What is a common feeding difficulty associated with cleft lip/palate?

Prepare for the Mark Klimek Blue Book Part 1 Exam. Study with multiple choice questions, flashcards, and comprehensive explanations. Get ready for your nursing exam!

Cleft lip and/or palate can significantly affect an infant's ability to feed effectively. One of the most common feeding difficulties in these cases is the inability to latch onto nipples. Depending on the severity of the cleft, the structural alterations may prevent the infant from achieving a proper seal around the nipple, leading to challenges in suctioning the milk properly. This lack of effective latching can result in inadequate nutrition and frustration for both the infant and the caregiver.

In contrast, while difficulty swallowing solids, frequent gagging during meals, and increased air intake leading to bubbling can also occur in children with various feeding issues, they are less directly associated with cleft lip/palate during the initial feeding stages, particularly in infancy. Feeding strategies and specialized nipples can often help manage the feeding difficulties that arise from cleft lip/palate, allowing infants to achieve better nutrition during their early development.

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