Question
How to feed a two-and-a-half-month-old baby with a cleft lip who cannot suck on a bottle?
Answer
For cleft lip babies, specialized bottles or larger openings in regular bottles can be used, along with manual expression to assist with drinking, ensuring the baby receives enough nutrition. Before surgery, it is necessary to train the oral muscle functions, but first, one must ensure the baby is well-fed. It is suggested to provide biteable objects or nipples during feeding to help train the oral muscles. Additionally, communicating with a pediatric surgeon about the baby’s current condition is important. Wishing the baby health!