Successful use of a feeding obturator for an infant with a cleft palate

The report of case presents the postnatal and early infancy period for a child born with a cleft of the soft palate. The infant was admitted to the hospital several times for failure to thrive as a result of feeding difficulties. The feeding problems resulted from both the cleft and a lack of consistent and concerted effort by the family to nourish the infant. When the child was 3 months old, a feeding obturator was constructed that resulted in improvement in the child's weight gain. The feeding problems of an infant with a cleft palate and the pressures that these problems present to the parents are discussed.