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How can you care for your child who has a cleft lip or cleft palate?
Caring for a child with a cleft lip
- Talk to your doctor if your baby has any feeding problems. Babies born with cleft lips often can breastfeed well. Bottle-feeding usually is not a problem if you use special nipples that are a different shape and have hole openings that are slightly bigger than normal.
- Take your child for all the testing your doctor recommends. Some children may need tests for other health conditions or for speech and hearing problems.
Caring for a child with a cleft palate
- If you have trouble feeding your baby, talk to your doctor. You may be able to breastfeed, but bottle-feeding usually works better than breastfeeding. Some people pump their breast milk and give it to their babies in bottles.
- Watch your baby for problems with choking, gagging, or milk coming out through the nose while feeding. You may be able to use a small plastic plate that fits into the roof of the baby's mouth while feeding. This blocks the opening so the baby can suck properly.
- Be alert for signs of dehydration. This can develop if your baby is not getting enough breast milk or formula. These signs include fewer wet diapers, sunken eyes with few tears, and a dry mouth with little or no spit.
- As your child grows, pay attention to:
- Dental care. Be sure to take your child to a dentist regularly starting at age 1. A dentist will watch for dental problems and teach good dental habits. Check with your doctor about how to care for your baby's mouth before the first dental visit.
- Hearing. Work with your doctor to test your baby's hearing by the time they're 3 months old, especially if they were not screened at birth.
- If you need more support, talk with your doctor or see a counselor. Also, you may want to join a support group. It may help to talk with other parents who have babies with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
Cleft lip and cleft palate in children: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- Your child has severe trouble breathing. Signs may include the chest sinking in, using belly muscles to breathe, or nostrils flaring while your child is struggling to breathe.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has signs of needing more fluids. These signs include sunken eyes with few tears, a dry mouth with little or no spit, and little or no urine for 6 hours.
- Your child has signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the area.
- Pus draining from the area.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You are worried that your child's surgical scar is not healing right.
- You are worried that your child is not hearing well.
- Your child does not get better as expected.
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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.