amounts of sauces can help with busy days for meal prep and which of Aileen’s sauces free best

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/134

Links from This Episode:

• The Jamie Oliver TED Talk “Teach Every Child About Food” with over 10 million views that originally inspired Aileen to start her Baby-Led Feeding business

• Check out Aileen’s 2 BLW cookbooks on Amazon:

The Baby-Led Feeding Cookbook is here

The Baby-Friendly Family Cookbook is here

• Follow Aileen Cox Blundell on IG @babyledfeeding

• Follow Aileen Cox Blundell on Facebook HERE

• Aileen’s brand new website babyledfeeding.com is linked HERE

• 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

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#133: What’s the deal with dripping food? Dripping food is our control-freak way of regulating the pace of baby’s eating...and while it may seem harmless (and cleaner!) dripping can actually interfere with your baby’s ability to learn HOW to eat independently and to recognize and respond to their own hunger and fullness cues.

In this episode we’re talking about the draw-backs of dripping food piece by piece for baby-led weaning. Learning how to appropriately pre-portion your baby’s food is a better alternative to dripping and here’s how you do it!

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. What is dripping and why does it remove baby’s autonomy from the eating process?

2. How do we pre-portion a meal appropriately if there are no hard & fast baby portion sizes for foods?

3. Why we want babies driving the pace of intake and how that helps them learn to recognize & respond to their own hunger & fullness cues

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/133

Links from This Episode:

• TRY the ezpz Mini Mats, the 3-portion silicone suction mat mentioned in this episode. I use the 4-oz portion for the starchy/carbohydrate foods and each of the smaller 2 oz portions for 1 small serving of protein and 1 small serving of fruit or vegetable. You can get 15% off everything at ezpzfun.com with the code BABYLED and this is my affiliate code.

• 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 6: What Shape & Size Should My Baby’s Food Be at First?

• Episode 16: 10 Easy Starter Foods for Baby-Led Weaning

• Episode 25: Schedule for First 5 Days of 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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#132: Before your baby starts solid foods, there is one thing I hope every parent does: take an infant CPR course.

While choking is rare, it is a very real risk. Knowing how to reduce choking risk…and what to do if your baby does choke, can give you the confidence to safely start solid foods.

In this episode, I’m joined by Brandon Doersken from Thrive Training Institute to talk about why infant CPR is so important before starting solid foods, common choking hazards to avoid, and why every parent and caregiver should know the basics of infant CPR.

If you’re getting ready to start solid foods, this episode will help you feel more prepared, more confident, and ready for this exciting milestone.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why infant CPR is an important skill to refresh before your baby starts solid foods

2. How to reduce choking risk during meals and recognize common choking hazards around your home

3. Who else should know infant CPR if they will be feeding or caring for your baby

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/132

Links from This Episode:

• The code KATIE10 works for $10 off all of these online courses. That is my affiliate discount code and these are affiliate links:

Online CPR course

Online First Aid course

Online CPR + First Aid course bundle

• 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

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#131: What do you do if your baby is diagnosed with a cow’s milk protein allergy just as you’re starting solid foods?

While most babies can safely eat dairy, cow’s milk protein allergy is one of the most common food allergies in infancy. If dairy is off the table, it can suddenly feel like everything you planned to feed your baby needs to change.

In this episode, I’m joined by The Allergy Chef, Kathlena, to share practical tips for cooking and preparing dairy-free foods for your baby. You’ll learn how to read food labels with more confidence, understand allergen statements, and make simple dairy-free swaps for ingredients like milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, and buttermilk so you can continue offering a wide variety of safe, nutritious foods as your baby learns to eat.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to make simple dairy-free swaps for milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, and buttermilk when preparing foods for your baby.

2. What food labels and allergen statements really mean—and how to shop with more confidence if your baby has a cow’s milk protein allergy.

3. Why dairy-free cooking doesn’t have to limit the variety of foods your baby can safely enjoy while starting solid foods.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/131

Links from This Episode:

• 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 13 - Milk Protein: How to Introduce Your Baby to this Potentially Allergenic Food

• Episode 286 - Is My Baby Dairy Intolerant? Food Protein Induced Allergic Proctocolitis (FPIAP) with Marion Groetch, MS, RDN

• Episode 368 - Using a Milk Ladder for Babies with Dairy Allergy with Carina Venter, PhD, RD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#130: Do you really need to have Benadryl on hand before introducing your baby to the Top 9 allergenic foods?

In this episode, I sit down with pediatrician Dr. Phil Boucher to talk about why he no longer recommends Benadryl for babies, what he suggests instead, and how to be prepared (without being afraid) when starting solid foods. You’ll learn what allergic reactions can look like, when to call your pediatrician, and how to introduce allergenic foods with confidence.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why Dr. Phil Boucher no longer recommends Benadryl for babies and what he prefers parents have on hand instead when introducing allergenic foods.

2. How to recognize the difference between a mild allergic reaction, a contact rash, and signs of a more serious food allergy that require medical attention.

3. What you can do to feel prepared—not fearful—when introducing your baby to the Top 9 allergenic foods for the first time.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/blogs/podcasts/130

Links from this episode:

• Follow on IG , Follow on FB

• Join Dr. Boucher’s Raising Good Parents Community FB grouphere

• Link to Pediatrician-Developed Parenting Courses including Mighty Sleepers Course, Potty Training for Lazy Parents, & Unpicky Eaters here

• YouTube channel Raising Good Parents

• 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 60 - From Fear to Food: The New Rules for Introducing Allergenic Foods with Kelly Clear, MD, FAAP

• Episode 123 - Help! My Baby Has a Contact Rash from a New Food with Ron Sunog, MD

• Episode 468 - Oral Food Challenges: Try Allergenic Foods at Home vs. the Doctor's Office? with @allergykidsdoc David Stukus, MD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#129: If your baby has eczema, you may have heard that it could increase their risk of developing a food allergy. But what does the research actually say, and what should you do when you’re introducing allergenic foods?

In this episode, I sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Hartman to unpack the connection between eczema and food allergy risk. We talk about why the skin barrier matters, how eczema severity affects risk, what signs of an allergic reaction parents should watch for, and practical ways to care for your baby’s skin while starting solid foods.

If you’re feeling nervous about introducing foods like peanut or egg because your baby has eczema, this episode will help you better understand the evidence and leave you feeling more confident about your next steps.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How eczema may affect your baby’s risk of developing food allergies and what the latest research says

2. What the difference is between mild, moderate, and severe eczema and why that matters when starting allergenic foods

3. How to recognize signs of an allergic reaction and support your baby’s skin barrier during the transition to solid foods

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/129

Links from This Episode:

• 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 60 - From Fear to Food: The New Rules for Introducing Allergenic Foods with Kelly Clear, MD, FAAP

• Episode 274 - Baby Has Skin Reactions to Milk, Egg and Peanut: What Should I Do Next? with Carina Venter, PhD, RDN

• Episode 382 - Food Allergy Prevention 101 with Tina Sindher, MD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#128: Food allergies are serious…but the only way to help lower your baby’s risk of food allergy is to offer allergenic foods early and often. Easier said than done, right?

In this Ask Me Anything episode, I’m answering eight real questions from parents about safely introducing allergenic foods. We’ll cover how much to offer the first time, whether you really need to wait three to five days between new foods, what an allergic reaction looks like, and more.

If you’ve been nervous about introducing peanut, egg, shellfish, or other allergenic foods, this episode will give you the confidence and practical strategies to get started safely.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to safely introduce the top allergenic foods without letting fear delay your baby’s progress with solid foods

2. What an allergic reaction looks like in babies and how to tell the difference between a true food allergy and a common feeding reaction

3. Why introducing allergenic foods early and offering them regularly can help lower your baby’s risk of developing food allergies

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/128

Links from This Episode:

• Get 15% off Puffworks Baby peanut puffs with code BLWPOD - click here to shop

• 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 11 - How to Introduce Allergenic Foods to Your Baby

• Episode 58 - What do I do if My Baby Has an Allergic Reaction? with Ron Sunog, MD

• Episode 84 - Why You DON'T Need to Wait 3-5 Days Between New Foods with Carina Venter, PhD, RD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#127: Thinking about raising your baby on a vegetarian or vegan diet? Wondering if it’s possible to do baby-led weaning without meat?

In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitians Alexandra Caspero and Whitney English of Plant-Based Juniors, authors of The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler. Together, we tackle some of the biggest questions plant-based families have when starting solid foods, including how to meet your baby’s nutrient needs, support iron intake, and approach the Top 9 allergenic foods if your family doesn’t eat animal products.

Whether your family is fully plant-based or you’re simply looking to include more plant foods at mealtimes, this episode offers practical, evidence-based guidance to help you feed your baby with confidence.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How plant-based babies can meet important nutrient needs like iron.

2. How vegetarian and vegan families can approach introducing the Top 9 allergenic foods.

3. The difference between vegan and predominantly plant-based eating, and why it matters when feeding your baby.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/127

Links from This Episode:

• Follow Alex and Whitney on their account for Plant Based Juniors on Instagram at @plantbasedjuniors & FB page here

• Check out Alex and Whitney’s new book The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler here

• Check out the Plant-Based Junior’s Website here

• 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 203 - Vegan Mom, Cattle-Rancher Dad & a BLW Baby: Family Feeding Dynamics with Suzy Quebbeman

• Episode 375 - Plant Based Sources of Iron

• Episode 493 - Vegetarian Baby-Led Weaning: A Practical Guide for Plant-Based Families

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 save $50 when you sign up using the code BLWPOD50

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#126: You spent years studying nutrition…so why can starting solid foods with your own baby still feel so overwhelming?

If you’re a dietitian who is also a new mom, this episode is for you. I’m sharing why so many RDs feel underprepared to counsel families on baby-led weaning, even though we are the nutrition experts. We’ll talk about the education gap around readiness, choking-risk reduction, allergens, texture progression, responsive feeding, and the practical skills families are already asking us about.

I’ll also share why baby-led weaning can be more than something you want to learn for your own baby. It may also be the specialized career niche you’ve been looking for. Plus, I’ll tell you about our new Baby-Led Weaning Certification Course for Dietitians and how to join the founding members cohort before enrollment closes July 17 using code BLWDAY for 40% off at http://blwpro.org.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why so many dietitians feel underprepared to counsel families on baby-led weaning—even though we’re the food and nutrition experts—and where the biggest education gaps still exist.

2. How to confidently answer the questions parents are already asking about readiness to eat, gagging versus choking, allergen introduction, texture progression, and responsive feeding using an evidence-based approach.

3. What it takes to specialize in baby-led weaning as a dietitian, who the new Baby-Led Weaning Certification Course is designed for, and how it can help you build confidence in your practice while creating new career opportunities.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/126

Links from This Episode:

• Join the Founding Members summer cohort of the Baby-Led Weaning Certification Course for Dietitians that starts July 20, 2026. Use code BLWDAY for 40% off registration at https://blwpro.org/ - Registration closes July 17, 2026

• 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 (this program is approved for 30 CPEUs for Registered Dietitians)

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

• Episode 370 - Why Do Some Feeding Therapists Disagree with Baby-Led Weaning? with Jill Rabin, MS, CCC-SLP, IBCLC

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

#125: Worried your baby might be allergic to a food you haven’t even offered yet? You’re not alone. Many parents feel anxious about introducing allergenic foods, and food allergy testing can seem like the safest first step…but unnecessary testing can actually create more confusion and fear.

In this episode, pediatric allergist Dr. David Stukus explains why false positive food allergy test results are so common, why most babies do not need allergy testing before trying allergenic foods, and what parents should actually watch for when offering new foods. You’ll learn why feeding your baby allergenic foods early and often is one of the best ways to help lower food allergy risk — and how to feel more confident doing it.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why false positive food allergy test results are so common and how unnecessary testing can make starting solid foods feel scarier than it needs to be

2. What to do if your baby reacts to one food and your pediatrician recommends a large panel of allergy tests

3. How to introduce allergenic foods to your baby in a way that helps you watch for real reactions without relying on unnecessary testing

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/125

Links from This Episode:

• Follow Dr. Stukus on Instagram and Twitter @allergykidsdoc

• Dr. Stukus is the Director of Nationwide Children’s Food Allergy Treatment Center

• He’s also the host of AAAAI’s podcast “Conversations from the World of Allergy”

• 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 11 - How to Introduce Allergenic Foods to Your Baby

• Episode 58 - What do I do if My Baby Has an Allergic Reaction? with Ron Sunog, MD

• Episode 468 - Oral Food Challenges: Try Allergenic Foods at Home vs. the Doctor's Office? with @allergykidsdoc David Stukus, MD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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 https://megaphone.fm/adchoices