My son has a wicked easier gag reflex and still on rice cereal and stage 2 purées. He just started being able to eat puffs without choking and puking. It's frustrating because I feel like he should to be able to eat more than what he has now. He's 9 1/2 months.
Re: Anyone still on just cereal and purées?
Some of the things we've been doing are to give her a carrot stick and let her dip it into her purées and feed herself because that way she is desensitizing her gag reflex on her own.
Also so adding crushed crackers to 1-2 oz of purées since she eats cracker bits really well.
And when we do just regular purées to press very gently on her tongue with the spoon and make lots of silly noises to distract her.
Also we brush the insides of her cheeks and along her gums and her tongue twice a day when we brush her teeth.
Having the same issue. Pediatrician urged us at his 9mo checkup to try more table foods. He'll eat puffs but hasn't mastered the pincer grasp. He still wants us to feed him. Just takes longer to feed him now and he's so hungry so we normally give him a jar of puree and then do some finger foods after.
So far he likes green beans, carrots, eggs, toast, and bananas.
Good luck!