Each baby is unique so different techniques will suit different babies even if they have the same kind of cleft. However, some general tips are provided below to help bottle fed babies feed as efficiently as possible.
Feed your baby in a calm quiet environment. Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable chair.
Seat your baby upright for bottle feeding (see figure 1). This may prevent milk coming out of the nose during sucking. Hold the baby close to you so they are well supported for feeding.
Feed your baby with a squeeze bottle and specially-cut teat or a Scoop feeder. If your baby has a cleft lip, avoid placing the teat into the cleft.
Once your baby starts sucking, squeeze the bottle gently to deliver milk into the mouth. A squeeze every 3 to 4 sucks is usually sufficient however all babies are different so you may need to experiment a little with the rate of pulsing/ squeezing.
Seat your baby upright for bottle feeding (see figure 1). This may prevent milk coming out of the nose during sucking. Hold the baby close to you so they are well supported for feeding.
Feed your baby with a squeeze bottle and specially-cut teat or a Scoop feeder. If your baby has a cleft lip, avoid placing the teat into the cleft.
Once your baby starts sucking, squeeze the bottle gently to deliver milk into the mouth. A squeeze every 3 to 4 sucks is usually sufficient however all babies are different so you may need to experiment a little with the rate of pulsing/ squeezing.
Some babies like to suck when a gentle but constant pressure is applied to the teat (if using the Scoop feeder) or the bottle (if using a squeeze bottle) rather than pulsing. Experimenting with this technique may also be useful. Some mothers find it helpful to practice squeezing a water-filled bottle to get an idea of how the flow changes with more rapid squeezing or stronger squeezing of the bottle feeding. Some babies may be able to compress the teat enough themselves to feed quickly (<20 mins) and efficiently. This means you do not have to squeeze the teat for them.
Watch how your baby reacts to the pulsing or prolonged squeezing of the bottle. If the baby looks uncomfortable or is not managing the mouthful of milk, stop squeezing and let him/her rest and swallow before more milk is given.
Have breaks for burping, as the baby may be more ‘windy’ than usual.
Keep each feed to 20-30 minutes. Longer feeds mean the baby will use too much energy during feeding. This can make weight gain difficult.
Babies can loose up to 10% of their birth weight but usually regain it in 2 to 3 weeks. If your baby is having 5 to 6 wet nappies per day and regular motions, and is healthy and alert, then it is likely that he/she is being fed sufficiently. Your Health Visitor will help you keep track of your baby’s growth and we will ask you about it when you come to cleft clinic. Slow weight gain or weight loss may mean the feeding method needs to be changed.
Watch how your baby reacts to the pulsing or prolonged squeezing of the bottle. If the baby looks uncomfortable or is not managing the mouthful of milk, stop squeezing and let him/her rest and swallow before more milk is given.
Have breaks for burping, as the baby may be more ‘windy’ than usual.
Keep each feed to 20-30 minutes. Longer feeds mean the baby will use too much energy during feeding. This can make weight gain difficult.
Babies can loose up to 10% of their birth weight but usually regain it in 2 to 3 weeks. If your baby is having 5 to 6 wet nappies per day and regular motions, and is healthy and alert, then it is likely that he/she is being fed sufficiently. Your Health Visitor will help you keep track of your baby’s growth and we will ask you about it when you come to cleft clinic. Slow weight gain or weight loss may mean the feeding method needs to be changed.
Your Surgeon will give specific instructions about how feeding should proceed in the early days after surgery to repair the lip or palate. In general, babies are encouraged to return to their usual method of feeding (breast feeding or bottle feeding) after surgery. If the baby has progressed to solids, these can also re-commence quite quickly after palate repair surgery but they should be a soft, ‘sloppy’ consistency for the first 3 weeks.
Cleft lip and/or palate feeding 1 — About feeding your baby
Cleft lip and/or palate feeding 2 — Bottles and teats
Cleft lip and/or palate feeding 3 — Helpful bottle feeding techniques
Cleft lip and/or palate feeding 2 — Bottles and teats
Cleft lip and/or palate feeding 3 — Helpful bottle feeding techniques
For more information
Factsheets
 |
 |
 |
 |