Feeding management of infants with cleft lip and palate and micrognathia

The baby with a cleft lip, palate, and/or micrognathia presents a feeding c hallenge for both parents and health professionals. These oral-facial anoma lies may disrupt the feeding process and put the baby at risk for growth fa ilure and sometimes aspiration. The feeding difficulties of these babies ar e widely reported in the literature, but no consensus on how to select the most appropriate remediation techniques is evident. This article outlines t he components of the normal infant feeding process and hew they are affecte d by these oral-facial anomalies. Based on the child's specific pattern of anomalies, this article discusses a variety of feeding techniques and manag ement strategies and develops a rationale for their use in bottle and breas tfeeding of infants with cleft lip, palate, and/or micrognathia.