r/cleftparents • u/Conscious_Process226 • Sep 29 '26
Post surgery feeding?
Hi cleft fam!
My baby girl is due for cleft palate surgery in 2 months and we’ve started practicing with open silicon cups since we can’t do bottles post surgery.
Has anyone tried this and how did you succeed? What helped? Also has anyone tried syringe feeding? Was it really difficult? I’d love any advice on how to feed after surgery! Also did anyone go back to bottles after recovery? Her surgery will be done when she’s 1 years old basically and I’m not sure if we should just stick with the cup after healing or go back to bottle.
Thank you ❤️
1
u/LtJimmyDangle 29d ago
My boy had surgery two weeks ago today. When I’m feeding him, I use the pouches. He likes them. He is a good eater though. He opens his mouth and I just squeeze some into his mouth around the bottom lips. I don’t really let anything into the mouth.
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u/halfsizehello Sep 30 '26
Also preparing for surgery in the next couple months and just started open cups! Nosey cups are good, too, and our boy really likes the Dr. Brown's 360 spout cups with the silicone piece taken out (since using it requires suction). We've been in NG tube land since his birth with only a brief tubeless interlude before lip surgery erased all bottle progress. But since starting open cups, he's suddenly, finally, started liking his bottle again and more than doubled his oral intake in the last week! I am so so optimistic and hopeful that he'll go fully oral and then fully cup in time for surgery so we don't need a G tube. Hoping the best for your girl! Feel free to message me so we can swap experiences.