Debunking the Biggest Baby-Led Weaning Myths with Gill Rapley, PhD
Baby-Led Weaning with Katie FerraroShow Notes
#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 Listen to learn what really matters when starting solid foods—and which outdated rules you can stop worrying about.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 Why so many outdated baby-led weaning myths and “rules” continue to persist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
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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.
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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.
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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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More from 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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.