For the first feedings of solid food choose a time when your baby is not too tired or too hungry. You may like to give some breast milk first to partially satisfy him– he will then be more receptive to solids. You could also give solid foods between 2 feedings.

• It is better not to use a baby bottle to feed cereals or other solid foods to your baby. A baby needs to experience the taste and feel of food in the mouth.
• Every new food is a new sensation in taste and texture for your baby. Babies may make a face and push the food out of their mouth when new food is introduced.

At 7 months your baby can learn to chew. Start introducing bread and cereals (avoid cereals with sugar) but no whole grain cereals because your baby’s digestive system is not ready. Between feeds it is best to give your child water or tea. Remember to let the tea cool down.  Try to limit the amount of drinks with sugar – they may cause tooth decay.  As a snack you could try pieces of bread, rice crackers, pieces of fruit or vegetables. It is important to give your child a variety of foods. That way he gets to know and like different tastes.

40% of the daily energy intake of a child under 2 years should come from fat. For children older than 2  and adults this goes down to 30%. Fat provides energy and is needed for the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Some fats are essential. Essential fats are called essential because they can't be made in the body, so it's important to include them in your child's diet. The body consists of about 100 trillion cells. All cells in the body have a cell membrane. This cell membrane consists of fat and functions in a similar way to our skin. Essential fats are a part of the cell membrane to keep it flexible – they ensure that nutrients can enter the cell while waste products are transported out. These essential fats are found in breast milk, vegetable oils (e.g. sunflower oil), soft and liquid margarine (e.g. Rama). This means that nature actually provides the nutrients children need. It is important that you include these nutrients in a healthy, balanced diet throughout their childhood.