How can I support the nutritional needs of infants with cleft lip and palate during feeding?

Supporting the nutritional needs of infants with cleft lip and palate during feeding involves a multidisciplinary approach and tailored feeding support.

• Ensure access to healthcare professionals with expertise in infant feeding difficulties, including infant feeding specialists, paediatric dietitians, speech and language therapists with feeding expertise, and paediatricians, to provide comprehensive assessment and management.

• Provide parents and carers with clear, specific, and understandable information about feeding techniques and nutritional needs tailored to their infant's condition, using both written and spoken formats.

• Offer feeding support that may include specialised feeding equipment or techniques to facilitate effective feeding and reduce feeding difficulties associated with cleft lip and palate.

• Monitor growth closely to identify any faltering growth early, and if concerns arise, consider supplementary feeding options such as oral liquid nutritional supplements or, if necessary, enteral tube feeding after specialist assessment.

• Encourage relaxed and enjoyable feeding environments, support breastfeeding where possible, and advise on expressing breast milk to maintain supply if supplementation is needed.

• Coordinate care through a lead healthcare professional to streamline communication and support for families.

These steps help optimise energy and nutrient intake, support growth, and address the unique feeding challenges faced by infants with cleft lip and palate ².