LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE

Gill Rapley is the co-author of the original baby-led weaning book and the founder of the BLW movement. In this second part of our 2-part interview series, Dr. Rapley is looking ahead at where she sees the BLW movement going in the future. (In episode 100 Gill Rapley discussed the earlier stages and the history of baby-led weaning.)

In this interview we’re talking about the future of baby-led weaning, including the research being done on BLW, the role of social media and how it has helped but also hindered the BLW philosophy. Dr. Rapley shares her thoughts on BLW Facebook communities and other forums, including tips on how parents can relinquish control and begin to respect their baby’s ability to safely self-feed from 6 months on.

SHOW NOTES

SUMMARY of episode

In this episode I’m joined by Gill Rapley, PhD discussing where she sees the future of baby-led warning (the movement that she started!) headed:

• How parents can relinquish control in feeding and begin to trust their baby’s inborn abilities to self-feed from 6 months on

• Why Gill Rapley disagrees with the idea of repeatedly trying foods to get the baby to “accept” the new food...and why it’s not our job to make feeding fun but to simply stop making it miserable

• Why she doesn’t intervene in Facebook groups and other forums that are misrepresenting her original intent of the philosophy of BLW and the role she sees social media playing in the future of baby-led weaning

  
  

LINKS from episode

• Episode 101 “The History of BLW with its Founding Philosopher Gill Rapley, PhD (Part 2)”

• The original BLW book “Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide” that Gill Rapley co-authored has been completely overhauled and updated for its 10th anniversary edition and is available.

• Sign up for the 100 First Foods Field Guide Waitlist!

TRANSCRIPT of episode

WANT MORE BLW INFO?!

• SUBSCRIBE to the Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy Podcast - new episodes are released on Monday and Thursday and subscribing means you’ll never miss what’s new (+ you’ll get notified about special bonus episodes too!)

• FOLLOW Katie’s baby-led weaning Instagram page @babyledweanteam for daily video trainings - lots of great info on interpreting your baby’s feeding behaviors here too!

• SIGN UP for Katie’s free online workshop “BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS: How to get your baby to try 100 foods before turning 1 without you having to spoon-feed purees or buy pouches” - everyone on the free workshop gets a copy of the 100 FIRST FOODS LIST so you can focus on trying new foods that your baby CAN and WANTS to self-feed! Sign up for this week’s workshop times.