Bottles for Infants with Cleft Palate

There are a few different bottle systems currently available for babies born with cleft palate (with or without cleft lip). Be sure to consult with members of your baby’s cleft team for more information and hands-on instruction.

Links:
– Medela SpecialNeeds Feeder: What is the Medela SpecialNeeds Feeder? | Medela

– Dr. Brown’s Specialty Feeding System – Dr. Brown’s Medical Specialty Feeding System (SFS) – Dr. Brown’s Medical

– Pigeon Cleft Lip/Palate Bottle – Baby Cleft Lip/Palate Bottle with 2 Nipples, 8.11 Oz – Pigeon

Medela SpecialNeeds® Feeder

The Medela SpecialNeeds® Feeder can be used as a “caregiver-assisted” feeding system as well as one that is “infant-directed” based on the needs and abilities of the infant.  The feeding system consists of five parts, the container, teat, disc, valve membrane, and collar. In addition to the SpecialNeeds® Feeder, there is also a Mini-SpecialNeeds® Feeder for infants who may benefit from that size. 

There are three rates of milk flow, each represented by a line on the side of the teat: zero flow(shortest line), medium flow (medium line), and maximum flow (longest line). The selected flow line should be positioned towards your baby’s nose. Infants should be able to compress on the nipple independently to obtain milk. If recommended, caregivers are able to squeeze the teat in order to provide milk to the infant. This requires careful monitoring and discussion with your team. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your feeding specialist for support. 

For further information about cleaning, assembly, and use of the Medela SpecialNeeds® Feeder, please refer to the video below from the manufacturer:

• Special Needs Feeder Instructions for Use

Dr. Brown’s® Zero-Resistance® Specialty Feeding System 

The Dr. Brown’s® Zero-Resistance® Specialty Feeding System is “infant-directed,” which means that the infant is able to control the flow of the liquid without assistance from a caregiver. The feeding system comes in Narrow and Wide-Neck options with smaller and larger volume bottles available for each.

The Dr. Brown’s® Zero-Resistance® Specialty Feeding System includes a nipple, collar, the Infant-Paced Feeding Valve (blue one-way valve), the green Internal Vent System (includes the insert and reservoir), and the bottle. The parts are the same for the Narrow and the Wide-Neck bottles, but they are not interchangeable. The blue Infant-Paced Feeding Valve is the piece that allows infants with cleft palate to feed by their compression efforts alone.

A variety of nipple flow rates are available for the Dr. Brown’s® Zero-Resistance® Specialty Feeding System. These come in either the Narrow or Wide-Neck versions. Please work with your feeding specialist to determine the appropriate nipple flow for your infant. This may need to be adjusted based on the developmental needs of your infant, so please continue to monitor your infant’s feeding skill and inform your team.

For further information about cleaning, assembly, and use of the Dr. Brown’s® Zero-Resistance® Specialty Feeding System, please refer to the video below from the manufacturer:

• Assembly video: https://vimeo.com/1063251960?fl=pl&fe=cm

Pigeon Nursing Bottle for Cleft Lip and/or Palate

The Pigeon Nursing Bottle for Cleft Lip and/or Palate is “infant-directed,” meaning that the infant is able to independently feed without assistance of a caregiver. This bottle includes a soft bottle, collar, nipple, backflow prevention valve, and nipple cap. Two sizes of nipples are available, including the small and regular. The nipples have a Y-cut hole and have a thin and thick side. The thick side of the nipple and the vent valve should be positioned towards the top, under the nose, to aid the infant’s compression abilities. Slight squeezing can be performed on the soft bottle to help the baby feed as well.

For further information about cleaning, assembly, and use of the Pigeon Nursing Bottle for Cleft Lip and/or Palate, please refer to the video below from the manufacturer:

• How to assemble the bottles