Breastfeeding in the development of children with facial clefts

Breastfeeding is the best way to feed infants and should be exclusive until six (6) months of age providing the basis for biological and emotional effects on the child's development. Children born with cleft lip and/or palate suffer interference in their natural ability to be properly fed and have negative aspects in their normal development. Difficulties in feeding cleft babies arise soon after birth due to impairments in the sucking and swallowing mechanism resulting from the lack of anatomical integrity. The aim of this study is to discuss the importance of stimulating breastfeeding for babies with the congenital malformation of cleft lip and/or palate checking the literature on the weight and height development of children with this malformation.