How do I stop her gagging?

[SofaKingFedUp]

My DD is 6 months old (28 weeks) started weaning at 19 weeks on the advice from health visitor, she loves food and hasn't really disliked anything....unless it has lumps
I know this is normal as they are not used to the different textures etc but I have been trying to introduce little lumps into her food for the past few of weeks and she just gags and then refuses to eat it so I then have to remove any lumps for her to eat it.
I've tried adding very small lumps to her favourite dish, sometimes she'll swallow them but then sometimes she push the lump out with her tongue. I've tried those little "melty puffs" and she likes holding them, biting them and sucking them but I feel they're not helping as they kinda dissolve in your mouth.
This morning I have her mashed banana on soft toast, she took two bites, gagged and then fed it all to the dog so had to go make her porridge. Also if I put things in front of her to eat then most of the time she throws them on the floor.
I asked my health visitor on the last visit for some advice but she wasn't that helpful as I've had 3 different HVs in the last 3 visits, and they all give different advice.
How did you guys get your LOs to tolerate lumpy food and start eating themselves? She takes the spoon off me and puts it into her mouth so I guess she's learning, plus she doesn't have any teeth yet, could this have anything to do with it?

No teeth won’t impact on her eating, so don’t worry about that. Could you keep on with the purees but keep offering some finger foods on the side? Things like a little grated cheese, some cucumber sticks, slices of plum, steamed broccoli, cooked pepper sticks, green beans etc.

Can I ask why you were recommended to wean early? Just wondering in case it’s linked

I would try more finger food?
It might not be that they eat more but can get used to different textures.

All of mine have been the same. The don't like the 'surprise' of lumps when that's not what they're used to. Finger foods are definitely the way to go, banana, peas, rice cakes. They seem to accept it more if they can touch it and feel it and put it in their own mouth.

Think developmentally, if you'd waiting until 6 months you'd have been happy with a smooth puree and a nibble of finger food. It's the same now, babies have a lower gag reflex on their tongue than older babies so it's all part of it. Keep going as you are

My HV has always said don't offer anything else. At that age they are getting everythjng they need from milk so don't offer anything smooth. They will learn there is no alternative. Has worked in all respects with my dd

Finger foods they do thrmselves means the lumps won't be a suprise

Bit late to the party, but do you let her feed herself the puree with her hands? I do with lumpy homemade purees with my LO, she seems happy to take it at her own pace. Mine's not on finger foods yet but I always offer them.

Surely there's not a chance of her feeding herself with a spoon at 6 months?? She's doing very well if she can take it to her mouth if you preload it for her I think.