The Making of a Documentary About Starting Solid Foods with @asolid6months Paulina Lagudi

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<v SPEAKER_1>I know you are super busy with your beautiful baby, and if you also have bigger kids and they play sports, then you're probably feeling my pain right now of the crazy kids' sports schedules.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's the driving to practice and the games, and then driving back when they forgot their shin guards or their mouth guards.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It does not leave very much time for healthy food preparation for you or me, the primary caregiver of these small people.

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<v SPEAKER_1>That's why I've been really leaning into factors, no prep, no mess meals, to keep me fueled during this crazy season of life.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Make today the day you kickstart a new healthy routine.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Checking in on your Infant Refresher CPR course status.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Have you taken CPR recently?

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<v SPEAKER_1>Actually, everybody who helps feed your baby should know CPR because while there's no higher risk of choking with Baby-Led Weaning compared to conventional spoon feeding, CPR can save your baby's life.

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<v SPEAKER_1>The course I take every quarter is available online.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's incredibly thorough, but it's also concise.

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<v SPEAKER_1>The website you sign up at is bit.ly slash online CPR course.

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<v SPEAKER_2>It's not about like what's in our baby food.

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<v SPEAKER_2>It's not about one of those like food ink type of things.

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<v SPEAKER_2>This is about how we show up as parents for our children when they start eating food outside of our body for the first time or outside of a formula for the first time.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Hey there, I'm Katie Ferraro, Registered Dietitian, College Nutrition Professor and Mom of 7, specializing in Baby-Led Weaning.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Here on the Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro podcast, I help you strip out all of the noise and nonsense about feeding, giving you the confidence and knowledge you need to give your baby a safe start to solid foods using Baby-Led Weaning.

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<v SPEAKER_1>I know you don't have a ton of time these days to be lounging around and watching TV or movies like you used to because you have a baby, but have you ever just been cruising through your streaming services or you're on an airplane and you click on a documentary and when it's over, you say to yourself, wow, I never knew that, insert topic of said documentary here, could be so interesting.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Well, that is what my guest today is going to accomplish with her new film about feeding babies.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's called A Solid 6 Months.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Her name is paulina Lagudi and she's a filmmaker and a mom of two.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And right now, paulina is smack dab in the middle of creating a documentary film all about starting solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's part journey about her second baby Enzo and all the new foods he's trying.

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<v SPEAKER_1>But then there's lots of interviews with experts and kind of a deep dive into the philosophy and the conversation about why we, as a modern society, have made the transition to solid foods for babies just so dang complicated.

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<v SPEAKER_1>So I've had the pleasure of working with paulina a little bit on this project, and I've gotten to help with baby Enzo in both the pre-feeding phase and now that he's started solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_1>I personally and professionally am just so excited to watch this project come to life.

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<v SPEAKER_1>I think it's going to be so helpful to help parents as a resource because they're out there also feeling overwhelmed and confused about their baby starting solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_1>But it's also going to be a great resource for doctors and other health care professionals, who to be frank are just not getting adequate training with evidence-based guidelines and recommendations about giving babies a safe start to solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_1>So again, the film is called A Solid 6 Months.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It is, at the time of this recording, a work-in-progress.

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<v SPEAKER_1>But paulina does have a crowdfunding page to support the creation of this project.

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<v SPEAKER_1>If you like what she's about and you want to contribute, I'll link that in the show notes below where you are listening.

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<v SPEAKER_1>If you're on Instagram, you can follow along with the creation of this film and watch all of Baby Enzo's new foods on their Instagram, which is at A Solid 6 Months, and that's with the number 6.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And so with no further adieu, I want to introduce paulina Lagudi, who will be talking about the making of a documentary all about starting solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_2>With Enzo, he was technically ready for solids, I would say, about like a week and a half before we actually gave him his first bite of food.

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<v SPEAKER_2>But what happened was we knew we had to film the first bite because that's the whole thing for this documentary is like leading up to that.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And we booked all these jobs and Cooper was out of town.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And so it just kept getting pushed more and more and more.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And Enzo got to a point where he was eating his hand.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I took him to the beach at one point, he picked up some sand, ate it.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I was like, oh no, does this count?

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<v SPEAKER_2>Right?

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<v SPEAKER_2>I'm like, well, I mean, then he had really bad sand poops for a little bit.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So that was not super great.

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<v SPEAKER_2>But pretty much the whole thing was that even though he started solids two weeks after, or about a week and a half after, then when I'd want to start him on solids, I would say that it actually taught me so much about true readiness for starting solids.

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<v SPEAKER_2>because by the time he actually got to the point of eating that first bite of food on camera, he was like, all the fears and anxieties I had about my first son starting solids, like I didn't have that with him.

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<v SPEAKER_2>He was so ready because I'd been seeing him practice with different toys and tools.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Like he was sitting at the table with us just not eating food yet, you know, and so he had done the motions before so many times that it was just like, now we just put food in there and he was ready to go.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And it taught me a lot.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, it just taught me a lot about what true readiness really looks like.

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<v SPEAKER_1>I love that you waited because parents sometimes are so eager to start early.

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<v SPEAKER_1>We've talked so much about the importance of waiting to start solid foods and how that's changed over the decades.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And I kind of want to start at the beginning because I remember just being so excited.

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<v SPEAKER_1>My assistant forwarded me an e-mail.

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<v SPEAKER_1>We get a bunch of weird rando e-mails and she's like, this one actually sounds legit.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And it was from you and you would send it to our website or something.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And eventually came across and I was like, oh my gosh, this woman is making a documentary about starting solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Nothing like this has ever been done before.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And then I deep-stalked you a little bit, did some LinkedIn research.

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<v SPEAKER_1>I'm like, wait a minute, she's from two towns away from where I live in San Diego.

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<v SPEAKER_1>So we got together, I got to meet you.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It was just so wonderful getting to meet you and Enzo and then watching this progression in his pre-feeding phase of you guys getting geared up to start Solid Foods and then also learning about this process of making a documentary.

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<v SPEAKER_1>because for the baby feeding stuff, like for me, I mean, I do this day in and day out, but this is what I live for.

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<v SPEAKER_1>I want to know more about why you decided to tackle this topic of starting Solid Foods as a filmmaker and a second time mom.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So the idea of it actually being a documentary started before I was even pregnant with Enzo.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So it was after my first son had like, he's a toddler at this point, about one and a half, almost two.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I had this idea to start a documentary about solid foods or just baby food.

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<v SPEAKER_2>because of the fact that I had been noticing with other mom friends out there that I had, we were all getting different information from our pediatricians about food.

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<v SPEAKER_2>What I found really frustrating is I'd go to my doctor's appointments for my son and they'd ask how he's eating.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I'm like, he eats really well.

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<v SPEAKER_2>He eats all these things.

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<v SPEAKER_2>They're like, but how much milk is he drinking?

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I'm like, well, he doesn't really like milk bottles anymore, but he's eating a really very-

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<v SPEAKER_2>he's about one and a half.

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<v SPEAKER_2>He's eating a super wide variety of foods.

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<v SPEAKER_1>You're doing everything right.

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<v SPEAKER_2>He's enjoying everything right.

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<v SPEAKER_2>He doesn't snack a ton, but he eats his meals.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And then they just been like, okay, we'll make sure he gets his milk.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I didn't really care so much about what he was eating.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I'm like, this is very odd.

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<v SPEAKER_2>These are the same people that were pushing infant cereals on me at four months old, which I would have done if I had not been introduced to all the different types of, I mean, I was introduced to Baby-Led Weaning by my sister, who, funny enough, doesn't even have kids, but she found it on Instagram.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And then I went down this rabbit hole, just all these different ways that are out there to feed our babies.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I'm like, none of this information is being taught to our pediatricians in a way that actually matters, in a way that's consistent, and they are the first source, the first resource parents get when it comes to starting our baby on solid foods.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And so I had all these parent friends that had all this anxiety, all these crazy experiences.

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<v SPEAKER_2>You know, some of them are so afraid of choking.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Some of them have allergies.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Some of them have, you know, now extremely picky eater toddlers.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And so I just started to ask these questions, you know, about like, why is it that in 2024, when we have all this information, there's all this medical research, like, why is it that baby food and infant feeding is kind of, so there's so much polarizing information out there?

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<v SPEAKER_2>Why are parents having to seek out so much other information outside of their doctor's offices?

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<v SPEAKER_2>Then I researched, is there a documentary about this?

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<v SPEAKER_2>because I'm a filmmaker.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And there wasn't.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And the fact that there wasn't, I was like, oh, this is terrible, because that means now I have to make this film, because I know how to do this.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And obviously no one's asking this question.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's terrible slash awesome, but you really hit the nail on the head there, paulina, that again, and I love and respect the work that pediatricians do.

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<v SPEAKER_1>They're my colleagues.

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<v SPEAKER_1>They're parents in our own program who are like, wait a minute, I never knew about baby-led weaning.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And now I have a kid and I'm like, oh my gosh, having them eat real food is way more effective, safer, and certainly easier for me than force feeding them by spoon.

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<v SPEAKER_1>But the truth of the matter is what you nailed right there, which is the vast majority of physicians in this country have never taken a dedicated nutrition class.

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<v SPEAKER_1>So even after parents take my free one-hour Baby-Led Weaning workshop, I tell them, you've had more dedicated infant feeding education from a credentialed professional in this space than your own doctor has.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Not discounting the other things that your doctors do, and pediatricians have so much to do in those very short appointments, but they'll be the first ones to tell you, I have no idea how to counsel patients and effectively on starting solid foods for their babies.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And they're still saying a lot of outdated information, which I know you're going to cover in the film.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Absolutely.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And as I, you know, we had a conversation offline about a phone call that I had with a pediatrician that I was potentially going to have, you know, speak on this documentary, because I'm trying to find some different pediatricians that I can speak to, you know, and I straight up asked her like, hey, what, she'd been a pediatrician for decades.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So, you know, she had been, I think, in her mid to late 60s at this point, she'd been retired for four years.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And she told me like, oh, I've had no, we got no nutrition information, essentially like we had one day of it.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And pediatricians, if they want to stay, get more education on baby food, infant feeding, you know, pediatric nutrition.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And it's all sponsored by the formula companies.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Yes, they have to go to conferences.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And most of those conferences, pretty much all of them are sponsored by formula companies, which those formula companies are often the same companies that sell baby food for parents with big umbrellas.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And the presenters are doctors who aren't actually out there feeding babies every day, like the dieticians are.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's kind of ridiculous.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Right, and this pediatrician was like, I did not like it when parents fed, when parents waited past four months.

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<v SPEAKER_2>She wanted parents to be starting at four months with rice cereal, because she goes babies will get quote unquote scrawny.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I was like, that is mind blowing to me.

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<v SPEAKER_1>That's an anti-breastfeeding message, because at the other side of your mouth, you know the World Health Organization AAP guidelines about breastfeeding exclusively until six months of age.

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<v SPEAKER_1>And I want to ask you about that too, because I know you were exclusively breastfeeding Enzo, and with your second baby, did you feel like, oh my gosh, maybe my breast milk's not enough until six months?

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<v SPEAKER_1>Like honestly, despite all the research that you did, did you have those same concerns that other parents have?

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<v SPEAKER_1>because that's why they start early.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, I had it with my first, not with Enzo, because with Enzo, I mean, the second time, I felt much more confident with breastfeeding.

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<v SPEAKER_2>You know, breastfeeding, especially for first time moms, like it is a whirlwind, right?

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<v SPEAKER_2>You're just, because you're having to trust your body and so much of this experience of childbirth, we're not always taught to trust our body, especially if you're going to these doctors' offices, you're relying on your doctors a lot, right?

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<v SPEAKER_2>So with my first, I definitely had those fears.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I think that's why I started him on Solid so much sooner.

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<v SPEAKER_2>But what's funny is I was just at a mom walk yesterday, in San Diego, a bunch of us moms are together.

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<v SPEAKER_2>All of our kids are like five to six months, five to seven months, all of our babies.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And these moms have some big babies.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I mean, they're chunky babies.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Some of them are breastfed, some of them are on formula.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And we're talking, and one of them, the baby's almost six months, she's a big baby.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And they're like, yeah, our doctor's really pushing solid food.

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<v SPEAKER_2>She goes, but she's not really interested.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I was thinking about maybe pureeing some avocado and putting it in a formula bottle for her.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And I was like, no.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Thank you for being an advocate for safe eating practices, paulina.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, I was like, let's not.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I was like, it's okay.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I said, clearly, she's, I mean, for the first year, all of their nutrition really is coming from breast milk and formula.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And clearly, she's gained great weight.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So it kind of is bothersome that this pediatrician was telling me, she doesn't like babies to get, quote unquote, scrawny, when that's not a medical term.

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<v SPEAKER_2>And you're basing it off of like these charts where there's nothing about what she's saying that is like, oh, this baby is failing to thrive.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Like that's not existing.

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<v SPEAKER_1>It's purely, scrawny is not a medical diagnosis.

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<v SPEAKER_1>Sorry, that's just going to instill fear in these mom's hearts and minds.

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<v SPEAKER_2>Yes, it's the fear.

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<v SPEAKER_2>This happened to someone, my cousin, you know, that happened to her.

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<v SPEAKER_2>There's a lot of like a doctor.

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<v SPEAKER_2>We have 10-minute appointments often by the time we actually see the pediatrician and you see the nurse and all this stuff.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So they'll make an offhand comment or something like that, about the baby's size or whatever or the charts.

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<v SPEAKER_2>We're all anxious, especially with the first kid.

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<v SPEAKER_2>I was just noticing a lot of unnecessary fear when it came to feeding, and I think a lot of, and this may be a generalization, but I think a lot of adults, especially women, we sometimes can have a tumultuous relationship with food as adults, and that can inadvertently be passed on to our children, and that's not what we want.

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<v SPEAKER_2>We want to have children that are just totally okay with food, but we have to figure out our own relationship with food too.

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<v SPEAKER_2>So sometimes when doctors say these, I would say, quote unquote, triggering messages, or say things that can up our anxiety levels about our kid's size, that is then what puts us into the states to start worrying about quantity of food, measurements, not the things about, hey, let's teach them to be ultimately a self-feeding autonomous being that can enjoy a variety of foods throughout their life, which is what we're setting the stage for.

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:21.400

<v SPEAKER_1>Hey, we're going to take a quick break, but I'll be right back.

00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:29.860

<v SPEAKER_1>This episode is sponsored in part by Ritual Prenatal Vitamins.

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:32.060

<v SPEAKER_1>Are you still taking your prenatal vitamin?

00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:36.880

<v SPEAKER_1>As a dietitian, I know I always continued my prenatal even after I gave birth.

00:15:36.880 --> 00:15:42.880

<v SPEAKER_1>In fact, the World Health Organization recommends continuing your prenatal until you start weaning.

00:15:42.880 --> 00:15:55.400

<v SPEAKER_1>But not all prenatals are created the same, and Ritual's Essential for Women prenatal supplements contain science-backed formulas, third-party testing for heavy metals and microbes, as well as traceable ingredients.

00:15:55.400 --> 00:16:14.820

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00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:20.660

<v SPEAKER_1>All Ritual products are rigorously tested and they're clean label project certified.

00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:26.840

<v SPEAKER_1>You deserve to know exactly what you're putting into your body, especially when it comes to prenatal vitamins.

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:32.200

<v SPEAKER_1>And with Ritual's dedication to traceable science and sourcing, you always will.

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:36.640

<v SPEAKER_1>See for yourself with 25% off your first month at ritual.com/weaning.

00:16:38.640 --> 00:16:43.240

<v SPEAKER_1>Start Ritual or add Essentials for Women prenatal to your subscription today.

00:16:43.780 --> 00:16:48.820

<v SPEAKER_1>Again, that website is ritual.com/weaning for 25% off.

00:16:54.165 --> 00:16:58.925

<v SPEAKER_1>And paulina, it's been so nice being able to connect with you and communicate with you throughout the making of this film.

00:16:58.925 --> 00:17:02.305

<v SPEAKER_1>I've loved learning more about how these projects come to fruition through you.

00:17:02.305 --> 00:17:11.945

<v SPEAKER_1>I was wondering if you could share a little bit more about how you came up with the idea and the layout for the film, who you pitch it to, who's paying for it.

00:17:11.945 --> 00:17:21.565

<v SPEAKER_1>What kind of behind the scenes stuff do we, like me, a typical mom who's not in your space, what do I never realize is happening behind the scenes that's helping you bring a project like this to life?

00:17:22.105 --> 00:17:22.925

<v SPEAKER_2>Oh, absolutely.

00:17:22.925 --> 00:17:24.825

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm happy to share.

00:17:24.825 --> 00:17:27.405

<v SPEAKER_2>My husband and I, we own a production company and we do commercials.

00:17:27.405 --> 00:17:28.565

<v SPEAKER_2>We've done narrative films as well.

00:17:28.565 --> 00:17:31.785

<v SPEAKER_2>We've done a narrative feature film, I write films, we've done short.

00:17:31.785 --> 00:17:38.725

<v SPEAKER_2>We come from the narrative space where you're typically dealing with a script, an idea, and then you have a schedule and you shoot it.

00:17:38.725 --> 00:17:40.085

<v SPEAKER_2>This is our first documentary.

00:17:40.085 --> 00:17:47.825

<v SPEAKER_2>Now, granted, we've done short documentaries and we've done very interview-based real-life stuff before, but this is our first time embarking on a documentary.

00:17:47.825 --> 00:17:51.705

<v SPEAKER_2>Before I got pregnant with Enzo, so my second, I had this idea.

00:17:51.705 --> 00:18:07.765

<v SPEAKER_2>So we were setting it up where it was going to be a bunch of different families that we would find, and we would follow them, and the ideas that maybe we would take a whole year and a half, and follow these families, and then also film different companies and different experts.

00:18:07.765 --> 00:18:09.085

<v SPEAKER_2>That was always a part of it.

00:18:09.085 --> 00:18:16.645

<v SPEAKER_2>We would fund it through, ideally, we were going to maybe get some distribution on board ahead of time, and maybe it was something that would be backed by a streamer.

00:18:17.345 --> 00:18:19.805

<v SPEAKER_2>And so we were always putting together this deck.

00:18:19.805 --> 00:18:29.325

<v SPEAKER_2>But anyone who knows anything about the film industry, if you've got a big idea, but you haven't won an Oscar already, it's very difficult to get anyone to take your idea seriously.

00:18:29.325 --> 00:18:32.185

<v SPEAKER_2>So we're like, okay, well, we own all this stuff.

00:18:32.185 --> 00:18:38.505

<v SPEAKER_2>Oftentimes, you have to show people that you're doing it, or that it's already made where they take interest.

00:18:38.505 --> 00:18:45.625

<v SPEAKER_2>And also too, it kind of got me thinking about the fact that it's like, this is a documentary for the people, like it's for us moms.

00:18:45.745 --> 00:18:46.185

<v SPEAKER_2>You know what I mean?

00:18:46.185 --> 00:18:49.265

<v SPEAKER_2>It's not for the film industry, right?

00:18:49.265 --> 00:18:50.345

<v SPEAKER_2>So let's just start.

00:18:50.345 --> 00:18:55.185

<v SPEAKER_2>And so then I got, so we filmed our teaser, and then I got pregnant, and then I was like, ugh.

00:18:55.185 --> 00:18:58.545

<v SPEAKER_1>Wait, you got pregnant after the teaser was filmed?

00:18:58.545 --> 00:18:59.905

<v SPEAKER_2>After the teaser.

00:18:59.905 --> 00:19:06.325

<v SPEAKER_1>Well, then how did you know you were, oh, because you thought you were going to follow other families' babies, so you didn't at that point mean to follow your own baby, got it.

00:19:06.325 --> 00:19:13.685

<v SPEAKER_2>Right, and granted too, like with this subject, as you know, when you're talking about, I'm tackling baby food and feeding, it's like, man, it's a big topic.

00:19:13.785 --> 00:19:17.125

<v SPEAKER_2>So like, how do we, how do I structure this film?

00:19:17.125 --> 00:19:22.905

<v SPEAKER_2>And like, it shouldn't just be a bunch of information that I'm spewing out there because then I'm just like a YouTube video, right?

00:19:22.905 --> 00:19:25.265

<v SPEAKER_2>So what's the heart of this story?

00:19:25.265 --> 00:19:26.985

<v SPEAKER_2>What's going to connect people?

00:19:26.985 --> 00:19:28.325

<v SPEAKER_2>And that takes a lot of time.

00:19:28.325 --> 00:19:31.845

<v SPEAKER_2>So I'm really happy we embarked on this before I got pregnant.

00:19:31.845 --> 00:19:34.665

<v SPEAKER_2>You know, so I got this teaser, I'm doing these interviews.

00:19:34.665 --> 00:19:44.605

<v SPEAKER_2>And as I'm listening to these interviews of parents and I'm listening to these interviews of experts, I'm starting to learn more about this topic and noticing some common patterns, right?

00:19:44.605 --> 00:19:48.225

<v SPEAKER_2>So I'm finding the through line of the story, right?

00:19:48.225 --> 00:19:50.325

<v SPEAKER_2>It's not about like what's in our baby food.

00:19:50.325 --> 00:19:53.285

<v SPEAKER_2>It's not about one of those like food ink type things.

00:19:53.285 --> 00:19:58.005

<v SPEAKER_2>It's way more philosophical than that, so to speak.

00:19:58.005 --> 00:20:09.425

<v SPEAKER_2>This is about how we show up as parents for our children when they start eating food outside of our body for the first time or outside of a formula for the first time.

00:20:09.425 --> 00:20:10.325

<v SPEAKER_2>And that's a really big deal.

00:20:11.005 --> 00:20:18.685

<v SPEAKER_2>I was introduced to Amy Bentley's book, The History of Baby Food and or not history baby food, Inventing Baby Food, which is essentially a giant history on baby food.

00:20:18.685 --> 00:20:21.445

<v SPEAKER_2>And that was an incredible resource.

00:20:21.445 --> 00:20:27.965

<v SPEAKER_2>So then I get pregnant and I look at my husband and we essentially say like we have to follow his journey.

00:20:27.965 --> 00:20:32.025

<v SPEAKER_2>Like that's the only way one, we're going to be able to get consistent footage.

00:20:32.025 --> 00:20:35.845

<v SPEAKER_2>So to kind of bring this all back, we've got fiscal sponsorship.

00:20:35.845 --> 00:20:37.265

<v SPEAKER_2>I just decided we're going to make this ourselves.

00:20:38.545 --> 00:20:47.465

<v SPEAKER_2>Got fiscal sponsorship, so that allowed us to receive donations, fully tax deductible donations through the non-profit that came down to us.

00:20:47.465 --> 00:20:52.845

<v SPEAKER_2>We started a crowdfunding campaign, so that way just kind of builds awareness and builds up an email list.

00:20:52.845 --> 00:20:58.965

<v SPEAKER_2>We also are doing outreach to what are called strategic partners.

00:20:58.965 --> 00:21:10.345

<v SPEAKER_2>Now this has become a really interesting bit of insight that I've learned is finding strategic partners that are going to want to back a film about baby food that isn't subsidized by a formula company.

00:21:10.345 --> 00:21:10.805

<v SPEAKER_1>Exactly.

00:21:11.145 --> 00:21:15.285

<v SPEAKER_1>You have to say at the outright, no formula, no baby food or no one's going to take your movie seriously.

00:21:15.285 --> 00:21:20.285

<v SPEAKER_1>And of course you recognize that, but there's a lot of other people that maybe wouldn't even with professional credentials.

00:21:20.285 --> 00:21:21.645

<v SPEAKER_1>And it's insane.

00:21:21.645 --> 00:21:22.165

<v SPEAKER_2>Right.

00:21:22.165 --> 00:21:22.485

<v SPEAKER_2>Right.

00:21:22.485 --> 00:21:25.585

<v SPEAKER_2>So it's like, you know, and because people are, you know, they get wary.

00:21:25.585 --> 00:21:28.305

<v SPEAKER_2>So finding the right institutions to be able to reach out to.

00:21:28.305 --> 00:21:31.625

<v SPEAKER_2>And then also we have some private equity partners that are coming in as well.

00:21:32.305 --> 00:21:39.445

<v SPEAKER_2>But, you know, and I want to say too, like, this film is not about baby food.

00:21:39.445 --> 00:21:50.285

<v SPEAKER_2>because to be honest, like, it's really just about if we understand the history of what baby food served when it came onto market was actually not bad.

00:21:50.285 --> 00:21:50.525

<v SPEAKER_2>Right.

00:21:50.645 --> 00:21:57.225

<v SPEAKER_2>It supplied a demand that was there based on the changing landscape of society at the time.

00:21:57.225 --> 00:21:58.885

<v SPEAKER_2>And current baby food isn't bad.

00:21:58.885 --> 00:22:01.605

<v SPEAKER_2>It just hasn't evolved with the current recommendations.

00:22:01.705 --> 00:22:11.205

<v SPEAKER_2>Like the fact that we've got liquefied purees being offered stage one to four month olds, it's like, you guys, stay up to date if you're going to offer it.

00:22:11.205 --> 00:22:28.125

<v SPEAKER_2>And also too, if you are a parent that's using baby food or purees or whatever, it's again, it's kind of one of those things where it's all about baby-led approach, responsive feeding approach is something that is a newer concept for the masses, I will say.

00:22:28.125 --> 00:22:32.785

<v SPEAKER_2>It's been something that's obviously been out there and talked about for a long time by some top experts.

00:22:32.785 --> 00:22:36.265

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm so thankful to have on this and you're definitely one of them, Katie.

00:22:36.265 --> 00:22:52.785

<v SPEAKER_2>But it's a big thing that I want to make sure that like, even though I take a baby-led weaning approach with my son, and when you see on camera, you'll definitely see why because it's like, I always say my house is like Chopped Championships before like dinnertime because I got my toddler who like needs to eat now.

00:22:52.785 --> 00:22:57.305

<v SPEAKER_2>I've got my baby needs to eat now, got my husband who needs to eat now.

00:22:57.305 --> 00:23:05.825

<v SPEAKER_2>So I'm like quickly cooking in the kitchen, I got everyone at my feet and it's just so much easier to be able to like give my baby a modified version of what we're eating.

00:23:05.825 --> 00:23:06.465

<v SPEAKER_1>And I love that.

00:23:06.465 --> 00:23:11.185

<v SPEAKER_1>I feel like we connected so much at the beginning because you made an excellent point, like this doesn't happen overnight.

00:23:11.185 --> 00:23:15.125

<v SPEAKER_1>And that's kind of the premise of Baby-Led Weaning that it's not even about what the baby's eating.

00:23:15.125 --> 00:23:18.185

<v SPEAKER_1>I mean, yeah, we don't want your baby eating Flamin Hot Cheetos and regular Dr.

00:23:18.185 --> 00:23:23.785

<v SPEAKER_1>Pepper as a regular source of sustenance, but we get so focused on what they're eating and how much, and how many milligrams and grams.

00:23:23.785 --> 00:23:37.665

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like that's not actually what matters because right now this baby needs about six months of time to learn how to eat, and so that kind of being the through line of your project is like, listen moms and dads in this TikTok instant gratification era, this doesn't happen overnight.

00:23:37.665 --> 00:23:54.085

<v SPEAKER_1>It's gonna take your baby about six months, but by the time they turn 12 months of age, most of your baby's nutrition can be coming from food, even if your pediatrician doesn't even ask you those questions, like that's developmentally what's supposed to happen, but they don't wake up on their first birthday magically knowing how to eat a hundred foods.

00:23:54.085 --> 00:23:57.765

<v SPEAKER_1>And I think showing the slow, tedious side of it is something you can do in a documentary.

00:23:58.405 --> 00:24:00.385

<v SPEAKER_1>Sorry, I can't do that on social media.

00:24:00.385 --> 00:24:02.445

<v SPEAKER_1>No one's going to pay attention for longer than six seconds.

00:24:02.445 --> 00:24:06.525

<v SPEAKER_1>So I'm so excited for this project for so many different reasons.

00:24:06.525 --> 00:24:10.065

<v SPEAKER_1>And you've been interviewing all these experts and thought leaders in the feeding space.

00:24:10.065 --> 00:24:17.505

<v SPEAKER_1>What's been the biggest surprise about feeding babies that you've learned from them about starting solid foods that you think most parents probably don't know about?

00:24:17.505 --> 00:24:20.505

<v SPEAKER_2>Surprising factors, I never knew about oral care.

00:24:20.505 --> 00:24:24.305

<v SPEAKER_2>Like, that's a big thing that I learned about that I never knew about.

00:24:24.305 --> 00:24:32.525

<v SPEAKER_2>Again, true readiness was something that I kind of had an idea about, but didn't really know about until I spoke to these different experts.

00:24:32.525 --> 00:24:51.925

<v SPEAKER_2>Also, what it means to, because it's something that starts so little, like in small ways when they're babies, but then it's like it kind of can become an avalanche or it can grow by the time they're toddlers, is really being intentional about they know their bodies, right?

00:24:51.925 --> 00:24:59.925

<v SPEAKER_2>Don't be like pushing food that they don't need or want, because oftentimes if they don't want to eat, they might not be feeling well.

00:24:59.925 --> 00:25:01.805

<v SPEAKER_2>And when a baby's ready, they're ready.

00:25:01.805 --> 00:25:09.045

<v SPEAKER_2>So it's like, don't let my own expectations get in the way of where they're at developmentally.

00:25:09.045 --> 00:25:13.105

<v SPEAKER_2>We wouldn't do that in other areas of child development.

00:25:13.105 --> 00:25:15.985

<v SPEAKER_2>So why do we still do that with food?

00:25:15.985 --> 00:25:16.385

<v SPEAKER_1>Yeah.

00:25:16.385 --> 00:25:23.065

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like your baby learning how to walk when they fall down and they bump into stuff, you don't rush over and stop the process of them learning how to walk.

00:25:23.145 --> 00:25:25.185

<v SPEAKER_1>Like it's gonna be ugly along the way.

00:25:25.185 --> 00:25:30.425

<v SPEAKER_1>There's gonna be some gagging, there's gonna be a little bit of vomiting, there's gonna be some mess, but that's part of the process of learning how to eat.

00:25:30.425 --> 00:25:34.365

<v SPEAKER_1>And I think making that analogy to other parts of child development, parents are like, oh yeah, you're right.

00:25:34.365 --> 00:25:36.885

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, why am I micromanaging the heck out of this?

00:25:36.885 --> 00:25:37.225

<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah.

00:25:37.225 --> 00:25:43.125

<v SPEAKER_2>That's been a big thing is like understanding that baby feeding is not its own separate phase that lives in a vacuum.

00:25:43.125 --> 00:25:49.745

<v SPEAKER_2>This is a stepping stone to what it, like the relationship you can develop with your child throughout their entire life as a parent.

00:25:49.845 --> 00:25:57.345

<v SPEAKER_2>Like, it is a stepping stone to so much of your parenting journey and the conversation and relationship that you have with your child as they grow.

00:25:57.345 --> 00:26:07.105

<v SPEAKER_2>So you want that foundational first brick of like the first time you're giving them like this level of independence to be one that's full of love and positivity and trust.

00:26:07.105 --> 00:26:08.425

<v SPEAKER_2>So that's really interesting.

00:26:08.425 --> 00:26:24.825

<v SPEAKER_2>But on a dietary note that I found I didn't know about was like how the landscape of nutritional information or like diet fads that are out there for adults and how that's kind of sifting into what parents are feeding their babies and toddlers is really interesting to me.

00:26:24.825 --> 00:26:27.385

<v SPEAKER_1>Talking to you, bone broth.

00:26:27.385 --> 00:26:28.785

<v SPEAKER_2>The bone broth, I know.

00:26:28.785 --> 00:26:29.705

<v SPEAKER_2>The bone broth.

00:26:29.705 --> 00:26:32.165

<v SPEAKER_1>I mean, the leaky gut syndrome.

00:26:32.165 --> 00:26:34.985

<v SPEAKER_1>You text me about all these things and I'm like, red flag, red flag, red flag.

00:26:34.985 --> 00:26:39.185

<v SPEAKER_1>Like so much of it is obscure adult diet culture.

00:26:39.185 --> 00:26:42.625

<v SPEAKER_1>I have a literally parent on the workshop the other day emailed me about they want to put their baby on a keto diet.

00:26:42.625 --> 00:26:45.645

<v SPEAKER_1>And I was like, oh, does your baby have like pediatric epilepsy?

00:26:45.645 --> 00:26:49.725

<v SPEAKER_1>because that would really be the only medical condition for which a ketogenic diet would be required.

00:26:49.725 --> 00:26:51.305

<v SPEAKER_1>And you should be working with a dietician.

00:26:51.305 --> 00:26:52.405

<v SPEAKER_1>No, our family's keto.

00:26:52.405 --> 00:26:56.665

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like, oh, well, I can't work with you because that's not safe for babies.

00:26:56.665 --> 00:27:08.785

<v SPEAKER_2>No, so that's like a big thing that I really have been very thankful that there are enough pediatric dieticians out there that are trying to get that message where it's like, listen, we need to not be pushing that kind of diet.

00:27:08.785 --> 00:27:10.125

<v SPEAKER_2>We don't need to be pushing diet fads.

00:27:10.125 --> 00:27:13.505

<v SPEAKER_2>We don't need to be pushing certain macronutrients over the other.

00:27:13.505 --> 00:27:16.445

<v SPEAKER_2>We don't have to get super obsessive about micronutrients either.

00:27:16.805 --> 00:27:26.605

<v SPEAKER_2>Like again, if we take it back to basics, your baby, like, and if they're, as long as they're being breastfed and getting formula, especially for that first year, like a lot of those things will be covered.

00:27:26.605 --> 00:27:28.025

<v SPEAKER_2>So just like take a chill pill, right?

00:27:28.025 --> 00:27:31.985

<v SPEAKER_2>Let's focus on that first brick of like a good relationship in feeding your child.

00:27:31.985 --> 00:27:34.885

<v SPEAKER_1>Hey, we're going to take a quick break, but I'll be right back.

00:27:34.885 --> 00:27:44.285

<v SPEAKER_2>[♪ music playing in background, This is Anne Bogle, author, blogger, and creator of the podcast, What Should I Read Next?

00:27:44.665 --> 00:27:49.325

<v SPEAKER_2>Since 2016, I've been helping readers bring more joy and delight into their reading lives.

00:27:49.325 --> 00:27:54.225

<v SPEAKER_2>Every week, I take all things books and reading with a guest and guide them in discovering their next read.

00:27:54.225 --> 00:27:57.945

<v SPEAKER_2>They share three books they love, one book they don't, and what they've been reading lately.

00:27:57.945 --> 00:28:01.485

<v SPEAKER_2>And I recommend three titles they may enjoy reading next.

00:28:01.485 --> 00:28:09.365

<v SPEAKER_2>Guests have said our conversations are like therapy, troubleshooting issues that have plagued their reading lives for years, and possibly the rest of their lives as well.

00:28:09.365 --> 00:28:21.005

<v SPEAKER_2>And of course, recommending books that meet the moment, whether they are looking for deep introspection, to spur or encourage a life change, or a frothy page-turner to help them escape the stresses of work, school, everything.

00:28:21.005 --> 00:28:28.205

<v SPEAKER_2>You'll learn something about yourself as a reader, and you'll definitely walk away confident to choose your next read with a whole list of new books and authors to try.

00:28:28.205 --> 00:28:31.765

<v SPEAKER_2>So join us each Tuesday for What Should I Read Next?

00:28:31.765 --> 00:28:38.285

<v SPEAKER_2>Subscribe now wherever you're listening to this podcast, and visit our website, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com, to find out more.

00:28:43.385 --> 00:28:46.685

<v SPEAKER_1>Can you tell us how is Enzo doing so far with Solid Foods?

00:28:46.685 --> 00:28:48.185

<v SPEAKER_1>You guys are a couple of weeks into this.

00:28:48.185 --> 00:28:49.505

<v SPEAKER_1>I know I've been getting updates.

00:28:49.505 --> 00:28:52.565

<v SPEAKER_1>I'm curious how many foods he's done, if you guys are counting.

00:28:52.565 --> 00:28:57.625

<v SPEAKER_1>What's your goal for him with this whole process of transitioning to him to Solid Foods?

00:28:57.625 --> 00:29:07.125

<v SPEAKER_1>Not that you can control it, but if you were to stand back hands off, what do you hope happens throughout this weaning period that you can capture and then share with other families as a part of this project?

00:29:07.705 --> 00:29:17.605

<v SPEAKER_2>I've been making this joke that since I started feeding Enzo Solids, he's been progressing so much in other ways that I said, by the time he's at his first birthday, he's going to be eating a steak with a fork and a knife and looking at us.

00:29:17.605 --> 00:29:20.485

<v SPEAKER_1>Yeah, because he's crawling, you guys, before six months.

00:29:20.485 --> 00:29:23.645

<v SPEAKER_1>I did a pre-feeding assessment with them to assess readiness to eat.

00:29:23.645 --> 00:29:27.325

<v SPEAKER_1>He wasn't sitting up yet, but he was definitely scooching, starting to crowd-surf.

00:29:27.325 --> 00:29:31.405

<v SPEAKER_1>I'm like, oh my gosh, you poor thing, paulina, but this baby is going to be walking by eight, nine months.

00:29:31.405 --> 00:29:31.965

<v SPEAKER_2>Oh, yes.

00:29:31.965 --> 00:29:33.065

<v SPEAKER_2>He wants to keep up with his brother.

00:29:33.065 --> 00:29:34.505

<v SPEAKER_2>He's standing.

00:29:34.505 --> 00:29:35.625

<v SPEAKER_2>We've done 13 foods already.

00:29:36.065 --> 00:29:37.125

<v SPEAKER_2>We've done three allergens.

00:29:37.125 --> 00:29:38.145

<v SPEAKER_2>Oh, no, four allergens.

00:29:38.145 --> 00:29:38.325

<v SPEAKER_1>Okay.

00:29:38.325 --> 00:29:39.605

<v SPEAKER_1>Which ones have you done?

00:29:39.605 --> 00:29:40.905

<v SPEAKER_2>Egg, wheat.

00:29:40.905 --> 00:29:41.505

<v SPEAKER_2>So we did bread.

00:29:41.505 --> 00:29:42.445

<v SPEAKER_2>My husband bakes bread.

00:29:42.445 --> 00:29:44.345

<v SPEAKER_2>So we did his sourdough.

00:29:44.345 --> 00:29:47.085

<v SPEAKER_2>We've done peanut butter and almond butter.

00:29:47.085 --> 00:29:47.245

<v SPEAKER_1>Okay.

00:29:47.245 --> 00:29:48.425

<v SPEAKER_1>So no dairy yet.

00:29:48.425 --> 00:29:48.745

<v SPEAKER_2>No dairy.

00:29:48.745 --> 00:29:49.625

<v SPEAKER_1>No cow's milk protein.

00:29:49.625 --> 00:29:50.185

<v SPEAKER_1>Are you going to do it?

00:29:50.185 --> 00:29:51.445

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm going to do dairy.

00:29:51.445 --> 00:29:58.965

<v SPEAKER_2>The only reason I haven't done dairy yet is because I just simply haven't purchased full fat yogurt or ricotta yet because I had like non-fat.

00:29:58.965 --> 00:30:00.805

<v SPEAKER_2>And I was like, I don't want to feed him non-fat.

00:30:00.805 --> 00:30:01.785

<v SPEAKER_1>Yeah.

00:30:01.785 --> 00:30:02.505

<v SPEAKER_1>Especially on film.

00:30:02.505 --> 00:30:07.305

<v SPEAKER_1>Again, there's nothing wrong with it, but you don't want to give the message that babies need lower fat products.

00:30:07.305 --> 00:30:11.545

<v SPEAKER_2>Like, you know, also too, I just, you know, sometimes it can maybe affect their body a little differently.

00:30:11.545 --> 00:30:12.325

<v SPEAKER_2>I don't know.

00:30:12.325 --> 00:30:14.965

<v SPEAKER_1>And for your baby, because your baby was exclusively breastfed.

00:30:14.965 --> 00:30:21.825

<v SPEAKER_1>For our families where the baby's formula fed, the first yogurt doesn't really matter because the basis of the commercial infant formula is cow's milk protein.

00:30:21.825 --> 00:30:22.845

<v SPEAKER_1>So we know your baby's good.

00:30:22.845 --> 00:30:31.865

<v SPEAKER_1>But for yours, yogurt, especially going to be very good on film, because as you know, yogurt is like the most fun food to watch a baby eat, but also the least fun food to clean up after.

00:30:31.985 --> 00:30:38.425

<v SPEAKER_1>So my suggestion is always to kind of correlate yogurt day with bath day so that you can minimize the mess.

00:30:38.425 --> 00:30:42.925

<v SPEAKER_1>But like definitely get that on camera, because that's just a baby having so much fun eating yogurt.

00:30:42.925 --> 00:30:44.985

<v SPEAKER_2>Oh, yeah, we've got I mean, the cleanup is hilarious.

00:30:44.985 --> 00:30:47.765

<v SPEAKER_2>We even like we took him to the beach.

00:30:47.765 --> 00:30:50.505

<v SPEAKER_2>So Enzo's been to kind of back up a little bit.

00:30:50.505 --> 00:30:58.485

<v SPEAKER_2>Enzo's doing so well with solids, but because he loves eating so much, we've realized we all can't ever eat a meal without giving him something.

00:30:58.625 --> 00:31:01.185

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, he can't just sit there and he can't call him.

00:31:01.185 --> 00:31:01.985

<v SPEAKER_2>Yes.

00:31:01.985 --> 00:31:02.825

<v SPEAKER_2>Oh, it's totally fine.

00:31:02.825 --> 00:31:11.525

<v SPEAKER_2>But I remember, you know, there's always so many questions when you look at different blogs, Instagram, you know, that's out there where people are always like, how many times a day should I feed my baby solids when I start?

00:31:11.525 --> 00:31:15.645

<v SPEAKER_2>And it's like, I've realized, listen, my first, I did it two times a day.

00:31:15.645 --> 00:31:17.345

<v SPEAKER_2>I started one time a day, two times a day.

00:31:17.345 --> 00:31:21.565

<v SPEAKER_2>My second, he's like, every time you're eating, which is three times a day, like I better have something.

00:31:21.565 --> 00:31:26.265

<v SPEAKER_1>And it's a reminder to you, paulina, to sit down and eat, because we have a lot of parents that are like, well, I don't eat all day.

00:31:26.345 --> 00:31:28.245

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like, well, sorry, that's not gonna work for the baby.

00:31:28.245 --> 00:31:40.185

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, the baby does need multiple opportunities, but I love your approach because, and I'm not saying you're missing this, is we've talked about other people's relationships with food, and if you do have an unhealthy relationship with food, and then you're projecting that on your baby.

00:31:40.185 --> 00:31:43.005

<v SPEAKER_1>But we have a lot of parents that are like, I'm not eating at all throughout the day.

00:31:43.005 --> 00:31:43.685

<v SPEAKER_1>I'm trying to lose weight.

00:31:43.685 --> 00:31:49.145

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like, okay, all of that is fine, but for your baby's biology, they do need practice makes progress.

00:31:49.145 --> 00:31:50.905

<v SPEAKER_1>So I love that.

00:31:50.905 --> 00:31:53.985

<v SPEAKER_1>I think what's gonna come through in this film is, your family's just sitting down and eating.

00:31:53.985 --> 00:31:55.245

<v SPEAKER_1>It's not always perfect.

00:31:55.325 --> 00:31:58.845

<v SPEAKER_1>It's not always whole grains and unsaturated fats or whatever.

00:31:58.845 --> 00:32:02.085

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like, what you're eating is what you're eating, and Enzo's gonna be a part of that.

00:32:02.085 --> 00:32:06.505

<v SPEAKER_1>And that's a huge part of learning how to eat so much more than exactly what he's eating.

00:32:06.505 --> 00:32:09.645

<v SPEAKER_2>And the way he interacts and the way my toddler interacts with him.

00:32:09.645 --> 00:32:12.305

<v SPEAKER_2>So the way the two of them interact is really interesting.

00:32:12.305 --> 00:32:14.305

<v SPEAKER_2>He's learning so much being at this family table.

00:32:14.305 --> 00:32:16.765

<v SPEAKER_2>And we're just a family that always sits down to eat.

00:32:16.765 --> 00:32:21.605

<v SPEAKER_2>Like my husband, he always says he's a bit of a slower eater and he has to sit down and eat.

00:32:21.785 --> 00:32:22.805

<v SPEAKER_1>But he does the dishes.

00:32:22.905 --> 00:32:25.285

<v SPEAKER_1>I watch him at your house and I'm like, this man can clean the counter.

00:32:25.285 --> 00:32:26.925

<v SPEAKER_1>Can you come over to my house, please?

00:32:26.925 --> 00:32:27.505

<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah.

00:32:27.505 --> 00:32:28.085

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm the cook.

00:32:28.085 --> 00:32:30.065

<v SPEAKER_2>He's like a hardcore cleaner in the kitchen.

00:32:30.065 --> 00:32:34.885

<v SPEAKER_2>But so with Enzo, every time we sit down to eat, he has a little bit of something.

00:32:34.885 --> 00:32:39.225

<v SPEAKER_2>But we were at the beach over the weekend and I had some fruit for Dean.

00:32:39.225 --> 00:32:43.145

<v SPEAKER_2>I had some cantaloupe and I knew Enzo's going to want something.

00:32:43.145 --> 00:32:46.325

<v SPEAKER_2>But I had some beets and I wanted him to start eating beets.

00:32:46.325 --> 00:32:48.285

<v SPEAKER_2>But I was like, oh, well, beets are really messy.

00:32:49.525 --> 00:32:53.705

<v SPEAKER_2>We need some beets at the beach because then I can just put them in the water and clean them up.

00:32:53.705 --> 00:32:58.285

<v SPEAKER_1>Oh my God, though, the beet plus the sand poop is going to be so bad paulina.

00:32:58.285 --> 00:32:59.025

<v SPEAKER_2>It was gnarly.

00:32:59.025 --> 00:33:03.905

<v SPEAKER_2>I definitely saw it the next day and I was like, wow, that I don't think I should show.

00:33:05.405 --> 00:33:07.265

<v SPEAKER_2>But it was great.

00:33:07.265 --> 00:33:08.565

<v SPEAKER_2>He was all up in it.

00:33:08.565 --> 00:33:09.865

<v SPEAKER_2>He, I mean, it was beautiful.

00:33:09.865 --> 00:33:14.905

<v SPEAKER_2>The sun's on him and he made a mess on everything, but it was all like beach stuff that was just going to get thrown in the wash.

00:33:14.905 --> 00:33:19.305

<v SPEAKER_2>And then I put him in the water in the ocean, and he gets cleaned up and it was all good.

00:33:19.305 --> 00:33:21.605

<v SPEAKER_2>And I was like, oh man, this is so funny.

00:33:21.605 --> 00:33:33.445

<v SPEAKER_2>That it's just like I can, and also too, because I'm starting him at this age of readiness, but also early enough where I know, choking wise, like his gag reflex is more forward.

00:33:33.445 --> 00:33:38.585

<v SPEAKER_2>And I was always working with my first son about spitting out stuff that's too big.

00:33:38.585 --> 00:33:40.325

<v SPEAKER_2>He's also naturally doing that.

00:33:40.325 --> 00:33:58.445

<v SPEAKER_2>So when it came to the fear of choking, which is a big thing, Enzo doesn't gag as much as my first, which I found kind of interesting, but like he'll naturally just spit out bits that are too small or, you know, it just kind of, I noticed this kind of natural way of just taking care of himself and his body.

00:33:58.445 --> 00:34:02.425

<v SPEAKER_1>And I'm always under your supervision, like he's not at the beach by himself, macking beads.

00:34:02.425 --> 00:34:12.165

<v SPEAKER_1>But also one thing about the gagging, just so other parents know too, is that a lot of times early on the first few weeks, I call it phase one of Baby-Led Weaning, that's the first eight weeks and we're working through the first 40 foods.

00:34:12.725 --> 00:34:15.985

<v SPEAKER_1>Not all babies are as into food as Enzo and that's totally fine.

00:34:15.985 --> 00:34:19.365

<v SPEAKER_1>They might not actually be moving that food to the back of their mouth yet.

00:34:19.365 --> 00:34:20.685

<v SPEAKER_1>And again, that's fine.

00:34:20.685 --> 00:34:23.505

<v SPEAKER_1>So you'll actually notice, this baby doesn't gag that much.

00:34:23.505 --> 00:34:26.245

<v SPEAKER_1>Well, it's because they're not really getting anything towards the back of their mouth.

00:34:26.245 --> 00:34:32.405

<v SPEAKER_1>But wait a few more weeks and they get a little bit more comfortable and a little bit more proficient and they're moving some of that food to the back of their mouth.

00:34:32.405 --> 00:34:33.665

<v SPEAKER_1>That's when the gagging will start.

00:34:33.665 --> 00:34:36.785

<v SPEAKER_1>And again, gagging is not a sign that your child cannot tolerate the food.

00:34:36.785 --> 00:34:38.125

<v SPEAKER_1>In fact, quite the opposite.

00:34:38.125 --> 00:34:40.045

<v SPEAKER_1>It's a sign that your baby is learning how to eat.

00:34:40.185 --> 00:34:49.645

<v SPEAKER_1>So as he starts actually developing that chew and swallowing more of it, you might see more gagging, but the tendency is like, oh, this baby gags less or more than my other baby.

00:34:49.645 --> 00:34:53.345

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like your first baby, you thought gagging was choking.

00:34:53.345 --> 00:34:59.525

<v SPEAKER_1>You now know so much more about child development and starting solid foods that you know what a gag is and you know that it's different than choking.

00:34:59.525 --> 00:35:04.965

<v SPEAKER_1>So your anxiety level is certainly a lot lower than it probably was the first time around with Dean.

00:35:04.965 --> 00:35:05.785

<v SPEAKER_2>Absolutely.

00:35:05.785 --> 00:35:09.205

<v SPEAKER_2>And the types of foods I'm also feeding Enzo are a little bit different.

00:35:09.465 --> 00:35:12.985

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm feeding him more single ingredient whole foods or Dean right off the bat.

00:35:13.865 --> 00:35:18.305

<v SPEAKER_2>I was feeding him like oatmeal or the yogurt or the ricotta mix with stuff.

00:35:18.305 --> 00:35:24.065

<v SPEAKER_2>So stuff that I knew that's going to be a lot easier for a baby to ingest because it's just so mashed down.

00:35:24.065 --> 00:35:28.045

<v SPEAKER_2>And then I would give him some bigger foods to kind of like teathe on and things like that.

00:35:28.045 --> 00:35:29.285

<v SPEAKER_2>It will be very interesting.

00:35:29.285 --> 00:35:31.585

<v SPEAKER_2>Enzo has gagged when he took his first bite of food.

00:35:31.585 --> 00:35:33.005

<v SPEAKER_2>He definitely had a gagging moment.

00:35:33.005 --> 00:35:34.285

<v SPEAKER_1>Did you get it on film?

00:35:34.285 --> 00:35:35.085

<v SPEAKER_2>We did get it on film.

00:35:35.145 --> 00:35:36.065

<v SPEAKER_1>Heck yeah, that's the best.

00:35:36.065 --> 00:35:37.505

<v SPEAKER_1>because that's so helpful to other parents.

00:35:37.505 --> 00:35:38.625

<v SPEAKER_1>This is what gagging looks like.

00:35:38.625 --> 00:35:39.805

<v SPEAKER_1>And notice, I didn't jump in.

00:35:39.805 --> 00:35:40.325

<v SPEAKER_1>I didn't lunge.

00:35:40.325 --> 00:35:41.665

<v SPEAKER_1>I didn't slam him on the back.

00:35:41.665 --> 00:35:49.805

<v SPEAKER_1>All of those things cause a baby to suck in air, at which point they can cause that totally harmless gag to turn into potentially harmful choke.

00:35:49.805 --> 00:35:50.805

<v SPEAKER_1>Parents need to see that.

00:35:50.805 --> 00:35:53.545

<v SPEAKER_1>That's why we do so many videos on gagging audible with the sound.

00:35:53.545 --> 00:35:56.545

<v SPEAKER_1>We used to put the reels to music and people are like, could you call it with the music?

00:35:56.545 --> 00:35:58.105

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, I want to actually hear the baby gagging.

00:35:58.105 --> 00:35:59.485

<v SPEAKER_1>It's like, oh my gosh, you're right.

00:35:59.485 --> 00:36:05.705

<v SPEAKER_1>With gagging, the baby turns red or pink and they're sputtering and there's noise, but that's good because that means there's air passing through.

00:36:05.705 --> 00:36:09.825

<v SPEAKER_1>You got to show that to parents because they think it's choking without the right context.

00:36:09.825 --> 00:36:12.545

<v SPEAKER_2>What's so interesting about this, right?

00:36:12.545 --> 00:36:18.985

<v SPEAKER_2>It's like you and I are having this conversation and it's like, yes, I have this knowledge about what gagging looks like.

00:36:18.985 --> 00:36:19.965

<v SPEAKER_2>Yes, it's natural.

00:36:19.965 --> 00:36:26.845

<v SPEAKER_2>I keep coming back to the fact that I'm like, why isn't that talked about when you start solids with your pediatrician?

00:36:26.845 --> 00:36:31.745

<v SPEAKER_1>because they spend one minute telling you to do rice cereal for months of age and wait three to five days between foods.

00:36:32.065 --> 00:36:35.865

<v SPEAKER_1>It's just five seconds of misinformation and that's your infant feeding knowledge.

00:36:35.865 --> 00:36:36.325

<v SPEAKER_2>Exactly.

00:36:36.325 --> 00:36:42.565

<v SPEAKER_2>Then a parent has fear of chocking and they're going to look up about how many babies choke a year.

00:36:42.565 --> 00:36:44.185

<v SPEAKER_1>One baby every five minutes or whatever.

00:36:44.185 --> 00:36:44.825

<v SPEAKER_1>It's so scary.

00:36:44.825 --> 00:36:45.345

<v SPEAKER_1>Exactly.

00:36:45.345 --> 00:36:47.605

<v SPEAKER_1>You turn to the Internet for that info.

00:36:47.605 --> 00:36:52.625

<v SPEAKER_2>My thought is, I'm so lucky.

00:36:52.625 --> 00:36:54.425

<v SPEAKER_2>I've got this kid that loves food.

00:36:54.425 --> 00:36:55.585

<v SPEAKER_2>He's going to have his challenges.

00:36:55.865 --> 00:37:06.045

<v SPEAKER_2>I notice if he does get frustrated, when he's gotten to a point where I think he wants to ingest to the food a bit more, but he doesn't quite have that skill, and so then he'll start to cry and go like this.

00:37:06.045 --> 00:37:07.225

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm like, okay, we're done.

00:37:07.225 --> 00:37:12.325

<v SPEAKER_2>We don't want this to become, again, because I'm not really worried about the quantity of what he's eating.

00:37:12.325 --> 00:37:14.205

<v SPEAKER_2>We're going to clean you up and get you done now.

00:37:14.305 --> 00:37:16.965

<v SPEAKER_2>You have to finish your meal, so to speak.

00:37:16.965 --> 00:37:30.125

<v SPEAKER_2>But the goal here is to film this stuff on camera, and also too, we're filming experts, we're filming different families, we're filming recreating the Clara Davis experiment, which is going to be super fun.

00:37:30.125 --> 00:37:31.265

<v SPEAKER_1>Who gets to play Clara?

00:37:31.265 --> 00:37:31.865

<v SPEAKER_1>This is my real question.

00:37:31.865 --> 00:37:33.065

<v SPEAKER_2>I know.

00:37:33.065 --> 00:37:38.545

<v SPEAKER_2>Well, my thought is that we won't see Clara, but it's like we're going to have the nurses, like what it would have been like in the lab.

00:37:38.545 --> 00:37:40.485

<v SPEAKER_1>Can I just be like an extra?

00:37:40.485 --> 00:37:42.045

<v SPEAKER_1>This is my dream.

00:37:42.045 --> 00:37:43.005

<v SPEAKER_1>This is literally my dream.

00:37:43.005 --> 00:37:44.225

<v SPEAKER_1>I've been dying.

00:37:44.225 --> 00:37:45.665

<v SPEAKER_1>What did it look like in Clara Davis' kitchen?

00:37:45.665 --> 00:37:51.765

<v SPEAKER_1>You're going to have to watch the film to know the whole history of Clara Davis' experiment that can never be recreated except in paulina's fantastic film.

00:37:52.425 --> 00:37:54.645

<v SPEAKER_1>I wanted to ask you about your husband Cooper.

00:37:54.645 --> 00:37:56.605

<v SPEAKER_1>He's the director of photography on this project.

00:37:56.605 --> 00:37:59.105

<v SPEAKER_1>You guys, you literally have more camera equipment in your house.

00:37:59.105 --> 00:38:06.005

<v SPEAKER_1>I remember when I walked into your house through your garage, I was like, whoa, dude, I hope no one ever breaks into this garage because it's like so much money of fancy equipment.

00:38:06.005 --> 00:38:12.105

<v SPEAKER_1>I'm also blown away by the fact that anytime I see a husband and a wife team working together, like that's just so amazing to me.

00:38:12.105 --> 00:38:14.145

<v SPEAKER_1>How has it been working on this project together?

00:38:14.145 --> 00:38:19.145

<v SPEAKER_1>I mean, with your own children involved, because most moms, they're totally down when their baby starts solid foods.

00:38:19.145 --> 00:38:25.245

<v SPEAKER_1>It's the dad, if he's involved or paying attention, is usually the one freaking out about whether or not the baby can eat this or if they're going to choke.

00:38:25.245 --> 00:38:27.485

<v SPEAKER_1>But Cooper seems like a pretty chill dad.

00:38:27.485 --> 00:38:36.105

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, how's the work-life balance stuff going in the making of this project, since he's so intimately involved in both the professional and the personal side?

00:38:36.105 --> 00:38:38.805

<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, I'm really happy you asked that question.

00:38:38.805 --> 00:38:39.545

<v SPEAKER_2>I mean, Cooper and I are really-

00:38:39.545 --> 00:38:40.665

<v SPEAKER_1>You're like, we're getting divorced.

00:38:40.665 --> 00:38:41.365

<v SPEAKER_2>It's terrible.

00:38:41.365 --> 00:38:42.545

<v SPEAKER_2>You know, can you imagine?

00:38:42.545 --> 00:38:46.805

<v SPEAKER_2>We constantly, we always make a joke that this film should actually be called, like, why are we doing this?

00:38:46.805 --> 00:38:50.445

<v SPEAKER_2>because we constantly are asking ourselves, like, why are we doing this?

00:38:50.525 --> 00:38:52.545

<v SPEAKER_2>Like, it's so stressful, because it's stressful, right?

00:38:52.545 --> 00:38:55.605

<v SPEAKER_2>You know, he's behind the camera and we're capturing real life.

00:38:55.605 --> 00:38:59.785

<v SPEAKER_2>And as anyone knows, like, life with two young children, it's, you know, it's not like super-

00:38:59.785 --> 00:39:01.745

<v SPEAKER_1>Borderline dangerous sometimes.

00:39:01.745 --> 00:39:02.245

<v SPEAKER_2>Right.

00:39:02.245 --> 00:39:04.705

<v SPEAKER_1>Although Cooper has everything in your house nailed down.

00:39:04.705 --> 00:39:06.105

<v SPEAKER_1>I remember one other, he's like giving me a tour.

00:39:06.105 --> 00:39:07.985

<v SPEAKER_1>He's like, and this is nailed to the wall and this is nailed to the wall.

00:39:07.985 --> 00:39:11.065

<v SPEAKER_1>And I really appreciate his attention to detail and safety.

00:39:11.065 --> 00:39:13.225

<v SPEAKER_1>So I feel like your kids are in good hands with both of you.

00:39:13.225 --> 00:39:13.945

<v SPEAKER_2>He's in great.

00:39:13.945 --> 00:39:14.865

<v SPEAKER_2>He's awesome.

00:39:14.865 --> 00:39:15.685

<v SPEAKER_2>We're in great hands.

00:39:15.685 --> 00:39:17.365

<v SPEAKER_2>But it's like, it's the balance of.

00:39:18.005 --> 00:39:26.165

<v SPEAKER_2>So Cooper, one, as like a parent, he has learned a lot about baby eating through me, obviously.

00:39:26.165 --> 00:39:31.785

<v SPEAKER_2>He definitely loves to let me take the reins in the beginning because he is very afraid of choking.

00:39:31.785 --> 00:39:41.525

<v SPEAKER_2>And that was a big thing with Dean is like, he never wanted to feed him because he got too afraid, but he's learned a lot and he's kind of, he understands like what it really looks like for that to happen.

00:39:41.725 --> 00:39:44.205

<v SPEAKER_2>And he trusts it all so much more now.

00:39:44.205 --> 00:39:51.745

<v SPEAKER_2>He's, what it looks like is, it's a lot of us having a camera actually always ready and set up on our counter and the microphone.

00:39:51.745 --> 00:39:56.885

<v SPEAKER_2>And so whenever it's like a moment with Enzo that we're about to feed him or something, we grab it and we get set up.

00:39:56.885 --> 00:40:04.585

<v SPEAKER_2>Although there have been times where like, listen, we can't right now because at the same time, we're also working, you know, we're working on commercials and we're prepping and all of this.

00:40:04.585 --> 00:40:06.905

<v SPEAKER_2>So it's been a really interesting balancing act.

00:40:06.905 --> 00:40:14.465

<v SPEAKER_2>We're having to structure our time of what we're filming so much more, you know, and I get to look at the footage immediately because I go upstairs and edit.

00:40:14.765 --> 00:40:22.185

<v SPEAKER_2>I get to look at the footage after we shoot, so I'm able to then see because I, you know, because I'm in it, I can't as a director have a monitor and like direct things.

00:40:22.185 --> 00:40:25.485

<v SPEAKER_2>I have to do it after the fact and say, okay, this is what we need for the next time.

00:40:25.485 --> 00:40:32.065

<v SPEAKER_2>So we try to capture as much as possible in our house, but I want to like let people know this is not going to be a boring film of just watching us feeding.

00:40:32.065 --> 00:40:42.625

<v SPEAKER_1>I can tell by the people you're interviewing, I've been really impressed that you're doing a good job, I think, of getting lots of different voices because so often it's like, Baby-Led Weaning versus Purees, which one's better?

00:40:42.625 --> 00:40:44.725

<v SPEAKER_1>At first I was like, oh god, please don't do a project like that.

00:40:44.725 --> 00:40:46.805

<v SPEAKER_1>But then after meeting him, I'm like, oh my gosh, she totally gets it.

00:40:46.805 --> 00:40:50.245

<v SPEAKER_1>And you're talking to all the right people, so I think that's awesome.

00:40:50.245 --> 00:40:52.805

<v SPEAKER_1>Hey, we're going to take a quick break, but I'll be right back.

00:40:58.517 --> 00:41:01.277

<v SPEAKER_3>Do you find it hard to sleep at night?

00:41:01.277 --> 00:41:04.157

<v SPEAKER_3>Then the Sleep Cove Podcast can help you.

00:41:04.157 --> 00:41:11.717

<v SPEAKER_3>Hi, I'm Christopher Fitton, the voice and clinical hypnotherapist behind Sleep Cove.

00:41:11.717 --> 00:41:24.257

<v SPEAKER_3>Sleep Cove features sleep hypnosis, meditations and bedtime stories, all designed to help those of you who struggle at night to achieve a restful and peaceful night's sleep.

00:41:24.657 --> 00:41:33.777

<v SPEAKER_3>Search for Sleep Cove on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and see why Sleep Cove helps millions of people sleep deeply all night long.

00:41:41.118 --> 00:41:48.238

<v SPEAKER_1>Just curious, paulina, how long does it usually take to make a film of this nature, and what's the timeline for your project?

00:41:48.238 --> 00:41:57.138

<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, docs take a really long time, thankfully, because it's called A Solid 6 Months, and so, you know, has a six months, it goes from six months to one year.

00:41:57.138 --> 00:42:01.738

<v SPEAKER_2>That's like the timeline that we're following his, you know, the filming his journey.

00:42:01.738 --> 00:42:12.318

<v SPEAKER_2>So within that time, this project, as far as actually filming goes, I'm hoping from when we started in like middle of June, it won't go till past like February or March.

00:42:12.318 --> 00:42:24.318

<v SPEAKER_2>It'll just be dependent on certain things that like we can't control, but like, you know, certain conferences we maybe wanna go to, as well as we really wanna get into interviewing different baby food companies that are out there.

00:42:24.318 --> 00:42:26.678

<v SPEAKER_2>So it's gonna be certain extra footage that we'll need.

00:42:26.678 --> 00:42:28.618

<v SPEAKER_1>I really hope you can do that, because I think that's-

00:42:28.618 --> 00:42:29.118

<v SPEAKER_2>I will.

00:42:29.118 --> 00:42:33.198

<v SPEAKER_1>We're all talking around that, but like that's really the elephant in the room.

00:42:33.198 --> 00:42:34.018

<v SPEAKER_2>I wanna get their voice.

00:42:34.018 --> 00:42:37.098

<v SPEAKER_2>Like again, this is not a documentary like bagging baby food companies at all.

00:42:37.418 --> 00:42:42.598

<v SPEAKER_2>I think, you know, I was talking to an expert the other day, and I was like, it's not about bagging baby food.

00:42:42.598 --> 00:42:50.218

<v SPEAKER_2>It's just like, obviously, baby food companies like lost, I mean, not lost this way, because they know exactly what they're doing, but it's very clear with the-

00:42:50.218 --> 00:42:51.738

<v SPEAKER_1>Oh yeah, have you seen the pouches aisle?

00:42:51.738 --> 00:42:52.898

<v SPEAKER_1>They're doing fine.

00:42:52.898 --> 00:42:57.838

<v SPEAKER_2>Oh, pouches, and the bit also too is like, why is there baby food that's like, looks like a chips bag?

00:42:57.838 --> 00:42:59.358

<v SPEAKER_2>You know, and you look at the ingredients-

00:42:59.358 --> 00:43:02.418

<v SPEAKER_1>The puffs with lead in them now, like for God sakes.

00:43:02.938 --> 00:43:09.698

<v SPEAKER_2>Exactly, and it's like what they're, those same companies also feed teens and adults, and they're just setting them up for a standard American diet.

00:43:09.698 --> 00:43:15.858

<v SPEAKER_1>It's brand loyalty, and they're starting it at four months if they can, because that's two more months of you buying their liquefied peas.

00:43:15.858 --> 00:43:21.438

<v SPEAKER_1>So I think the fact that someone as talented as yourself is taking the time and the effort to make a film.

00:43:21.438 --> 00:43:23.858

<v SPEAKER_1>I know you guys are calling it like, why are we doing this?

00:43:23.858 --> 00:43:27.478

<v SPEAKER_1>Anytime you feel down, you call me, I'll be your hype girl, because I'm so excited.

00:43:27.478 --> 00:43:29.878

<v SPEAKER_1>I think this is just the fact that you're undertaking this project.

00:43:29.878 --> 00:43:33.538

<v SPEAKER_1>For me as a dietitian, this is like my life's work, and everyone's like, what do you do?

00:43:33.538 --> 00:43:39.538

<v SPEAKER_1>And like, wow, someone's actually gonna make a documentary to explain that there's so much more about babies learning to eat than just what they're eating.

00:43:39.538 --> 00:43:43.318

<v SPEAKER_1>That's a huge win for our field as credentialed infant feeding experts.

00:43:43.318 --> 00:43:48.378

<v SPEAKER_1>But I'm interested to know from your perspective, what would you like to see this film achieve?

00:43:48.378 --> 00:43:52.138

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, what would make it a success in your eyes, besides winning an Oscar?

00:43:52.698 --> 00:43:53.338

<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, right.

00:43:53.338 --> 00:43:58.818

<v SPEAKER_2>A major success would be a conversation with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

00:43:58.818 --> 00:44:10.218

<v SPEAKER_2>A major success would be pediatricians writing the film or saying, hey, I watched this and it completely got me motivated to learn more about nutrition.

00:44:10.218 --> 00:44:27.638

<v SPEAKER_2>It'd be closing the gap between what we know from pediatric dieticians, from SLPs that are doing this work, people like yourself, Katie, closing the gap between what you're teaching and what people are receiving in their doctor's offices.

00:44:27.638 --> 00:44:31.338

<v SPEAKER_2>That's what I think is doing the biggest disservice to parents right now.

00:44:31.338 --> 00:44:42.198

<v SPEAKER_2>If this film can at least provide the first, I don't know, just lift the veil a little bit to start that conversation to close that gap, that would be the biggest win.

00:44:42.198 --> 00:44:43.078

<v SPEAKER_1>That's so interesting.

00:44:43.218 --> 00:44:57.018

<v SPEAKER_1>That is not what I thought you were going to say, but I know we've talked a little bit about the Food is Medicine movement and that pediatricians later in the life span are finally paying attention to food and they're learning how to cook and talk to families about food and giving nutrition and exercise prescriptions instead of just medicine.

00:44:57.018 --> 00:45:01.498

<v SPEAKER_1>But like, hey, you could nip so much of this in the bud if babies just learned how to eat real food.

00:45:01.498 --> 00:45:03.898

<v SPEAKER_1>And the parents need support along the way, too.

00:45:03.898 --> 00:45:16.638

<v SPEAKER_1>And I know you know that that's what we do as experts, SLPs and dieticians and OTs in this space, is like we're here to help the parents, many of whom don't have great relationships with food or don't know how to make pork safe for Baby-Led Weaning if that's a food their family eats.

00:45:16.798 --> 00:45:26.118

<v SPEAKER_1>But if the doctors are into the idea of, maybe we could fix a lot of these problems if we actually learn how to eat real food, you can't deny the fact that it starts with the baby's first bites.

00:45:26.118 --> 00:45:29.318

<v SPEAKER_1>And I love that's what you're sharing here is like, you're not bagging baby food.

00:45:29.318 --> 00:45:34.198

<v SPEAKER_1>Like if you're going to go on an airplane, yeah, pouches are a great convenience or travel food or a once in a while food.

00:45:34.198 --> 00:45:44.598

<v SPEAKER_1>Or if you've been nervous to make foods that are naturally containing sources of iron and you want to do a little bit of fortified cereal at the right time, it's not the end of the world, but also we totally don't need those.

00:45:45.878 --> 00:45:53.758

<v SPEAKER_1>Amy Bentley is the one who says it best in her book, Inventing Baby Food, it's like this idea of commercial baby food, it's really only been around since the earlier part of the 20th century.

00:45:53.758 --> 00:46:01.378

<v SPEAKER_1>What do you think cave mama fed cave baby before there was a whole aisle of pouches and bags that look like chips at target for you to buy and feed your baby?

00:46:01.378 --> 00:46:06.218

<v SPEAKER_1>They've always fed modified versions of the same foods that the rest of the family has eaten.

00:46:06.218 --> 00:46:15.298

<v SPEAKER_1>And I know we've talked about this too, but after this project, what I want to do with you is go around the world and I want to just examine the way other cultures start solid foods with their babies.

00:46:15.298 --> 00:46:17.178

<v SPEAKER_1>It doesn't involve force-feeding by spoon.

00:46:17.178 --> 00:46:19.118

<v SPEAKER_1>It doesn't involve pouches.

00:46:19.118 --> 00:46:21.738

<v SPEAKER_1>It doesn't involve pureed foods.

00:46:21.738 --> 00:46:24.638

<v SPEAKER_1>It involves modified versions of the same foods the rest of the family eats.

00:46:24.638 --> 00:46:27.738

<v SPEAKER_1>And like a lot of things in parenting, we just make stuff so much harder here.

00:46:27.738 --> 00:46:30.618

<v SPEAKER_1>And we spend all our time on doing these problems.

00:46:30.618 --> 00:46:35.718

<v SPEAKER_1>And pediatricians spend a lot of time dealing with chronic disease that's driven by food choices, to be quite honest.

00:46:35.718 --> 00:46:39.058

<v SPEAKER_1>So I love that you're tackling this earlier phase of life.

00:46:39.518 --> 00:46:42.818

<v SPEAKER_1>And I work with a lot of people, parents, who are starting solid foods.

00:46:42.818 --> 00:46:44.518

<v SPEAKER_1>You're in the minority that you're very laid back.

00:46:44.518 --> 00:46:46.498

<v SPEAKER_1>I think listeners can tell just from your approach.

00:46:46.498 --> 00:46:50.438

<v SPEAKER_1>You're very confident in Enzo's ability to eat real food from his first bites.

00:46:50.438 --> 00:46:51.678

<v SPEAKER_1>Were you like that with Dean?

00:46:51.678 --> 00:46:53.758

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, can you put yourself back in time?

00:46:53.758 --> 00:47:00.438

<v SPEAKER_1>And like the interviews and the work that you've done on this film, I can tell they've changed your outlook about solid foods a second time around.

00:47:00.438 --> 00:47:04.398

<v SPEAKER_1>But are you able to get in the mind of the first time parent?

00:47:04.398 --> 00:47:06.198

<v SPEAKER_1>because you're so laid back.

00:47:06.198 --> 00:47:07.958

<v SPEAKER_1>Maybe parents just seeing that will be helpful.

00:47:08.098 --> 00:47:13.598

<v SPEAKER_1>But like, can you remember what it felt like when you were starting with your oldest and how nervous and scared you were?

00:47:13.598 --> 00:47:16.778

<v SPEAKER_1>And are you trying to help that come across in this project too?

00:47:16.778 --> 00:47:24.078

<v SPEAKER_2>Yeah, it's hilarious that you think I'm laid back because anyone that knows me would be like, she's not laid back at all.

00:47:24.078 --> 00:47:25.958

<v SPEAKER_2>I'm laid back, I think, with Enzo.

00:47:25.958 --> 00:47:26.618

<v SPEAKER_2>So this is the thing.

00:47:26.618 --> 00:47:29.898

<v SPEAKER_2>I think it just comes down to like the power of knowledge, right?

00:47:29.898 --> 00:47:32.578

<v SPEAKER_2>I wasn't as laid back with Dean because I didn't have the knowledge, right?

00:47:32.578 --> 00:47:36.998

<v SPEAKER_2>And when we don't have knowledge, we get what takes its place, anxiety, right?

00:47:37.098 --> 00:47:39.418

<v SPEAKER_2>because it's that fear, that worry, all that stuff.

00:47:39.418 --> 00:47:42.478

<v SPEAKER_2>And so I had to do more research.

00:47:42.478 --> 00:47:44.358

<v SPEAKER_2>I was definitely way more involved.

00:47:44.358 --> 00:47:45.518

<v SPEAKER_2>I was a bit more nervous.

00:47:45.518 --> 00:47:47.038

<v SPEAKER_2>I started him a little too early.

00:47:47.038 --> 00:47:54.638

<v SPEAKER_2>I was actually looking at a bunch of photos and videos of Dean eating, you know, that I had kept on my phone, and I'll probably share those in the documentary as well.

00:47:54.638 --> 00:47:57.458

<v SPEAKER_2>But I didn't have the right chair set up.

00:47:57.458 --> 00:47:58.318

<v SPEAKER_2>I mean, I was doing like...

00:47:58.318 --> 00:47:59.758

<v SPEAKER_1>Dude, don't you love your new high chair?

00:47:59.758 --> 00:48:03.558

<v SPEAKER_1>I did not want to ditch your old chair and don't say it by brand, but that chair is not great.

00:48:03.558 --> 00:48:05.238

<v SPEAKER_1>And the one you have now is fantastic.

00:48:05.338 --> 00:48:07.558

<v SPEAKER_1>So I love seeing him all set up in his new chair.

00:48:07.558 --> 00:48:11.738

<v SPEAKER_2>I will say, I think that makes a big difference too, because he can feel comfortable in how he's eating.

00:48:11.738 --> 00:48:17.858

<v SPEAKER_2>But like, I was that parent that, you know, I remember that feeling before I gave Dean like his first bite of food.

00:48:17.858 --> 00:48:21.878

<v SPEAKER_2>And I think I was right there to like catch him in case something happened.

00:48:21.878 --> 00:48:22.738

<v SPEAKER_2>And he started to gag.

00:48:22.738 --> 00:48:26.138

<v SPEAKER_2>And I had to like actively breathe and be like, OK, it's all right.

00:48:26.138 --> 00:48:26.918

<v SPEAKER_2>It's OK.

00:48:26.918 --> 00:48:31.378

<v SPEAKER_2>I think at one point I did stick my finger in his mouth and pull something out, which you're not supposed to do.

00:48:31.378 --> 00:48:32.678

<v SPEAKER_2>And then like we kind of got past it.

00:48:32.778 --> 00:48:35.318

<v SPEAKER_2>And he got better as he got older, right?

00:48:35.318 --> 00:48:37.418

<v SPEAKER_2>because they get better as they get older.

00:48:37.418 --> 00:48:40.418

<v SPEAKER_2>I remember just like I think I fed him oatmeal and stuff.

00:48:40.418 --> 00:48:44.698

<v SPEAKER_2>And then like I was changing his diaper after a couple of days and he had like little bumps over all over him.

00:48:44.698 --> 00:48:46.798

<v SPEAKER_2>And they weren't hives, but they were just like little bumps.

00:48:46.798 --> 00:48:47.858

<v SPEAKER_2>And I was like, oh, I wonder what that is.

00:48:47.858 --> 00:48:49.618

<v SPEAKER_2>And I'm looking it up and my pediatrician doesn't know.

00:48:51.258 --> 00:48:59.758

<v SPEAKER_2>And there were all these questions and not really solid answers, a lot of different resources.

00:48:59.758 --> 00:49:06.098

<v SPEAKER_2>And thankfully Dean was born in 2021 where there was a lot more about baby-led weaning.

00:49:06.098 --> 00:49:16.738

<v SPEAKER_2>There was a lot more about different approaches or just like better recommendations for baby food that were out there if you knew where to look for them, not coming from my doctor's office, obviously.

00:49:16.738 --> 00:49:18.958

<v SPEAKER_1>That's only five years after my quads were born.

00:49:19.518 --> 00:49:23.318

<v SPEAKER_1>And there was stuff out there about what baby-led weaning was, but absolutely nothing on how to do it safely.

00:49:23.318 --> 00:49:28.198

<v SPEAKER_1>And that was a huge impetus for me to create my program and the whole 100 First Foods approach is like, yeah, I agree with you.

00:49:28.198 --> 00:49:29.478

<v SPEAKER_1>This is a great philosophy.

00:49:29.478 --> 00:49:33.958

<v SPEAKER_1>Parents and some of them are like, can you just tell me exactly how to make the food safe and what order I should feed it in?

00:49:33.958 --> 00:49:34.958

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, well, it doesn't really matter.

00:49:34.958 --> 00:49:36.098

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, can you just tell me?

00:49:36.098 --> 00:49:37.278

<v SPEAKER_1>cause no one else is telling me.

00:49:37.278 --> 00:49:47.898

<v SPEAKER_1>So I would say that things have changed dramatically, even in five years, even though, you know, Jill Rapley's book has been around for over 20 years at this point, the actual implementation of it, like we're finally starting to see it.

00:49:47.998 --> 00:49:56.038

<v SPEAKER_1>And it, like, being in a film, in a documentary, I just think it's gonna do, it's gonna help so many parents who are like, I've heard about this, but like, I've never actually seen it work.

00:49:56.038 --> 00:49:59.138

<v SPEAKER_1>And that's, we've talked about this a lot together too, but that's the power of video.

00:49:59.138 --> 00:50:06.138

<v SPEAKER_1>Like, don't tell me that a six and a half month old can't eat soft, solid strips of lamb, cause here it is in real life.

00:50:06.138 --> 00:50:08.898

<v SPEAKER_1>Are they eating three ounces and getting 11 milligrams of iron?

00:50:08.898 --> 00:50:18.198

<v SPEAKER_1>No, not yet, cause he's still learning how to eat, but he's not gonna wake up on his first birthday and magically know how to eat 100 foods if I don't use this solid six months of practice time with him.

00:50:18.198 --> 00:50:20.398

<v SPEAKER_1>So I love everything you're doing.

00:50:20.398 --> 00:50:25.158

<v SPEAKER_1>Tell us where we can go to learn more about your work and to support the making of this film.

00:50:25.158 --> 00:50:28.438

<v SPEAKER_2>Right now we have our Instagram, A Solid Six Months with the number six.

00:50:28.438 --> 00:50:37.298

<v SPEAKER_2>We have our website being currently built, but at A Solid Six Months, you'll see a link to our crowdfunding page, and that's where for anyone that wants to donate, it's a fully tax-deductible donation.

00:50:37.298 --> 00:50:45.878

<v SPEAKER_2>We have also amazing perks from like all of our great experts where you can get money off to their website, to their programs, to their courses.

00:50:45.878 --> 00:50:47.418

<v SPEAKER_2>We have some really cool people involved.

00:50:47.718 --> 00:50:52.618

<v SPEAKER_2>A Solid Six Months, go to there on Instagram, you'll see the link for our Alira donation page.

00:50:52.618 --> 00:50:55.298

<v SPEAKER_2>But also our Instagram is like, I'm the one running it.

00:50:55.298 --> 00:50:56.438

<v SPEAKER_1>I love it.

00:50:56.438 --> 00:50:59.158

<v SPEAKER_1>I'm watching everyday with Enzo eating today.

00:50:59.158 --> 00:51:08.618

<v SPEAKER_2>Also too, it's a place where I'm learning from what's out there about filling in the gap of what really is this film needs to be about.

00:51:08.658 --> 00:51:24.878

<v SPEAKER_2>Like I said, this is about how baby food and currently where it's at, has set us up for the standard American diet, talking about when you go around to different countries, their baby feeding practices are different because they're setting up those babies to eat the culture of adults today or in their culture.

00:51:24.878 --> 00:51:35.638

<v SPEAKER_2>That's why we're seeing this shift in the way parents are wanting to feed their babies because a lot of parents don't want to eat the standard American diet anymore and have all of the health consequences that come with that.

00:51:37.118 --> 00:51:46.278

<v SPEAKER_2>On Instagram, things are going to start shifting to more the history of things and also really about what this documentary is about, which is it's not just a mom blog.

00:51:46.278 --> 00:51:54.218

<v SPEAKER_2>It's about parents learning to trust their baby and to not underestimate their ability no matter where they're at.

00:51:54.218 --> 00:52:02.158

<v SPEAKER_2>Doesn't matter if they're on a feeding tube, doesn't matter if they've got some neurodivergency, it doesn't matter if they've got a cleft palate, doesn't matter if they've Down syndrome.

00:52:02.158 --> 00:52:19.878

<v SPEAKER_2>We're looking at all different types of children and just a parent being able to come to the table with less anxiety and more trust, a little bit of fun, and obviously, definitely some wipes around for the cleanup afterwards because it really will get messy.

00:52:19.878 --> 00:52:22.638

<v SPEAKER_1>because all babies deserve the right to learn how to eat real food.

00:52:22.638 --> 00:52:23.418

<v SPEAKER_2>They do.

00:52:23.418 --> 00:52:24.898

<v SPEAKER_1>Well, thank you so much.

00:52:25.098 --> 00:52:32.618

<v SPEAKER_1>As a parent, you've got to feed this small person for the next 17 and a half years of its life, so you might as well do the hard work now and they'll actually like and accept a wide variety of foods.

00:52:32.618 --> 00:52:40.078

<v SPEAKER_1>because it's hard to give a three-year-old beets and sardines if they've only ever had soft, refined white carbohydrates in their mouth.

00:52:40.078 --> 00:52:42.558

<v SPEAKER_1>So good for you for taking advantage of that flavor window.

00:52:42.558 --> 00:52:45.858

<v SPEAKER_1>And I'm so excited to see the whole project unfold.

00:52:45.858 --> 00:52:47.358

<v SPEAKER_1>Thank you so much for covering this topic.

00:52:47.358 --> 00:52:52.278

<v SPEAKER_1>I know it is a lot of work, but I think you're doing a huge service for parents around the world.

00:52:52.278 --> 00:52:55.018

<v SPEAKER_1>And practitioners, because there's a lot of doctors that need to see this too.

00:52:55.018 --> 00:52:55.378

<v SPEAKER_2>Yay.

00:52:55.378 --> 00:52:56.738

<v SPEAKER_2>Well, thank you always for having me.

00:52:56.738 --> 00:52:59.078

<v SPEAKER_2>And this is going to be a lot of fun to get this out there.

00:52:59.518 --> 00:53:08.898

<v SPEAKER_2>And hopefully people can come visit and give me a little message on or DM me on Instagram so I can, I want to learn about where people are at and what their fears are as well.

00:53:08.898 --> 00:53:11.638

<v SPEAKER_1>Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that interview with paulina Lagudi.

00:53:11.638 --> 00:53:14.818

<v SPEAKER_1>Again, her film is called A Solid 6 Months.

00:53:14.818 --> 00:53:18.098

<v SPEAKER_1>They're on Instagram at A Solid 6 Months with the number 6.

00:53:18.098 --> 00:53:19.318

<v SPEAKER_1>They also have a crowdfunding page.

00:53:19.318 --> 00:53:30.918

<v SPEAKER_1>If you want to support the project, they'll be linked in the show notes, which you can find at blwpodcast.com/4-6-0 or just look right below wherever you're listening to this podcast episode.

00:53:30.918 --> 00:53:39.378

<v SPEAKER_1>Sorry that that ran a little bit longer than maybe a lot of other interviews, but I just think her project is so fascinating and I'd love to talk to creators when they're in the middle of it.

00:53:39.378 --> 00:53:44.258

<v SPEAKER_1>Like it's so easy to do an interview after your book is published or your movie is done or whatever, and they're all saying the same stuff.

00:53:44.258 --> 00:53:49.078

<v SPEAKER_1>This is like, she's actually in the thick of it, like you guys going through introducing Solid Food.

00:53:49.078 --> 00:53:53.798

<v SPEAKER_1>She just happens to be interviewing tons of experts and making a film about it, which I can't wait to see.

00:53:54.438 --> 00:53:57.778

<v SPEAKER_1>So, a special thank you to our partners at Airwave Media.

00:53:57.778 --> 00:54:03.098

<v SPEAKER_1>If you guys like other podcasts about food and science and using your brain, check out some of the options from Airwave.

00:54:03.098 --> 00:54:05.338

<v SPEAKER_1>We are online at blwpodcast.com.

00:54:05.338 --> 00:54:06.318

<v SPEAKER_1>Thanks so much for listening.

00:54:06.318 --> 00:54:07.078

<v SPEAKER_1>I'll see you next time.