Blog - Baby Led Weaning + Toddler Nutrition

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The New Ways Nutrition Blog

Join me as I talk about all things family and childhood nutrition related. If you have a burning question or topic you would like me to address, be sure to let me know by following me on Instagram and Facebook, or write me a note here!

Can babies have sugar? When should you introduce sugars to toddlers? Is it ok to give sweets to babies? All of these are common questions parents have! Find out from a pediatric dietitian how to handle sugar to keep your kids healthy and help them have a healthy relationship with food as they grow!

Childhood Nutrition

How to Handle Sugar for Babies and Toddlers

Today we’re talking all things sugar! Can your baby have sugar? What about your toddler? ...

How to transition your baby to milk is a very common concern! How do you actually wean your baby off of breastmilk? Or help your baby to switch from formula to cow's milk? How about changing from a bottle to a cup? So many questions! Click through for all the answers from a pediatric dietitian!

Childhood Nutrition

How to Transition Your Baby To Milk

How to transition your baby to milk from breast milk or formula can leave even ...

Do you find yourself serving the same thing to your toddler? Wondering if you can serve baby the same food every day? Learn the most important thing you can do for your child's diet here, and just why your focus should be on serving a varied, nutrient-rich diet in the first two years of your child's life!

Childhood Nutrition

Can I Serve My Baby the Same Food Every Day?

One of the most common questions I get every week is something along the lines ...

Toddler portion sizes can be so confusing. How much should you be giving of each food? Do you need to worry when your toddler doesn't eat all of something? What if I told you that serving sizes for toddlers should be thrown out the window? Click through for what I recommend instead to help keep meals low stress, and help you feel confident in what your child is eating.

Childhood Nutrition

Toddler Portion Sizes- How Much Food Is Too Much?

What are the right portion sizes for your baby? Do you need to know toddler ...

Toddler food throwing can be a big problem! Whether your toddler is throwing food, or throwing their plates and cups, learn strategies from a feeding specialist to help you nip them in the bud! With tips for babies and toddlers, as well as specific help for lots of different situations, click through for details and to help get meals back on track. #foodthrowing #toddlermeals

Childhood Nutrition

How to Stop Toddler Food Throwing

As your baby starts to learn that they are an independent person they will inevitably ...

There are so many different concerns out there about milks for toddlers. From what the best milks for toddlers are to whether they even need a milk, what to do if you're still breastfeeding your toddler, and the best non dairy milk options, I'm going into depth about it all. The best toddler milk doesn't need to be confusing!

Childhood Nutrition

The Best Toddler Milk

I’m sure you’ve heard it by now. The general recommendation is to start your toddler ...

Having a kid who isn't gaining weight can be nerve wracking. Get tips here from a feeding expert to help you learn how to safely help your child gain weight, including a food list of high calorie foods and tips for how to serve them.

Childhood Nutrition

How to Help Your Child Gain Weight

Are you worried about how you child is growing? Have you been told they need ...

Are you interested in Baby Led Weaning but not sure about all the different rules you have to follow? What if I told you that there aren't any rules, other than a few guidelines that are strictly for safety? Baby led weaning gets a bad rap for being rigid, but as a pediatric dietitian and feeding specialist I'm here to tell you that those rules aren't necessary! Find out here what you really need to know about BLW, what it is and what it isn't, and how you can use it to make mealtimes fun!

Starting Solids

What is Baby Led Weaning, and Why Does it Get a Bad Rap?

Have you heard about Baby Led Weaning but just aren’t sure about it? Heard horror ...

Do you have a toddler who is starting to want to snack all the time? Or constantly saying that they're hungry? Learn why you should implement a feeding schedule for toddlers, and how it can help save your sanity as well as improve your child's eating habits exponentially. Get tips here from a registered dietitian and child feeding expert!

Childhood Nutrition

Why a Feeding Schedule for Toddlers is Important

Setting up a feeding schedule for toddlers is one of the best ways parents can ...

Are you ready to do baby led weaning but don't know quite how to start? As a pediatric dietitian and feeding expert, I'll guide you through exactly how to cut foods for baby led weaning. Including lots of options, examples, and instructions to help you feel confident that you know what you're doing with BLW! #babyledweaning #blw

Starting Solids

How to Cut Foods for Baby Led Weaning

Are you wondering how to cut foods for Baby Led Weaning? Keep reading below as ...

A delicious baby-friendly skillet pancake recipe that is quick and healthy. Great for weekend breakfasts and Sunday brunches, it won't leave you standing over the stove for hours. Perfect for baby-led weaning and eating with the whole family. #babyledweaningrecipes #breakfast #easybreakfast #pancakes

Baby-Friendly Raspberry Skillet Pancake

A skillet pancake that is delicious and fluffy, baby and parent friendly, and doesn’t involve ...

Ready to start baby led weaning, but looking for some good ideas about healthy baby led weaning first foods to feed your baby? Babies need specific nutrients, and feeding them exactly what you are eating often doesn't get them what they need. Find out how to build a balanced and healthy plate for your baby that will help them thrive as they grow! #babyledweaning #firstfoods

Starting Solids

Baby Led Weaning: First Foods

Once you’ve got a plan together for how you want to feed your baby, it's ...

Do you struggle to come up with nutritious meals and snacks that are easy for your toddler or baby to eat? Here are 20 dietitian approved finger foods recipes to help you feed your baby or toddler healthy meals. Baby led weaning friendly, and all recipes are suitable as healthy baby led weaning recipe options. #babyledweaning #toddlermeals #healthykidsfood #fingerfoods

20 Finger Foods Recipes for Toddlers and Baby Led Weaning

It can be exhausting trying to come up with ideas of nutritious foods to feed ...

Are you on the fence about baby led weaning? Wondering if it is safe to combine baby led weaning and traditional weaning? Get the scoop from a child feeding expert about whether combining methods increases your baby's choking risk, and whether you should do a 2 week reset period if you've ever served your baby purees. #babyledweaning #blw #startingsolids #firstfoods

Starting Solids

Is It Safe to Combine Traditional and Baby Led Weaning?

It’s a common question that so many parents have. Can you combine traditional and baby ...

Are you interested in baby led weaning? Maybe you've heard about it but aren't sure what the benefits of baby led weaning are? Between worrying about choking with baby led weaning to the mess involved, there are all sorts of concerns that parents have about this method. Click through to read about these 7 things you need to know before you start to help set your mind at ease and make feeding your baby as stress free as possible!

Starting Solids

Baby Led Weaning: The 7 Things You Should Know Before Starting

Baby led weaning is such a great tool for parents to have access to when ...

Tired of mealtime battles with your kids? Whether they are about to start solid foods or they are school-aged, using the Division of Responsibility in feeding can help you to prevent, or end, food battles now! Learn from a feeding specialist how to start, and things you need to know before starting. #divisionofresponsibility #feedingtips #pickyeating

Childhood Nutrition

The Division of Responsibility in Feeding

Have you heard of the Division of Responsibility? It’s an important tool that can help ...

Do you know the best ways to use leftovers? Do you batch cook, and then reuse one ingredient multiple times? Do you turn your leftovers into a whole other meal entirely? Click through for tips from a dietitian on the best and healthiest ways to use leftovers to feed your family! #familymeals #leftovers

The Best Ways to Use Leftovers

My family has always eaten leftovers. I grew up on them, and have eaten them ...

Babies can start practicing their spoon skills as soon as they take their first bite! Learn how to teach your baby to use a spoon, what to expect as you do, and how you can expect them to progress as they learn how to use a spoon. #babynutrition

Starting Solids

How to Teach Your Baby to Use a Spoon

One of the most common questions I get is about how to teach a baby ...

Do you know what the best baby cups are for your child? Not just from a mom standpoint, but from a development standpoint? Learn from a feeding specialist what you should be looking for when buying cups for your baby! #babycups #bestbabycups

Starting Solids

The Best Baby Cups

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links that earn me a small ...

Having the right fridge and freezer staples can make or break a last minute meal. Learn tried and true dietitian secrets for always having the staples you need to make healthy family meals. Need to know what to do when you haven’t meal planned? Click through for the staples you shouldn’t be without! #familymealideas #healthymeals #mealtimetips

Fridge and Freezer Staples for Quick Family Meals

As promised, today’s post is going into detail about the fridge and freezer staples that ...

A stocked pantry is the best tool you have for making quick and healthy family meals. Whether it's breakfast, dinner, or a baking project with your kid, having all of your pantry staples stocked helps to ensure you can make meals whether you've planned ahead of not. Get tips here from a registered dietitian about the essentials of a well stocked pantry and what you should always have on hand! #dietitian #pantrystaples #quickmeals

Pantry Staples for Quick Family Meals

Do you have a well stocked pantry full of pantry staples for quick meals?I ask ...

Is it really worth it to buy an expensive stokke high chair? The Stokke Tripp Trapp is much more expensive than the Ikea Antilop, does it really make a difference in feeding your baby? The answer is yes! Find out what you should be looking for when it comes to feeding your baby, and what is important to have in a high chair. Whether you are planning your baby registry of already feeding your baby, check out these important tips! #feedingtips #childnutrition #besthighchairs

Starting Solids

The Stokke High Chair or the Ikea High Chair: Which Is the Best High Chair for Your Baby

Why am I talking about the Stokke high chair or the Ikea high chair? What's ...

Learn about the top choking hazards for kids under 4, as well as what the top choking hazards for baby led weaning, and infant choking in general, are. Did you know that peanut butter can be a choking hazard? Find out what else makes the list, plus how to serve the top choking hazards safely to your kids and babies! #chokinghazards #dietitian #kidchokinghazards

Childhood Nutrition

The Top Choking Hazards for Kids Under 4

Can you name the choking hazards for kids under 4? How about for babies? These are ...

How do you help your baby learn to feed themselves? Or maybe you're focused on getting more veggies into your kids or your baby? Or maybe you want to find out how to teach your baby to use a spoon or fork? While there are many methods you can try, here is an easy, hands off parenting hack to help you teach your baby how to feed themselves. It also works wonders for teaching older kids how to act at the table! #selffeeding #blw #parentinghack #dietitian

Starting Solids

How to Help Your Baby Learn to Feed Themselves

Having a baby, or even a toddler, that can feed themselves is something that most ...

Everything you need to know about what to feed a 1 year old. Can you give a one year old sugar? How about can you give a one year old salt? Click through for all the details! #dietitian #1yearold #toddlerfood

Childhood Nutrition

1 Year Old Baby Food- What Changes Should You Know About?

What Changes at 1?With a 1 year old baby, it seems like everything is changing, ...

Trying to get your body back after pregnancy isn't all it's cracked up to be! Learn the importance of your own body image for your health, as well as it's effect on your child's body image. Get actionable tips on how to create a supportive environment for your entire family, and instill body positivity in your kids. #bodypositive #nodiet #postpartumbody

Childhood Nutrition

How Your Postpartum Body Affects Your Child

My Postpartum Body Reality CheckAbout a week after I gave birth to my daughter I ...

Childhood Nutrition

The Best Plastic-Free Products for Babies and Kids

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking these links, at no extra cost to you, ...

The healthiest bread for babies can be complicated and confusing! Do you know how to choose bread that is safe for baby? Get recommendations from a dietitian by clicking through. Be confident in what you're feeding your baby! #babyledweaning #babynutrition #breadforbabies

Starting Solids

The Best Bread for Babies

One of the best tricks for feeding your newly-eating baby is to pretty much put ...

Starting Solids

How to Keep Your Baby from Choking

When most people look at a baby that is gagging, they get incredibly anxious. I ...

This easy and healthy fruit-sweetened smash cake is a great option for your baby's 1st birthday. Fruit-sweetend with bananas and strawberries, and a simple whip cream frosting to top it off! #firstbirthdaysmashcake #healthycake #fruitsweetened #nosugar

Delicious Fruit-Sweetened Smash Cake

When we first started planning my daughter’s recent 1st birthday party, I had no intention ...

One of the most important nutrients during pregnancy and breastfeeding is Omega 3's. They can help with baby brain, eye, and communication development! But can you get all the benefits from the supplements instead of the food sources? #pregnancynutrition #whattoeatinpregnancy #babynutrition #foodsforbreastfeeding

Do you or your baby need Omega 3 supplements?

When you're pregnant or breastfeeding, there are a million recommendations for what you should be ...

Childhood Nutrition

The Best Milk for Babies After 1

Here in the States, it is generally assumed that at one year old babies will ...

Do you know what the best finger foods for babies are? The right texture and size can be overwhelming to figure out when you are introducing solids. Learn what is safe for your baby in their first foods! #blw #childnutrition

Starting Solids

The Best Finger Foods for Babies

When you’re just starting to feed your baby solid foods, it can be overwhelming figuring ...

This easy kale salad recipe is a great clean out the fridge meal! It's full of healthy ingredients, with a super simple balsamic dressing to top it off. Enjoy this simple summer salad with your family today! #healthyrecipes #healthykalesalad

Kale Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

I am a huge fan of clean out your fridge recipes. In winter, that usually ...

Do you know the foods to avoid for babies? As you start introducing solids, it's important to be aware of what you should avoid, like honey! Find out why and what other foods you should avoid by clicking through! #blw #childnutrition #babyledweaning

Starting Solids

Foods to Avoid For Babies in Their First Year

As a dietitian, I take a pretty liberal approach to what you should and shouldn’t ...

These delicious baby friendly cookies are full of healthy ingredients and perfect heatly baby cookie for baby led weaning. You'll love them too! They are fruit sweetened cookies, with no added sweeteners, and a great texture. Dried apricots add a flavor boost as well as are iron rich. A great recipe for your freezer stash, and a perfect diaper bag cookie and travel snack for you and your baby. #babysnacks #travelsnacks #healthycookies #blw #babyledweaning

Baby Led Weaning Recipes

Baby Cookies

When we first started feeding my daughter solid foods, I was constantly on the look ...

Should you be giving your baby water? There are lots of anecdotal recommendations out there. Click through to find out the official recommendations to help you make the best decision for your baby. #babynutrition #blw #babyledweaning #drinksforbaby

When Can You Give A Baby Water?

Ever wonder when you should be giving your baby water? Read on for the latest ...

Delicious baby and family friendly recipe. Baby led weaning idea, baby food recipe. #blw #babyledweaning #healthydinnerrecipe #quickfamilymeals

Baby Led Weaning Recipes

Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese with Kale Chips

Today marks the release of my first recipe! Over the last few months, I have ...

Most parents have a lot of questions when it comes to the best yogurt for babies. Should it be organic? Does it need to be plain? Click through for all the details! #babynutrition #yogurt #babyyogurt

Childhood Nutrition

What’s the Best Yogurt for Babies?

Believe it or not, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes ...

Drinks for kids are a common area of concern for parents. Should you be giving your baby more water or milk? How about should kids have juice? Click through for all the details! #drinksforkids #childnutrition #babynutrition

Childhood Nutrition

Which Drinks for Kids Are Best?

Drinks and Kids. They're a common topic of concern for parents. Should they stick with ...

Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas to help you serve balanced meals to your 6 month old. #blw #babyledweaning #fingerfoods #babyfoodideas

Dinner Ideas for a 6 Month Old

The BasicsI'm back with the third installment of meal ideas, this time it's dinner ideas ...

You have likely heard you should be careful about how much salt is in your baby's food. Click through for the specific recommendations to help you determine how much is too much! #babyfood #healthybabyfood #blw #babyledweaning

Is Salt in Baby Food Okay?

As a parent of a newly-eating baby, you are likely aware of the salt in ...

How many meals should your baby be eating? Advice from a pediatric nutritionist based on age ranges to help guide you and put your mind at ease! #babynutrition #firstfoods #whattofeedbaby #babyfood

Starting Solids

How Many Meals Should Your Baby Be Eating?

So you’ve got this feeding thing underway now. Your baby has met all the developmental ...

A common question I receive from parents is about how much gagging is okay when a baby is first starting solid foods. While this is a hard question to answer definitively, I will try and provide a few guidelines to ease your mind. Gagging vs Choking: A Reminder Gagging is a normal part of the learning process. A baby’s gag reflex is much closer to the front of their mouth than an adult’s, meaning it is much easier for them to gag on food. Gagging means your baby is learning, and is not necessarily a bad thing. Choking, on the other hand, can be very serious. Choking is when food gets lodged in a baby’s throat and prevents breathing. I hate the thought of scaring any one, but I do want parents to be prepared. Your baby is likely to have one or more episodes during their time learning to eat that will appear to be very close to choking. Know that it is rare for babies to truly choke, but that is why it is important that you practice safe feeding habits and are always monitoring your baby with food. Someone in your house should also be up to date on infant CPR. This is not specific to baby self-feeding, but really, any type of feeding! Safety should always come first. Handling the Inevitable Gagging Instances A few tips: 1. Hold back your fear. Easier said than done, but give your baby

Starting Solids

Help! My Baby Keeps Gagging on Their Food

What you need to know about babies and gagging and how to keep your baby ...

Make sure your baby is getting the amount of food they need. Recommendations from a pediatric dietitian nutritionist. #babyportionsizes #babyfood #blw

Starting Solids

How Much Should My Baby Eat?

One of the most common questions I get is "How much should my baby eat?" ...

Video with texture and size recommendations for many different breakfast ideas to feed your six month old baby. #babynutrition #infantnutrition #babyfoodideas

6 Month Old Baby Food Ideas- Breakfast!

play Today we're talking about breakfasts for your baby. Making balanced meals for a 6 ...

Are you concerned about when and how to give your children peanuts? Or maybe eggs? Do you hear different recommendations from friends and family members? Here are the most recent expert recommendations on your best chance to prevent food allergies in your kids. #foodallergies #peanuts #babynutrition

How to Prevent Food Allergies in Children

Food allergies in children have always been a hot topic. Up until recently, the recommendation ...

Healthy snacks for kids can mean so many things. It's not just about the food itself, it's about when you serve it and what you serve it with, too! Find out the best ways to serve easy snacks to your kids, whether for school, at home, or on the go!

Healthy Snacks for Kids

play What do you think of when you hear the word snack? Do you immediately ...

Meal ideas for babies, with video and instructions on how to safely prepare the correct textured food! #blw #babymealideas #babyledweaning

6 Month Old Baby Food Ideas- Lunch!

play If you're like most parents, when it comes time to actually get food on ...

Iron status and anemia can be a great source of concern for parents of children of all ages. Here is a list of iron-rich foods for toddlers and babies, including vegetarian and animal sources. It can be used for kids of all ages and parents as well! #babynutrition #nutritionforkids #infantnutrition

Iron-Rich Foods for Toddlers and Babies

A frequent question I hear from parents is what is the best source of iron ...

Probiotics for Kids and Probiotics for Baby. Are they necessary? Do you need to give supplements? Can you get them from food? What are the best sources? All your questions answered here!

Hot Topics in Nutrition: Probiotics for Kids

Probiotics for kids: are they necessary? I’m taking a look at the research this week ...

Using more descriptive words than yummy and yucky when talking with your kids about food can help foster confidence with food as well as communication skills. Get your free word list to help think of better words to get you started!

Childhood Nutrition

Talking to Kids About Food

Yucky and yummy. They seem to be the words that every kid likes to declare ...

Have a trip planned right around the time your baby will start eating? Unsure how to give them what they need in an unfamiliar environment? Here are 12 tips for traveling with your baby to help your vacation go as smoothly as possible! #travelingwithbaby #6monthold #babyledweaning #blw

Starting Solids

Traveling with a Newly- Eating Baby

Traveling with a newly eating baby can be challenging, there's no sugar coating it. Everything ...

If there was one thing you could do right now to help your child succeed, would you do it? Family meals with your children have been shown to have so many benefits! Find out why, and some resources for how to start having family meals. #familymeals #feedingbabies #parenting

Childhood Nutrition

How Family Meals Can Help Your Child’s Well-Being

What if I told you that there was something you can do right now that could ...

Has your baby been eating food for a few months now? Are you ready to start giving them more challenging dishes? Find out what you should be looking for before advancing their food textures.

Starting Solids

Advancing Your Baby’s Food Textures

Now that your baby has been eating for a little while, they have likely developed ...

What first foods do babies need to thrive? Should we be concerned about calories, protein, iron, Vitamin C? What are the best foods to feed to baby to help ensure they grow well? What foods can get baby enough iron without needing a baby cereal?

Starting Solids

What Nutrients Are Important in My Baby’s First Foods?

SaveSaveSo you're officially ready to start feeding your baby solid foods. They're about 6 months ...

First Foods for Baby- Do you choose purees and traditional weaning or go for solid foods and a baby led weaning style? I'm talking about all the different feeding styles with a guide for what first foods you should feed your baby from the very beginning.

Starting Solids

First Foods: Traditional or Baby Led Weaning?

Now that you know when to start feeding your baby, it's time to get into ...

Recipe Resources Roundup- talking about those tried and true sites that will always have a foolproof recipe for you.

Recipe Resources for Mealtime Inspiration

Recipe Resources Roundup- talking about those tried and true sites that will always have a ...

Feeding Babies Part 1: Starting Solid Foods | New Ways Nutrition

Starting Solids

Feeding Babies Part 1: Starting Solid Foods

This is the first in a new series I will be doing all about how ...

Looking for healthy travel snack ideas like these healthy oat cookies for your next family roadtrip or airplane flight? Here's a bunch to help your family always have some nutritious food on hand during trips! #healthysnacks #travelsnacks #snackideas

The Best Healthy Travel Snacks for Families

We just got back from a trip to British Columbia to introduce the babe to ...

Navigating Halloween with your children | New Ways Nutrition

Childhood Nutrition

Navigating Halloween with Your Children

Halloween is just around the corner, and for most people it is a holiday ...