June 29, 2025

How Tube Fed Babies Can Become Independent Eaters with Jennifer Berry, MS, OT/L and Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC

31 minutes

#50: Many babies who rely on tube feeding can learn to eat independently…but traditional feeding approaches often fall short. In this episode, feeding therapists Jennifer Berry (OT) and Heidi Liefer Moreland (SLP) from Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics explain how trust, safety, and internal motivation play key roles in helping tube-fed babies become confident eaters. Learn how their intensive tube weaning program works, what signs to look for when a baby is ready to eat, and how responsive feeding principles apply—even with medically complex cases.

Listen to this episode to learn:

1. WHY trust in the feeding relationship is so important regardless of whether the baby is weaning from breast, bottle or feeding tube

2. HOW parents and caregivers can help establish that trust with the baby…even if the medical team doesn’t have a clearly defined path for tube weaning

3. HOW families with babies on feeding tubes can be advocates for independent feeding and weaning off of the tube...even when some experts say it can’t be done

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/50

Links from this episode:

• Learn more about Jenny and Heidi’s feeding practice Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics and their tube weaning program

• Follow Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Instagram @thrivewithspectrum

• Listen to Jenny and Heidi and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatric’s podcast TUBE TO TABLE and subscribe to the podcast

• Jenny and Heidi are also feeding therapists who work with children and families both in-person and remotely. You can contact them via their Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics business

• Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other episodes related to this topic:

• Episode 402 - How This Tube Fed Baby Also Safely Started Solid Foods with @walkietalkieeats Brooke Tibbett

• Episode 444 - You Can't Make Your Baby Eat with Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC

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Not sure about which foods to offer your baby next? Get your copy of my original 100 FIRST FOODS list on my free online video workshop called ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Want guided help on how to make all of the 100 FIRST FOODS™ safely for your baby? My program BABY-LED WEANING WITH KATIE FERRARO has a 100 FIRST FOODS daily meal plan and everything else you need to start solid foods safely with baby-led weaning. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO JOIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Be sure to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@babyledweanteam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Baby-Led Weaning YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information about helping your baby transition to solid foods safely.

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If you learned something from this episode and like this podcast, your review means the WORLD to us and helps other parents find this important evidence-based infant feeding info. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to leave a review on Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate this show on Spotify podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and thanks for being a part of this amazing and supportive baby-led weaning community!

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