how to feed child with cleft palate

If you feed your child for longer periods it can tire your baby and waste calories. If your baby has a cleft of the soft palate the soft portion just before the throat breastfeeding will most likely not be possible.

One Of The First Concerns With Babies With Clefts Is Feeding In The Hospital They Strongly Encouraged Me To Try Nursing Clefts Cleft Lip Cleft Lip And Palate

Use a specialized cleft palate bottle Haberman nipple Pigeon nipple and Dr.

. Observe your infant for a period of sucking followed by a swallow and a brief period of breathing. If your baby needs extra help. Babies born with a cleft palate whether with a cleft lip or without cant breastfeed.

Babies born with Cleft Lip and Palate need to learn how to feed successfully in order to thrive and grow like all other babies. Some children with a cleft palate can breastfeed if the cleft is located far enough back in the mouth. You do not need to use a suction bulb.

Supplement the remaining feeding with a bottle. It will take extra time and patience. Most babies born with a cleft lip and no cleft palate feed well without any special equipment.

Children with just a cleft lip without a cleft palate do not routinely have feeding difficulties. When the baby latches on direct the nipple slightly downwards. Weatherley-White RC Kuehn DP Mirrett P Gilman JI Weatherley-White CC.

You do not need to use a suction bulb. Burp your baby often about every 5 minutes during the feed. Though babies with a cleft palate cant breastfeed moms can feed them breast milk in the bottle.

If your baby has a cleft lip try gently holding the upper lip together while bottle feeding to help create the needed seal around the nipple. The Cleft Lip and Palate Centers Helpline. Do not squeeze the bottle during the swallowing or breathing phase.

If there is a cleft of the lip try to close the gap as much as possible with the nipple of the bottle or with the breast tissue if breastfeeding. If milk leaks out of your babys nose wipe it away with a clean cloth. They usually can breastfeed or use a regular bottle-feeding system.

What if the cleft is in the back of the palate. Keep the bottle tilted so the nipple is always full of milk. If milk leaks out of your babys nose wipe it away with a clean cloth.

Try to keep the nipple in the center of the babys mouth. This cleft can make feeding hard for your baby. Most babies born with a cleft lip and no cleft palate feed well without any special equipment.

Babies with a cleft swallow a lot of air when feeding and require more frequent burping. Trying to breastfeed or use a regular bottle system to feed a baby with a cleft palate can lead to poor weight gain and failure to thrive. Early repair and breast-feeding for infants with.

If you notice problems with feeding or you are concerned with your childs growth please call the Cleft Lip and Palate Centers nurse line during regular business hours from 8 am. If necessary feed more frequently every two to three hours. If youre breastfeeding your baby try changing the feeding position so that your breast fills the cleft.

Hold your baby in an upright cradled position with your babys head well-supported. 430 pm Monday through Friday at 614 722-6299. Feeding children who have cleft lip or palate.

Feeding a Baby with a Cleft Palate. A cleft lip is typically repaired with surgery around 3 months of age. The following are suggestions to help aid in the feeding of your infant.

Understand that feedings should not last more than 30 minutes. The palate is important for feeding and speaking. Keep your baby upright during the feeding and for 2030 minutes after to limit nasal regurgitation.

When starting a feeding hold your baby in a slightly upright position. A cleft is an opening or split in the palate. Cleft palate repair is commonly performed at about 9-12 months of age depending on other health and developmental issues.

Having a cleft palate prevents an infant from making enough suction in the nipple to draw out milk from the breast or formula from a regular infant feeding bottle. The palate more commonly referred to as the roof of the mouth separates the mouth from the nose. The cleft will prevent your baby from sealing off the mouth from the nose.

If youre breastfeeding your baby try changing the feeding position so that your breast fills the cleft. Difficulty feeding with a regular nipple or breastfeeding. Though babies with a cleft palate cant breastfeed moms can feed them.

The only change needed might be positioning the nipple so the baby can latch. The following are some suggestions to help feed your baby with cleft palate. Otherwise its best to limit breastfeeding to about 10 minutes so as not to cause exhaustion.

They usually can breastfeed or use a regular bottle-feeding system. Unable to create enough pressure in their mouths to suck from a nipple. Use a bottle specially made for babies with a cleft lip andor cleft palate.

This may require some creative finger maneuvering on. Tips for feeding a baby with a cleft palate. Do not let it slip up into the cleft.

Sucking for children with a cleft palate is difficult because of the poorly formed roof of the mouth. Burp your baby after every half-ounce. Most babies with a cleft of the palate are not able to use standard bottles or solely breast feed.

Keep your baby upright during the feeding and for 2030 minutes after to limit nasal regurgitation. Cleft palate or cleft lip and palate. That is because there is a hole between your childs nose and mouth that allows air to escape preventing your baby from making a tight seal when suckling.

The only change needed might be positioning the nipple so the baby can latch. Touch the babys lower lip with the nipple. Thats because they cant create the pressure needed to suck milk from the nipple.

Prior to cleft palate repair our surgeon preference is to transition your child from a bottle to an open. After hours on weekends or holidays call 614 722-2000. Transitioning to Spoon Feeding Cup Drinking.

Hold your babys cheeks forward to help create a smaller space in the mouth and increase the oral contact with the nipple.

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