From my experience this is not typical behavior of babies with sub mucous clefts. To me it sounds as if the reflux may be the primary issue for the difficulty to transition to solids. In my experience reflux sensitizes the whole system and these babies are very defensive when it comes to food especially food someone wants to feed them and anything with texture in it. These babies will usually be happy to bring soft finger foods to their mouths and I usually recommend that this be the primary focus. Give soft finger foods(melt-in-the-mouth)  on the tray and allow the baby to play with the food without pressure to eat. Soft fruit, avo, pear, kiwi, (melt-in-the-mouth cracker or biscuit)  etc. Very tender corn cut off the cob and allow the baby to suck on the cob.  Hard teething rusks also ok. Anything the baby can control and which will have little bits and pieces being softened and eaten.

A baby that is supersensitive lacks experience with texture passing over the tongue and because they are so defensive there is a vicious circle of they don't want to eat, if they eat they gag, everyone freaks out and avoids giving more food. Gagging is a protective reflex until the system can manage whatever is going down, so it is not a bad thing and it will only decrease if little bits of food pass over the back of the tongue repeatedly. The very best way is to give finger food, supervise closely and don't freak if there is gagging, try to keep a straight face and gradually the gagging will decrease. A baby will not die from gagging and they will not choke on soft finger foods they control themselves.
 
Babies with submucous clefts are managed differently in different parts of the world. The submucous clefts usually affects the muscular soft palate and in New Zealand repair happens at about 12 months. The soft palate plays an important part in speech in the same way as in feeding, if the soft palate does not play it's part in creating an enclosed pressure system in the mouth then it is impossible to create negative pressure so important for breastfeeding. Speech sounds like p, b, t, d etc. also needs pressure created in the mouth. The signs for submucous cleft is usually the bifid uvula, unusual white marking or streaking on the palate, The junction where the soft and hard palates meet may also be unusually prominent. Nasal regurgitation of milk is also associated with a soft palate that is not functioning optimally and should always be investigated in relation to clefting of the palate.  

Loraine Hamm
Speech Language Therapist/IBCLC
New Zealand

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