Squeezable bottles appear easier to use than rigid feeding bottles for babies born with clefts of the lip and/or palate, however, there is no evidence of a difference in growth outcomes between the bottle types. There is weak evidence that breastfeeding is better than spoon-feeding following surgery for cleft. There was no evidence to suggest that maxillary plates assist growth in babies with clefts of the palate. No evidence was found to assess the use of any types of maternal advice and/or support for these babies.
Breast feeding or spoon feeding after cleft lip repair: a prospective, randomised study.
It has been a tradition for plastic surgeons to withhold breast feeding from babies after cleft lip repair to prevent wound disruption. A prospective, randomised trial of 40 infants showed that early postoperative breast feeding after cleft lip repair is safe, results in more weight gain at 6 weeks after surgery (P < 0.01) and is more economical than spoon feeding.