Cleft lip and palate

Parents can be directed to various internet resources for further information and advice. University of California Davis, Department of Otolaryngology: cleft and craniofacial program Opens in new window​​ Cleft Lip and Palate Association Opens in new window

Parents should be advised on appropriate feeding methods.

• Feeding the infant in an upright position avoids nasal regurgitation.

• Bottle feeding can be optimised using specialised fissured nipples and bottles controlling the flow rate of pumped breast milk or formula.

• Soft-bodied bottles are squeezed in synchronisation with infant sucking to reduce the effort of feeding and maximise the amount of feed entering the mouth.

• The infant should be burped during pauses in feeding.

• Feeding should not be continued for more than 30 minutes, to avoid the infant becoming tired.

Parents should be warned that the neonate will lose weight (up to 10% of birth weight) after birth, but reassured that the birth weight will be regained within 2 postnatal weeks, and increase by at least 25 g (1 ounce) per day thereafter. Infants should have their weight monitored at weekly intervals until it has stabilised.

Parents should be provided with instruction on appropriate postoperative care to protect the wound and promote healing, with maintenance of good wound care and nutrition as well as careful bathing and feeding.

Parents should receive information on how to optimise the infant's speech development and monitor his or her progress, as well as how to recognise hearing impairment in the infant.