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!
Episodes
April 30, 2026 • 32 mins
#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 micro...
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April 27, 2026 • 16 mins
#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 (....
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April 9, 2026 • 36 mins
#106: Want your baby to eat modified versions of the same meals the rest of the family is eating…without making separate food? In this episode, Ellie Krieger, RD shares practical one-pot, one-pan, and sheet pan meal ideas that make baby-led weaning easier, faster, and less stressful.
You’ll learn how to adapt family meals for your baby, offer real flavor without relying on salt, and make wholesome food without spending all day in ...
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April 7, 2026 • 22 mins
#105: If the mess of baby-led weaning feels overwhelming, you are not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down 5 practical survival skills to help you manage the mess without getting in the way of self-feeding.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. How to handle the baby-led weaning mess without getting in the way of self-feeding
2. What bibs, mats, bowls, and cleanup strategies actually make mealtimes easier
3. Why a little ...
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April 2, 2026 • 24 mins
#104: Iron is one of the nutrients parents worry about most when starting solid foods, and this episode introduces a surprisingly simple tool that may help. I’m joined by Gavin Armstrong, PhD, founder of Lucky Iron Fish, to talk about how this iron cooking tool works, how families use it in real life, and what parents should know about safety and iron intake for babies.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. How the Lucky Iron ...
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March 24, 2026 • 17 mins
#103: Not sure what to feed your baby in the very first week of starting solid foods? In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple 7-day syllabus featuring 5 easy baby-led weaning foods every baby can easily eat. I call it a syllabus because, just like any good course, this week gives you a clear structure, a logical starting point, and a step-by-step roadmap so you can begin with less overwhelm and more confidence.
Liste...
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March 19, 2026 • 32 mins
#102 In Part 2 of this conversation with Gill Rapley, PhD, the founding philosopher of the baby-led weaning approach, we look ahead at the future of baby-led weaning. Gill shares where she hopes the research will go, how social media has both helped and complicated the conversation around baby-led weaning, and why trust, respect, and shared family meals remain at the heart of the philosophy. We also explore how healthcare providers...
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March 16, 2026 • 20 mins
#101: Should your baby learn to drink from an open cup or a straw cup first? In this episode, pediatric swallowing specialist Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP, explains why open cup drinking comes first, how it supports feeding and speech development, and when to introduce a straw cup. You’ll learn the developmental reasons behind both skills and how to help your baby build confidence with drinking at mealtimes.
Listen to this episo...
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March 12, 2026 • 44 mins
#100: Gill Rapley, PhD helped give baby-led weaning its name, and more importantly, its philosophy: feeding led by your baby, not done to your baby. In Part 1 of our interview, Gill shares how baby-led weaning took shape, why waiting until babies are truly ready matters, and what she says to the skeptics who still doubt a baby’s ability to self-feed.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. How Gill’s work as a UK health visitor le...
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March 9, 2026 • 17 mins
#99: Organic foods can feel like the “best” choice for your baby…until you’re staring at the price tag and wondering if you’re cutting corners if you buy conventional. In this episode, I break down what the word organic actually means, what it changes (and what it doesn’t), and how to shop confidently on any budget, so that your baby can eat more fruits, veggies, and real foods without you feeling guilty or breaking the bank.
Li...
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March 5, 2026 • 40 mins
#98: Picky eating can feel like it comes out of nowhere…one day your baby eats everything and then the next day - boom - you have a picky eater on your hands. But did we maybe make picky eating up?
In this episode, I’m talking with food historian Helen Zoe Veit, author of Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History. Helen helps us zoom out and understand how picky eating became such a big part of modern chil...
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March 2, 2026 • 14 mins
#97 Mushrooms are one of the trickiest textured foods to offer safely to your baby…because that rubbery, spongy texture can make it hard for early eaters to manage. In this episode, I’m breaking down why sautéed mushrooms don’t reliably pass the squish test for 6–7 month olds, when your baby can try mushrooms, and why they’re worth working in early and often. Then I’ll walk you through two of my favorite ways to make mushrooms saf...
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February 26, 2026 • 31 mins
#96: If you want to do baby-led weaning but you’re worried your pediatrician won’t support it, this episode will help you walk into that conversation with more confidence. You’ll learn what to say when a doctor raises concerns about choking, gagging, allergenic foods, or “what to feed,” plus how to tell the difference between a true medical red flag and a provider who just isn’t up to date. Pediatrician and mom of two Mona Amin, DO...
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February 23, 2026 • 16 mins
#95 Slippery foods like avocado, ripe pear, banana, and cooked apples can be frustrating for your baby to pick up…especially early on before that pincer grasp kicks in. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quick “roll it in this” ingredient hacks that add traction and help you sneak in a little extra iron while your baby practices self-feeding.
Listen to this episode to learn:
1. How to make slippery foods (like avocado, banana, pear...
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February 20, 2026 • 31 mins
#94 Around 8 months, many babies start eating more confidently, drinking a little less milk, and transitioning from 3 naps to 2…so it can feel like your whole routine suddenly stops working.
In this interview, pediatric sleep specialist Alejandra Zúñiga explains what’s happening during this “8-month reset,” how sleep impacts your baby’s attention at the table and family mealtimes, and what to tweak so sleep and starting solid food...
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February 18, 2026 • 18 mins
#93 If you offered a new food once and your baby wasn’t into it, that doesn’t mean it’s a “no”...it just means it needs to come back around in your rotation. In this mini training episode, I’ll show you a simple, realistic system for reintroducing familiar foods while you keep moving forward with one new food a day, including my easy plate formula and rotation routine. You’ll leave with a concrete action step you can use at your ve...
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February 12, 2026 • 35 mins
#92: Ever wonder why some high chairs seem to “work” for starting solid foods while others leave your baby slumped, feet dangling, and frustrated? In this episode, I’m joined by physiotherapist and ergonomist Kirsti Vandraas to break down what a safe, supportive baby seat should actually do.
We cover the key features that matter most for independent eating—like a stable base, an adjustable footrest, and a setup that lets your baby...
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February 9, 2026 • 17 mins
#91: Starting solid foods doesn’t mean buying special baby food, or adding weird ingredients to your shopping list.
In this episode, I’m showing you how to use pantry staples you already have to support baby-led weaning. You’ll learn what to look for on labels, which shelf-stable foods actually work for babies, and how pantry planning can make offering new foods feel less overwhelming and more realistic.
If starting solid foods f...
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February 5, 2026 • 16 mins
#90: If you’re starting solid foods with your baby and feeding an older child who’s more selective, this episode is for you.
In this throwback conversation, I’m joined by my oldest daughter Molly, who was six years old at the time of this recording (and is now eleven). As the big sister to six younger siblings who learned to eat using baby-led weaning, Molly had a front-row seat to what it looks like when babies are allowed to fee...
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February 2, 2026 • 23 mins
#89 The freezer aisle isn’t off-limits when you’re starting solid foods…you just need to know what to look for. In this episode, I’m breaking down 5 freezer aisle finds that actually work for baby-led weaning, including what to check on labels and how to serve these foods safely to your baby. If you’ve been avoiding the middle of the store because you thought frozen foods were packed with junk your baby shouldn’t eat, this episode ...
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