Breastfeeding the infant with a cleft defect.

Infants with cleft defects should be assisted to feed at the breast whenever a mother chooses this as the method of feeding. This is an ideal choice for such infants because it encourages normal, physiologic muscular involvement of the mouth and face, it benefits speech development, and it provides protection against upper respiratory infections, particularly otitis media. Successful breastfeeding helps normalize the infant to the family. Unfortunately, the attitude that infants with cleft defects cannot be breastfed often has been the first and most consistent response that the parents and families receive from their health care providers. Health care professionals must provide interventions to facilitate breastfeeding and thus normalize and empower these infants. The first days of life are extremely important for imprinting and learning what position works best.