Feeding Aids for Babies with Cleft


Options available for feeding babies with cleft

SOFT / SQUEEZABLE BOTTLE

Softplas from CLAPAM, Pigeon, MAM dsb

BOTTLE WITH SQUEEZABLE TEAT

Medela-Haberman

BOTTLE WITH SPOON

SoftPlas, Pigeon, Medela

SOFT TEAT

latex such as NUK

NASOGASTRIC / INFANT FEEDING TUBE

Monthly (2nd Monday)

SYRINGE, SPOON, CUP

without need for bottle


Use of Teats with Feeding Bottles

Teats, if used, should be soft (latex not silicone). Additionally, orthodontic teat is recommended as its hole is at the bottom (normal teat would have its hole at the tip). Milk will thus flow to the tongue, instead of to the back of the mouth. This helps to mitigate liquids from entering the middle ear or come out through the nostrils.

Care of Feeding Bottles and Teats

Softplas bottles and latex teats should not be subjected to boiling water or steam sterilizers. They can instead be washed using hot water, or sterilising tablets, and replaced when they appear to have expanded.

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