Membership to the Starting Solids Network includes:

A comprehensive pre-made presentation to teach Starting Solids workshops to parents and professionals (speaking notes included to guide you)

Customizable handouts

• Baby Starter Foods

• Winning Food Combinations to Maximize Iron Absorption

• Your Ultimate Recipe Book for Starting Solids

• Baby Led Weaning: What Parents Need to Know

Quarterly live training events (approved for 20 CPEUs by the Commission on Dietetic Registration - CDR)

Access to the member-only group for support from a multidisciplinary network of health professionals for tough cases

Unlimited coaching with Jessica Coll, founder of the Starting Solids Network

Access to past recorded training events

Recorded Trainings

The Complete Guide To Assess a Baby Starting Solids and How To Interpret Growth Charts

During this training, Jennifer House discusses how to perform a comprehensive assessment of an infant who is starting solids and reviews how to interpret growth curves appropriately. She identifies common factors that can affect eating, when to refer to another health professional, as well as which health professional may be most appropriate in different situations. She reviews how to perform a nutrition intake assessment and how to determine energy, protein, and iron requirements.

Speaker: Jennifer House, RD, MSc

Jennifer is co-owner of the Picky Eating Network has been a registered dietitian for over 15 years. She has helped hundreds of families in their homes via her private practice First Step Nutrition. Jen has experience working at the Alberta Children’s Hospital & Kay Toomey’s Sequential Oral Sensory training. She’s passionate about helping families break the cycle of diet culture and forceful feeding.

Learning objectives:

• Discuss medical, oral motor, sensory, family meal dynamics & caregivers relationship with food

• Determine when to involve other health care providers in the baby’s care plan

• Assess growth and nutrition

• Interpret growth charts appropriately

• Apply with a case study example of a full assessment

Documentation: Customizable assessment form

How Health Professionals Answer the Most Common Questions About Baby Led Weaning (BLW)

Starting solids is an exciting time in a baby’s life. Being prepared helps ease the transition. Parents will seek guidance on what to do and what not to do, therefore as a trusted health professional it is important to be up to date with current practices and recommendations. This training will set you up for success by answering the most common questions related to BLW.

Speaker: Allegra Gast, RD, IBCLC, founder of Aloha Nutrition

Aloha Nutrition was founded by Christine “Allegra” Gast, while living in Hawaii, however she currently resides in San Angelo, TX where her husband works at the US Air Force base. Allegra has a degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She’s worked in a variety of settings including a hospital, long term care facility, a fitness center, rehab center, then Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) in Hawaii, which is where she found her passion helping mothers with their health during pregnancy and postpartum. After working with many mothers who were struggling to breastfeed, she realized she wasn’t fully qualified to help them with more serious breastfeeding issues, so she decided to become certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

Questions answered:

• What is BLW?

• Why do parents choose BLW?

• Is BLW appropriate for all babies?

• When should a baby be introduced to solids?

• How do you know if an infant is ready to start BLW?

• What are possible false signs of readiness?

• What can parents expect as “normal” when pursuing BLW?

• What if an infant bites off a chunk of food? Will they choke?

• Won’t an infant choke if given whole pieces of food?

• What is the difference between gagging and choking?

• What types of foods can be given?

• How can BLWers meet their iron needs with foods?

• What about milk feeds?

• How and when should allergens be introduced?

• Can babies have herbs and spices in their foods?

• What types of foods should be avoided?

• Is boxed baby cereal necessary?

• Can purees be given at the same time as BLW?

• If a baby is being fed purees, how can they switch to BLW?

• How often should babies be offered solid food per day?

• How much food should a baby be eating?

• Do babies need beverages?

• Should babies be given utensils?

• How can caregivers prepare for BLW in advance?

Helping Health Professionals Get The Baby Led Weaning (BLW) Facts Straight

Health professionals are looking for guidance about safe Baby Led Weaning (BLW). Join Gill Rapley, the one who coined the term BLW, to fill the gaps in knowledge. A conversation with Gill Rapley, PhD, to get the facts straight about BLW.

Speaker: Gill Rapley, PhD

Generally acknowledged to be the pioneer of baby-led weaning, or BLW. Gill first started talking about BLW in 2001 and it's since taken off around the world. In November 2015 Gill qualified as Dr. Rapley (a PhD, not a medical doctor). Her own research, together with that of others such as Professor Amy Brown, means that BLW is now being taken seriously by academics and professionals, as well as by parents - as it should be!

• Discuss how Gill Rapley discovered BLW, with Gill Rapley. 

• Discuss BLW & choking research

• Review the evidence of if babies are more at risk of choking if they start BLW and are fed purees at the same time

• Discuss with Gill Rapley common questions such as:

• Do we have any statistics on how common BLW is? 

• Can you do BLW and purees? 

• What are the top motivators parents choose BLW? 

• Does BLW help prevent picky eating? 

• Does BLW help prevent obesity? 

• Review the latest research about BLW & iron

How Intuitive Eating Aligns With Baby Led Weaning (BLW)

Just as BLW is growing in popularity as a way of feeding infants, intuitive eating is growing in popularity as way that adults can reject dieting and genuinely nourish themselves. Could the two be related? Both approaches prioritize honoring the individual's appetite and autonomy. In this training, Diana K. Rice, RD, a pediatric dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor discusses how embracing the BLW approach can help families raise children who naturally embrace their abilities as intuitive eaters.

Speaker: Diana K Rice, RD

Diana K Rice is a registered dietitian and a mom of two. Her passion is helping families have healthy relationships with food. She is a Health at Every Size (HAES®) provider and an anti-diet dietitian, who became an RD after working in media for several years. She now runs an Oklahoma-based family nutrition counseling practice where she works with both children and adults. She is also an educator and public speaker, working to inform both professionals and the general public on the benefits of utilizing a weight-inclusive approach in pediatric care.

Learning objectives:

• Identify the history, purpose and 10 principles of Intuitive Eating

• Recognize the ways in which the 10 principals of intuitive eating both are and are not appropriate for feeding infants and children

• Connect how the basic principles of baby-led weaning and the division of responsibility in child feeding as they apply in childhood to the progression of the individual to intuitive eating in adulthood

Sensory 101: How Sensory Integration Affects Babies When Starting Solids

When sensory needs arise, collaboration between health professionals is key. This training focuses on how sensory difficulties can affect babies when starting solids, identify the 8 sensory systems and how those can affect infants starting complementary foods. We discuss sensory-motor pre-requisites for the introduction of solids and go over a case study of an infant with sensory or motor difficulties that impact feeding and finish with troubleshooting basic sensory or motor difficulties for infants.

Speaker: Stephanie Swinburne, occupational therapist (OT)

Stephanie graduated from Queens University with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2009. Stephanie has 12 years of experience in pediatrics and received her sensory integration and praxis test certification in 2013. After practicing in Ontario and Texas in clinical, hospital and home settings she returned to Montreal to develop her clinical practice in pediatrics. In 2014 Stephanie opened a pediatric clinic with the aim of developing a multi-disciplinary practice to better serve the Montreal community.

Learning objectives:

• Discuss how occupational therapists can work with registered dietitians when it comes to infants starting solids. 

• Review how sensory difficulties can affect babies when starting solids.

• Identify the 8 sensory systems and how those can affect infants starting complementary foods. 

• Discuss sensory-motor pre-requisites for the introduction of solids.

• Troubleshoot basic sensory or motor difficulties for infants.
  
  

Iron, Veganism and BLW : Clearing up the Confusion

This training is for health professionals who work with parents of infants starting complementary foods, either during consultations or group workshops. Jennifer House reviews the scientific research surrounding iron, veganism, and BLW in infants.

Speaker: Jennifer House, RD, MSc

Learning objectives:

• Discuss how to make sure iron needs are met for infants doing BLW 

• Explore iron requirements for babies in different countries 

• Review the research on BLW and iron 

• Share the best sources of iron for baby & tips to increase iron intake 

• Discuss a sample meal plan to calculate iron intake 

• Assess a case study of a vegan infant following BLW and provide strategies to parents to ensure they meet nutritional needs, including other nutrients of concern

Setting Infants Up for a Positive Relationship with Food from the Start

As nutrition professionals, we want to help parents introduce complimentary foods safely and in a way that supports their children’s health through nutritious, well-rounded diets. What’s often overlooked in this space is the importance of the child’s relationship with food on their long-term health and the actions parents take that influence this relationship. This presentation will explore what a positive relationship with food is, the health benefits of fostering one and actions that practitioners can encourage parents to take foster a positive relationship with food in their children.

Speaker: Diana K Rice, RDN

Diana K Rice is a registered dietitian and a mom of two. Her passion is helping families have healthy relationships with food. She is a Health at Every Size (HAES®) provider and an anti-diet dietitian, who became an RD after working in media for several years. She now runs an Oklahoma-based family nutrition counseling practice where she works with both children and adults. She is also an educator and public speaker, working to inform both professionals and the general public on the benefits of utilizing a weight-inclusive approach in pediatric care.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize the influence of a parent’s relationship with food on a child’s eating competence, identify signs that a parent may need support for their own disordered eating and direct parents to appropriate resources.

• Describe the seven the main factors that play a role in a child’s relationship with food and demonstrate how to screen for them in clinical practice.

• Identify the existing evidence-based paradigms clinicians can use to assist families in both helping their children foster a positive relationship with food from birth onwards and apply them in clinical practice

The Professional's Guide to Adapted Baby Led Weaning for Neurodiverse Babies

Join Jill Rabin, speech pathologist, lactation consultant and co-author of Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too!, and learn about the adapted baby-led weaning approach™. Adapted baby-led weaning is an approach that follows all the principles of baby-led weaning but may require adaptations such as use of bridge devices (Silicone feeders) to assist babies with feeding challenges. Populations that can benefit from this approach include babies with complicated medical histories, babies with motoric challenges, babies with feeding aversion, preterm babies and babies with history of allergy. Learn how shape, size and texture of different foods can be used systematically and therapeutically to assist with chewing skills, jaw strength, growth and gag desensitization.

Speaker: Jill Rabin, Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

Jill Rabin is a speech pathologist, lactation consultant, co-author of Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too!, and the creator of Adapted Baby Led Weaning (ABLW). ABLW is an approach that follows all the principles of baby-led weaning but may require adaptations such as use of bridge devices (silicone feeders) to assist babies with feeding challenges. Populations that can benefit from this approach include babies with complicated medical histories, babies with motoric challenges, babies with feeding aversion, preterm babies and babies with history of allergy. Learn how shape, size and texture of different foods can be used systematically and therapeutically to assist with chewing skills, jaw strength, growth and gag desensitization.

Learning objectives:

• How to adapt BLW to neurodiverse babies (tongue tie, Down syndrome, feeding aversions, GERD, etc)

• Introduction to Jill Rabin’s sequence: types of foods offered & approach

• Explanation of the benefits of a baby-led and responsive feeding approach for babies with feeding challenges

The Impact of Oral-Motor and Sensory Difficulties on Babies Starting Solids and How to Help Them Progress from 4 to 18 months

Eating is the most complex thing we do with our body as we have to manage respiration, sensory input, motor skills and social skills all at the same time. This training will explore the sensory-motor timeline for feeding to help health professionals identify when an infant is ready to start solids as well as troubleshoot with a family when it doesn’t go as expected.

Speaker: Stephanie Swinburne, occupational therapist (OT)

Stephanie graduated from Queens University with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2009. Stephanie has 12 years of experience in pediatrics and received her sensory integration and praxis test certification in 2013. After practicing in Ontario and Texas in clinical, hospital and home settings she returned to Montreal to develop her clinical practice in pediatrics. In 2014 Stephanie opened a pediatric clinic with the aim of developing a multi-disciplinary practice to better serve the Montreal community.

Learning objectives:

• Identify sensory, developmental, and oral-motor milestones from 4-18 months

• Detect children with sensory or motor challenges impacting the introduction to solids

• Troubleshoot with a family when their baby struggles when starting solids

• Evaluate babies who don’t bring objects to their mouth (determine appropriate evaluations and suggestions)

• Determine what to do when babies cannot maintain a sitting position at around 6 months old, pocket food in their mouth and when babies don’t chew

• Discuss the pertinence of sitting babies in high chairs before they’re able to maintain a sitting position on their own

• Determine/evaluate when to refer to what health professional

Documentation: Oral-motor developmental milestones checklist for babies 4 months to 18 months old

Solving Infant Gas, Reflux and Poop Problems for Health Professionals

Infant gas, colic, reflux, and poop problems are the most mismanaged symptoms of the first year of life due to a lack of understanding, inaccurate information, and outdated guidelines. Major gut development happens in the first year of life, especially the microbiome and its interactions with the developing immune system in the gut, and has the potential to be a main factor of life-long health when it comes to functional gut disorders, atopic conditions and chronic disease. Learn how to apply the most up-to-date evidence into your assessment to diagnosis and treat gas, reflux, and poop problems in the first year of life to support optimal growth, development and overall health.

Speaker: Robyn Price, registered dietitian

Robyn is a Pediatric Registered Dietitian and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. She is the founder of The Breastfeeding Dietitian, which focuses on helping moms KEEP breastfeeding without the worry, stress or guilt. Through education and empowerment, she helps parents solve their baby’s gas, reflux, and colic problems the “baby-led” way using her unique background by helping both mom’s diet and baby’s feeding.

Learning objectives:

• Discuss the 3 myths of baby gas, reflux and poop problems

• Determine solutions to find the root cause of baby tummy troubles

• Analyze how to pinpoint problem foods without over-restricting diet

Documentation: Root Cause Relief for Infant Gas, Reflux and Poop Problems

Letting Go of the “Get”: How Health Professionals Can Support Families in Adapted Baby Led Weaning (ABLW) - Advanced Course

Adapted Baby Led weaning is an amazing way of helping children of all abilities feed themselves but do you find yourself thinking, “Is it really for my underweight client?” or “Will my tube fed client be able to feed themself enough to stop tube feedings?” The answer to these questions is YES! In my practice, I have seen all abilities be able to use Adapted Baby Led weaning methods and thrive. Utilizing case studies, you will see how Adapted Baby Led weaning has been used in clients where medical professionals might have recommended other feeding methods to “get” children to eat. When we let go of the get, we begin to see what a child is capable of and are better able to support families in their feeding journeys.

Speaker: Amy Manojlovski, registered dietitian

Amy obtained her Bachelor of Science in Health and Sports Studies from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She completed her dietetic internship at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. After moving to Chicago, Amy worked for Advocate Health Systems before opening her own company in 2009. She became credentialed to work with the Illinois Early Intervention program which provides therapy for 0-3 year olds and has consulted with them for the past 13 years.

Learning objectives:

• Identify barriers to ABLW and how to address them

• List ways that ABLW can help with weight gain

• Identify how ABLW can increase nutrients in an infant’s diet

Documentation: Addressing Potential Barriers to ABLW.

Beyond moms: Complex feeding dynamics in modern families.

When kids learn how to eat, caregivers learn how to feed. Yet, this last part is often overlooked. Between unrealistic caregivers’ expectations of what learning-to-eat encompasses, and the mom-centric dominant narrative that marginalizes fathers, caregivers may find feeding kids very challenging. Informed by our research and clinical experience, we will shift away from a kid-centric approach, turning our attention toward the role of caregivers when discussing feeding kids.

Speakers: Maude Perreault, PhD, RD and Sarthak Matravadia PhD

Maude Perreault is a Registered Dietitian and Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montréal. She is also a researcher at the Centre Jean-Jacques Gauthier in Montreal studying food parenting and the development of food literacy in children. With her husband Sarthak, Maude also works with families in their private practice, supporting parents from the early stages of intro to solids with their children up to the establishment of culturally appropriate eating and feeding behaviors. Maude enjoys teaching, be with dietetics students, dietitian colleagues or other health care practitioners.

Sarthak Matravadia holds a PhD in nutrition and exercise physiology from the University of Guelph. He is currently a dietetics student interested in the role of fathers in family nutrition, as well as nutrition care, including for eating disorders treatment, for Black, Indigenous and People of Color folks for which treatment options are lacking. Together, Maude and Sarthak support parents through their online private practice, with a focus on helping parents team up when feeding their children, while respecting their cultural values.

Learning objectives:

• Critically consider the role of diet culture that occurs even in the first year of life of children

• Explain the complexity of the bi-directional feeding dynamic between a parent and their child

• Support modern families and reflect on their needs and challenges around feeding

• Include fathers and other parents in their professional practice

• Appreciate the importance of family values in biracial and immigrant families in order to support them in culturally appropriate ways

Documentation: Beyond moms: Complex feeding dynamics in modern families.

How to Help Infants Learn to Like New Foods With a Framework that Works for Each Age and Feeding Stage

What should parents do when their infant starts to push solids away? When our children eat everything, this doesn't feel like a huge hurdle. But any parent knows what it is like when their child begins to only eat one of the things being offered and requesting "more" before even sampling the other options. In order to promote dietary variety and a healthy relationship with foods in these early and formative years, we want to equip parents in how to apply the Love it, Like it, Learning it framework with babies starting solids. This presentation will showcase how to do just that.

Speaker: Ashley Smith, Registered Dietitian

Ashley Smith, MPH, RD, LD is the owner, registered dietitian nutritionist, and mom of 3 behind Veggies & Virtue. Ashley helps busy moms know what meals and snacks to feel their family so that they can feel more organized, less overwhelmed, and better equipped to raise kids who have healthy relationships with food.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the three main components of the Love it, Like it, Learning it framework

• Give examples for how to use the Love it, Like it, Learning it framework with babies starting solids

• Compare and contrast common feeding mistakes in infancy with the Love it, Like it, Learning it framework

• Discuss how intuitive eating fits into the Love it, Like it, Learning it framework

• Reflect on how this framework can impact children at risk for nutritional deficiencies

Documentation: Love it, Like it, Learning it ®

Baby Led Weaning (BLW) from A to Z: Working to Bring BLW Back to its Roots

BLW is an approach to starting solids that has gained a lot more traction over the years due to the numerous benefits associated with it. Advantages are seen for the baby in autonomy and motor development, to name a few. As BLW’s success has increased, the focus and view of BLW has become distorted, downplaying the true science and skills behind it. I invited Gill Rapley back for a more formal live training and discussion. She is ready to dive into the roots of BLW and to explore its true underpinning philosophy to remind us why this approach was supported and pushed for in the first place.

Learning objectives:

• Explore the core philosophy and key features of BLW

• Discuss the downsides of the success of BLW

• Clarify what BLW is focused on and what the benefits are

• Discuss and debate if BLW training should be supported and encouraged (i.e., in daycare settings)

Speaker: Gill Rapley, PhD

Gill Rapley is the pioneer of BLW, which she has been sharing about since 2001. She has a background in midwifery, nursing, and breastfeeding counselling, and is therefore well versed in the world of health. With multiple books to date, including recipe and cookbooks, and appearances on podcasts, she is the expert on anything BLW.

Breaking Down the Gut: The Importance of the Intestinal Microbiota When Starting Solids

Gut health is a hot topic. Who is not curious to discover the potential of its multiple components and its possible beneficial effects on overall health? What is the microbiome? What influences it? And how can the introduction of complementary foods be important? This training, hosted by Emmanuelle, RD, will discuss the intricate relationship between foods, intestinal microbiota, and overall health, to shed some light on this super interesting topic within the world of pediatric nutrition. 

Learning objectives:

• Define intestinal microbiota and its components 

• Understand how diet influences the composition of the microbiome

• Understand the connection between nourishing your body and how it contributes to overall health 

Emmanuelle Dumoulin, RD registered dietitian

Emmanuelle Dumoulin, RD, is a registered dietitian and mom with a passion for nutrition. With diplomas in nutritional science, food processing, and a certificate in public health, her knowledge is vast. After becoming a mother, she became super interested in pediatric nutrition, particularly focused on breastfeeding and baby led weaning, which she put into practice with her youngest child. She believes that small changes are the key to success! 

Beyond the Act of Feeding: When Parents Don’t See Eye to Eye

The transition to starting solids can be very tough for families. For parents, it can cause a lot of stress and anxiety as they both try to grapple with the new changes and challenges that occur. What should they do? Where can they can turn to for support? Parents may be looking for the best way to navigate this time. This training, thanks to Tamara Soles, PhD, will focus on the profound connection between mental health and feeding, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to help promote well-being in the family unit.

Learning objectives:

• Help professionals gain insight into the complexities of parental discord, including manifestations and potential consequences

• Learn how to appropriately refer parents for therapeutic support

• Assist mothers in learning how to let go of the stress, anxiety, and control surrounding the feeding process

• Emphasize the importance of involving both parents in the feeding journey, and offer guidance on supporting fathers

• Explore the connection between mental health and feeding

Speaker: Tamara Soles, PhD, psychologist

Dr. Tamara Soles, PhD, is the founder and director of The Secure Child, a centre for families and children, where she empowers them to overcome a wide array of challenges. Beyond her practice as a psychologist, Tamara has worked as a university lecturer and research coordinator and has made significant contributions to early childhood mental health during her time in Los Angeles, where she completed a clinical internship and post-doctoral fellowship. Her experience is extensive, and she is also a valuable resource for both media and fellow psychologists seeking consultation.

Internal Motivation: Trusting Babies to Feed Themselves From Their First Bite

This training focuses on the important role internal motivation plays in the baby's ability to process food experiences and make meaningful progress in feeding. You will learn the role of the brain-body connection in recognizing, interpreting and integrating external information and internal body signals, and how to create meaningful food experiences that will facilitate purposeful mealtime participation and skill development.

Learning Objectives:

• List external motivations to eat and explain the problems with using them in feeding

• List internal motivations to eat and explain why they are important for motor development, sensory processing and the development of self-regulation

• List the internal and external barriers to recognizing and responding to internal motivation

• Explain how to facilitate internal motivations in mealtimes and feeding therapy

Speaker: Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC

Heidi Moreland, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC is a seasoned speech-language pathologist with nearly 25 years of experience, specializing in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. As the clinical coordinator and a treating therapist at Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics, she has dedicated her career to helping families and children overcome eating challenges and build deeper connections through food.

Upcoming Live Trainings

Tongue Ties + Feeding: Helping Families Identify the Root Cause to Breast, Bottle, and/or Solid Feeding Challenges

Date: March 19, 2025

This training is designed for healthcare professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of how tongue ties impact feeding from infancy through solid food introduction. Participants will debunk tongue tie myths, understand current research, learn how to confidently assess and address feeding difficulties, and work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Impact of Tongue Ties on Feeding

• Identify current research on ties

• Assessment of Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs): Normal Function vs Oral Motor Dysfunction

• Identify providers that should be a part of the TOTs team

• Treatment options for ties -  release or not to release the tie(s)?

Speaker: Nadda Diasti, MA, CCC-SLP, IBCLC

Nadda Diasti is a Northern Virginia-based speech-language pathologist, feeding therapist, lactation consultant, and sleep coach. She offers lactation and feeding support to families of infants and young toddlers. Nadda specializes in diagnosis and treatment of breast and bottle feeding challenges, barriers to transitioning to solids, tongue/lip ties, airway health, and sleep. She integrates holistic, compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-based care to support parents in helping their children grow and thrive!