Just thought I'd post our experience that might provide some hope to those that have also struggled with this stage.
DD is 8.5 months and we've been weaning since 6 months doing a mixture of purees and finger foods. Up to now it has been miserable - DD hadn't taken to solids, throws finger food on the floor without so much as sniffing it and it's been stressful for both of us. At 8 mth check up I was told off as she was hardly on any solids and told she was having too much milk - thus impacting speech development and likely to lead to a picky eater. I was advised to cut her milk back to ensure she was hungry for the solids. Well I left in a temper thinking "rubbish, I don't want my baby to go hungry".
But, guilt tripped into feeling a bad mummy I figured I'd try it for 2 days and if she was miserable I'd stop. Anyway over the past week I feel we've turned the corner. I cut out her afternoon milk and substituted for a nice plain yogurt (which she loves) to get her more familiar and happy with the spoon and dedicated lots of time and patience to tempting her with a wide variety of finger foods, homemade purees and a few jars - putting no pressure on either of us if she didn't want it. Well we've wasted a small food mountain of rejected stuff this week, but she has also eaten quite a bit too.
The highlight for me was seeing her sit and munch through half a stick of banana like a pro. Previously it was mashed to a pulp and thrown over board. This evening she ate cream cheese finger sandwiches and pesto pasta twirls for tea - plus a little pot of pureed avocado and banana.
I'm so chuffed. I really feel excited now about exploring new foods with her. I'm sure it won't all be plain sailing (what is?) but thought I'd post our experience for others in a similar position.