Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro

Latest Episodes:

Where did Picky Eating Come From? with Helen Zoe Veit Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

#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 childhood…and what changed in our food culture to get us here.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Which foods kids used to eat willingly and how whack-o the picky eating landscape is today

2. How to avoid early kid food traps to help your child experience “pleasant hunger” at mealtimes

3. Where Helen’s mealtime confidence superpower comes from and how it keeps picky eating at bay

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/98

Links from This Episode:

• Buy Helen’s book Picky on Amazon here (this is an affiliate link):https://amzn.to/3ZYM261

• Visit Helen’s Michigan State University Faculty Page here: https://history.msu.edu/people/faculty/helen-veit/

• 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 36 - Preventing Severe Picky Eating from Your Baby's First Bites with Dr. Katja Rowell

• Episode 306 - Picky Eating Prevention Tips with Stephanie Cohen, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC

• Episode 462 - Is this Picky Eating or ARFID? with Rosan Meyer, 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!

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Mushrooms: How to Offer Mushrooms Safely to Babies Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

#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 safe for baby-led weaning.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why mushrooms are one of the trickiest textured foods for early eaters…and why sautéed mushrooms don’t reliably pass the squish test for 6–7 month olds

2. When your baby can try mushrooms (and how to think about frequency and “how much” without stressing about exact intake)

3. How to offer mushrooms safely as a finger food so your baby can actually self-feed this fabulous food

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/97

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 33 - Salt: 3 Easy Ways to Minimize Sodium for Your Baby

• Episode 75 - Canned Foods that CAN Work for 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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Talk to Your Pediatrician About BLW with @pedsdoctalk Mona Amin, DO Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

#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 (@pedsdoctalk) also shares what starting solid foods looked like with her first baby—and what changed (a lot!) with her second—so you can feel more prepared no matter what your feeding journey looks like.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to talk to your pediatrician about baby-led weaning when they’re skeptical, without getting defensive or backing down

2. What to say when the concerns are choking, gagging, allergenic foods, or iron (and how to separate real medical issues from outdated advice)

3. Why starting solid foods looked different from baby to baby and how Dr. Mona handled baby-led weaning differently with her second baby

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/96

Links from This Episode:

• Follow Dr. Mona Amin on Instagram @pedsdoctalk

• Check out Dr. Mona’s podcast The Peds Doc Talk podcast here

• Her website is here & her YouTube Channel 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 58 “What do I do if My Baby Has an Allergic Reaction? with Ron Sunog, MD” here

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

• Episode 380 - Why Doctors STILL Aren't Talking About Introducing Allergenic Foods with Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Make Slippery Foods Easier to Pick Up (+ Add Iron) with these 5 Ingredient Hacks Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

#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, pears, and cooked apples) easier for your baby to pick up…without taking over the feeding.

2. Why adding an iron “coating” is a simple way to boost iron intake when your baby is starting solid foods.

3. What 5 quick pantry ingredients you can use to add traction + iron in seconds, so meals feel less frustrating.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/95

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

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 3 Naps to 2: The 8-Month Routine Reset for Sleeping + Eating with Alejandra Zuniga Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

#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 foods can work together.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to recognize the signs your baby is ready to move from 3 naps to 2 around 8 months

2. Why solid foods, milk intake changes, and sleep shifts can affect each other.

3. How to improve mealtime attention and family dynamics by understanding the role sleep plays at the table.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/94

Links from This Episode:

• Visit Alejandra’s website for sleep help at https://www.easynightsgsc.com/

• 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 17 - Feeding Schedules: How Often Should I Feed My Baby?

• Episode 146 - Setting Your Baby's Sleep Schedule when Starting Solids with @sleepfullbaby Aubrie DeBear, PsyD

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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

Reintroducing Familiar Foods Back on Your Baby's Plate Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

#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 very next meal to build diet diversity into your feeding plan without overthinking it.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. How to keep moving forward with one new food a day while still reintroducing familiar foods so they actually stick

2. Why “one-and-done” food exposures don’t build diet diversity…and what to do instead (even if your baby spits the first food out!)

3. What a simple, not-overwhelming plate and rotation routine looks like for your baby at different ages (6–7, 8–9, and 10+ months)

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/93

Links from This Episode:

• Get 15% off all ezpz feeding gear with the code BABYLED when you shop here

• My favorite ezpz bowl for introducing new finger foods is the ezpz Mini Bowl • My favorite ezpz mat for offering 3 different foods at a time is the ezpz Mini Mat • 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 45 - How to Balance Your Baby’s BLW Plate is here

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Choose a Safe Seat for Your Baby to Eat with Kirsti Vandraas Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

#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 move their arms freely. Kirsti also explains why high chair designs and safety standards can vary between countries, and what parents can do to create a safer, more comfortable eating setup at home.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why high chair expectations differ in the U.S. vs. Europe, and how that shapes designs that bring your baby right up to the table for family meals (often without a tray).

2. How straps and restrictive setups can get in the way of functional movement at meals—and when kids are developmentally ready for more freedom in their seat.

3. Why a truly adjustable footrest matters for stability and torso control, supporting an upright “ready-to-eat” posture from your baby’s first bites.

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/92

Links from This Episode:

Stokke Tripp Trapp

• The free tray gift with purchase offer is no longer available for the ⁠Tripp Trapp High Chair ⁠but you can get a free ⁠Tripp Trapp storage⁠ ($40 value) when you purchase the Tripp Trapp using the code BABYLED

Stokke Clikk High Chair

• The free storage bag offer is no longer available for the Stokke Clikk but you can get a free Clikk cushion ($49 value) when you purchase the ⁠Stokke Clikk high chair⁠ using the code 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 7 - Why Your Baby’s High Chair Needs a Footrest

• Episode 488 - Best High Chairs for Baby-Led Weaning

• Episode 490 - Tripp Trapp vs. Nomi High Chair: Which One is Better?

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pantry Planning for Baby-Led Weaning Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

#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 feels expensive, confusing, or stressful, this episode will help you simplify and feel confident moving forward.

Listen to this episode to learn:

• Why you don’t need a separate “baby pantry” to start solid foods…and how to use shelf-stable foods you already have to support baby-led weaning

• What to look for on food labels so you can quickly choose pantry foods that are low in sodium, free from added sugar, and appropriate for your baby

• How pantry planning makes starting solid foods less overwhelming and helps you consistently offer a wider variety of foods with confidence Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/91

Links from This Episode:

• Grab your free copy of the Baby-Led Weaning Pantry Planning guide by clicking 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 5 - The Purees for a Few Days™ Approach to Starting Solid Foods with Baby-Led Weaning: a Feeding Guide

• Episode 75 - 10 Safe Canned Foods for Baby-Led Weaning: What to Buy (and What to Avoid)

• Episode 89 - Freezer Aisle Finds for 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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Big Sister’s Perspective on Picky Eating with Molly Ferraro Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

#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 feed themselves, while older kids are still figuring out their own relationship with food.

We talk about why baby-led weaning doesn’t promise to prevent picky eating (but can help make it less intense) and share practical ways to involve older siblings in the kitchen and at the table when your baby is learning how to eat.

This episode is especially helpful if you’re worried about “messing it up again” with your baby or wondering how to manage different eating stages under the same roof.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why baby-led weaning doesn’t prevent picky eating—but can make it less intense and easier to manage

2. How to involve older siblings in the kitchen and at the table when your baby is starting solid foods

3. Practical ways to support a more selective eater without pressure while your baby learns to self-feed

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/90

Links from This Episode:

• Little Partners Learning Tower - we have 2 of these that you pull up to the counter so your toddlers and bigger kids can safely help you cook. Linking to this tower on Amazon here (this is an affiliate link).

• Check out Dani Lebovitz’s books about fruits and vegetables… she has tons of resources for getting kids more aware about produce, teaching them in age appropriate ways & her site with all of her resources is here and she’s on Instagram @kids.food.explorers

• Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: https://babyledweaning.co/program and get $50 off 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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freezer Aisle Finds for Baby-Led Weaning Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

#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 just might change how you shop!

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Which frozen foods are actually safe for baby-led weaning…and how to spot low-sodium, no–added sugar options without overthinking labels

2. How to save time and mental energy while starting solid foods, using freezer aisle staples that work for real life, not just Pinterest boards

3. What it’s like to feel more confident at the grocery store, knowing what to buy, what to skip, and how frozen foods can fit into feeding your baby safely

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/89

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 get $50 off 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 33 - Salt: 3 Easy Ways to Minimize Sodium for Your Baby

• Episode 75 - 10 Safe Canned Foods for Baby-Led Weaning: What to Buy (and What to Avoid)

• Episode 111 - Grocery Shopping for BLW: Stocking Up Smart & What to Skip

🌱 🌱🌱🌱 🌱

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.

💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

👀 👀 👀 👀 👀

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.

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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