Episode #368: Baby Led Feeding: What Parents Need to Know with Malina Malkani, RD

Please remember that the views on this podcast and website are not meant to be substituted for medical advice, shouldn’t be used to diagnose, treat or cure any conditions, and are intended for general information purposes only.

Starting solids can feel like a confusing milestone but it does not have to be. In this episode, registered dietitian and infant feeding expert Malina Malkani joins us to unpack the latest research and practical strategies around baby led feeding, allergen introduction, and responsive feeding. Whether you are just starting solids or navigating food allergy concerns, this episode offers a reassuring and evidence-informed roadmap to help you feel confident in your feeding decisions.

We explore the difference between baby led feeding and traditional purees, when and how to safely introduce top allergens like peanut and egg, and how early feeding habits can shape a child’s long term relationship with food. Malina also shares common myths around choking, how to recognize readiness for solids, and why a flexible feeding approach often leads to less picky eating down the road.

This is a must listen for parents looking to reduce the overwhelm, ditch the food fears, and start solids with clarity and calm.

Topics Covered In This Episode:

Baby-led feeding versus traditional purees
How to prevent food allergies through early exposure
Signs of readiness for solid food
Responsive feeding and hunger cues
How to reduce choking risk with first foods
Safe ways to introduce peanut butter egg dairy and more
How feeding flexibility supports picky eating prevention
Tips for easing the mental load of starting solids

Show Notes:

Order my new BLW + FOOD ALLERGY PREVENTION cookbook!
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Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s Substack Mindset + Metabolism where women can learn how to nourish their bodies, hit their health and body composition goals, and become the most vibrant version of themselves.

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This episode’s sponsors

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This episode’s guest

Are you confused about how and when to start your baby on solid foods, or looking for ways to reduce family mealtime stress? If you need guidance on navigating picky eating and feeding your kids well without losing sight of your own nutrition needs, you’ve come to the right place! I help moms raise healthy, confident, adventurous eaters and tend to their own maternal nutrition needs as well. As a single mom of three girls and a registered dietitian nutritionist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition, I specialize in baby-led weaning and picky eating. If chaos, stress, and fatigue around food and feeding is what’s on your plate these days, I get it and have been there! Nutrition is actually my second career. For my first 10 years post-Northwestern University undergrad, I worked in the performing arts (AEA, SAG-AFTRA) as a singer, actor, dancer and model based in New York. I traveled the country with national tours and appeared in regional theater and Off-Broadway shows, independent feature films and commercials. Throughout, I felt pressure from the industry 367.