Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro
Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

Katie Ferraro

Overview
Episodes

Details

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!

Recent Episodes

How the Lucky Iron Fish Can Increase Iron Absorption with Founder & CEO Gavin Armstrong, PhD
APR 2, 2026
How the Lucky Iron Fish Can Increase Iron Absorption with Founder & CEO Gavin Armstrong, PhD
The Lucky Iron Fish is a unique kitchen tool, a piece of iron carved in the shape of a fish that you cook with for 10 minutes to release a significant amount of iron. This product is safe for babies aged 7 months+ to use and in this episode I’m interviewing the founder and CEO of Lucky Iron Fish Gavin Armstrong, PhD to learn more! If you’ve ever worried about your baby getting enough iron, or if babies who do baby-led weaning can meet their iron needs, you’re going to love what Gavin has to say. The Lucky Iron Fish is easy to use, it’s proven safe and effective and this company and product are working to reverse the devastating effects and global impact of iron deficiency.
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24 MIN
Week 1 Syllabus: First 7 Days of Starting Solid Foods
MAR 24, 2026
Week 1 Syllabus: First 7 Days of Starting Solid Foods
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.
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17 MIN
The Future of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)
MAR 19, 2026
The Future of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)
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, therapists, and parents can better support your baby’s ability to self-feed, while rethinking outdated ideas about spoon-feeding, oral skill development, and how babies learn to eat.
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32 MIN
Straw Cup vs. Open Cup: Which Comes First? with Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP
MAR 16, 2026
Straw Cup vs. Open Cup: Which Comes First? with Dawn Winkelmann, MS, CCC-SLP
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.
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20 MIN
The History of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 1)
MAR 12, 2026
The History of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 1)
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.
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44 MIN