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Feeding a grandbaby? A lot has changed since you had babies, and it’s not your fault.

In this episode, Dr. Liz Daniels (pediatrician and registered dietitian) walks through an antiquated baby food book to show what’s changed in starting solids. She also explains what’s still important, and how grandparents can support the way their adult children want to feed their babies.

In this episode:

• Why feeding can be stressful for grandparents, and how to ease that tension
• What the 1975 book recommended: quarter-teaspoon portions, one new food at a time, and waiting 4–7 days
• Developmental readiness vs. the calendar: how to tell your grandbaby is ready for solids
• Why you don’t need a fancy high chair, and why a CPR refresher is a good idea
• Why there’s no evidence for waiting days between new foods
• Cooking once and feeding the baby what you eat, plus “food toys” for early texture
• Gagging vs. choking: gagging is noisy, choking is silent
• Why a baby’s facial reaction doesn’t mean they dislike a food (it can take 8–20 exposures)
• Sugar, salt, and sweeteners: maple syrup still counts as added sugar, and no honey before age 1
• Why rice cereal isn’t the go-to it used to be
• Why babies do better when they lead the meal

Resources:

• Solid Starts (how to prepare foods by age): https://solidstarts.com/
• Related episode: EP 42: A Grandparent’s Guide to Introducing Allergens
• Dr. Liz’s website: newstorynutrition.com
• Instagram: @dr.lizdanielsdo

This episode is for education and isn’t medical advice for your grandchild. Talk with their pediatrician about feeding questions.

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Could grandparents play a key role in preventing food allergies in babies? In this episode of Nutrition for the Early Years, Dr. Liz Daniels shares a practical, reassuring guide to introducing common allergens like peanuts and eggs. Discover why food allergy recommendations have changed, how early exposure may lower allergy risks, and why babies with eczema may benefit the most. Through a heartwarming family story, Dr. Liz explains how grandparents can support parents and make allergen introduction a positive experience. She also covers safe ways to offer allergenic foods, how often to introduce them, and the warning signs of an allergic reaction. Whether you're a parent or grandparent, this episode offers helpful tips to build confidence, ease worries, and work together to keep little ones safe and healthy.

What You'll Learn:

• Why introducing allergens early can help lower the risk of food allergies in babies.
• How to feel more confident when feeding your grandchild foods that once seemed unsafe.
• What makes some babies more likely to develop food allergies and why timing matters.
• How grandparents and parents can work together to create a safe, consistent feeding routine.
• Simple ways to make allergen exposure a positive, stress-free experience.
• What to watch for after introducing a new food and when to seek medical help.
• Why regular exposure matters more than introducing an allergen just once.
• How to support your grandchild's long-term health while respecting parents' feeding choices.

Episode highlights:
(00:10) A grandparent's guide to introducing food allergens
(02:28) How one grandmother helped her grandchild with early allergen exposure
(04:29) Why food allergy prevention guidelines have changed
(06:10) When to introduce peanuts and eggs to babies
(07:32) Understanding eczema and food allergy risk
(11:06) How grandparents can support parents during allergen introduction
(14:01) Practical ways to introduce peanut butter safely
(20:46) How to recognize allergic reactions and when to seek help
(26:15) Introducing eggs and choosing the right textures
(29:01) How often babies should be exposed to allergens
(30:19) Introducing other common allergens and building a regular routine

NEW COURSE! "Read the Pattern: Feeding Your Baby 0–4 Months" — because a healthy relationship with food starts earlier than most people think. Course Link!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only, not medical advice.

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What if the first drops of milk your baby receives could help protect them from infection and support their developing immune system? In this episode of Nutrition for the Early Years, Dr. Liz Daniels talks with researcher, inventor, and human milk advocate Elena Medo about what makes colostrum and breast milk so remarkable. They discuss the immune-supporting parts of human milk, common breastfeeding worries, milk supply after a premature birth, and what parents should know about freezing, storing, and handling expressed milk. Elena also explains important differences between breast milk, formula, and donor milk, along with safety concerns around newer breast milk freeze-drying services. The conversation closes with practical encouragement for expecting and breastfeeding moms, including why support, confidence, and informed feeding choices matter so much.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why breast milk works as a complete biological system rather than a collection of individual nutrients
• How a mom’s diet and overall health may influence milk quality
• Why pumping output does not always reflect how much milk a baby is getting
• What signs may suggest a breastfed baby is not getting enough milk
• Why cleanliness and proper handling matter when expressing and storing milk
• What questions parents should ask before using a breast milk freeze-drying service
• Why mother-to-mother support can make breastfeeding feel more manageable and sustainable
• How parents can approach feeding choices with less guilt and more confidence

Episode highlights:
(2:00) What makes colostrum so powerful
(3:04) Oligosaccharides, immunoglobulins, and immune protection
(5:16) Breast milk and infant formula: key differences
(7:07) Why colostrum is especially important for premature babies
(8:19) Establishing milk supply after preterm birth
(10:21) Freezing and thawing breast milk
(11:59) Lipolysis, odor, and stored milk concerns
(14:20) Common worries about maternal health and breastfeeding
(18:11) How donor milk became part of neonatal care
(19:48) Safety concerns with breast milk freeze-drying
(24:23) How donor milk is processed and pasteurized
(26:41) Building breastfeeding support before baby arrives
(27:46) A final message for all moms

NEW COURSE! "Read the Pattern: Feeding Your Baby 0–4 Months" — because a healthy relationship with food starts earlier than most people think. Course Link!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only, not medical advice.