Calling Cleft mamas

[2020babym]

We've been blessed with a Cleft Cutie who is due in June :)

Trying to get my thoughts and everything prepared, what I need to buy etc. so he has everything he needs.

Is there anything you wished you'd been told about having a baby with Cleft lip and palate and also anything in particular we need to buy that you wouldn't necessarily need for babies without it (I know bottles are one for sure)?

Thanks

Congratulations on your little one. My little boy has a cleft lip and palate and he will be 7 in June. I think the main thing I used more of with my cleft baby was bibs. Also vests that fasten round the side are good for after operations as your baby probably won't like having a vest pulled over his/her head at first. Also take loads of photos/videos of him/her before surgery and during recovery so you can show them to him/her when she/he is older and asks questions about their scar etc.

You'll need to tube feed for I while I think, so maybe join a Facebook group for tube feeding children.

Ds2 was tube fed for 2 weeks but that was partly because he was 5 weeks early. After that he moved on to a bottle that was soft like a washing up liquid bottle. He couldn't suck so we had to squeeze the bottle to feed him.

My cleft cutie was born in December- he has a unilateral lip and soft palate. We didn't need to tube feed, he took to bottles straight away. We use the dr brown bottles- you can order through clapa but your cleft team will keep you right. The clapa Facebook page is very supportive too.

Thanks everyone super helpful. Hope you and your little ones are doing ok.