What must a mother do after feeding a baby who has had cleft lip or palate repair?

After feeding a baby who has undergone cleft lip or palate repair, rinsing the infant’s mouth with water is essential for maintaining oral hygiene and promoting healing. This practice helps to remove any food particles and bacteria from the mouth, reducing the risk of infection and ensuring that the surgical site is clean.

Post-operative care is crucial in the management of infants with cleft lip or palate repairs. Regular mouth rinsing aids in preventing complications such as infection or irritation at the surgical site, which can be particularly critical for these patients as they heal.

The other options do not align with appropriate post-feeding care for this specific context. For instance, brushing the baby’s teeth may be too aggressive immediately after surgery, feeding the baby again too soon may prevent adequate recovery time, and applying antiseptic cream is not usually necessary for the oral cavity. Hence, rinsing with water is the most suitable and beneficial action after feeding in this scenario.