
The History of Baby-Led Weaning with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 1)
Baby-Led Weaning with Katie FerraroShow Notes
#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 led her to a simple insight: many babies aren’t refusing food, they’re resisting being fed
2. Why baby-led weaning challenged the “normal” approach to starting solid foods, and what Gill says to the skeptics
3. How she and Tracey Murkett turned parent questions and real-life feeding observations into Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide
This interview is part of a 2-part series with Gill Rapley, PhD. In this episode (100) we cover the history of baby-led weaning with its founding philosopher. In the next interview with Gill (102) we will talk about her ideas for the future of BLW and where she sees the movement going and what she would like to see more of (and less of) when it comes to promoting self-feeding from baby’s first bites.
Shownotes for this episode can be found here:
https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/100
Links from This Episode:
• Gill Rapley’s book “Baby-Led Weaning: Completely Updated and Expanded Tenth Anniversary” edition available on Amazon here (this is an affiliate link). • Her website is rapleyweaning.com. • She spoke at length about the importance of Amy Brown’s research on baby-led weaning. My podcast interview with her “The Evidence Behind Baby-Led Weaning with Amy Brown, PhD” is available here. • Listen to part 2 of this interview with Gill Rapley in episode 102, “The Future of BLW with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)” here.
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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
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#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?
#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.