A 'cleft’ is another way of describing a gap or separation in the lip, palate or alveolus that is present at birth. It occurs when parts of the baby’s face do not fuse together fully during the first twelve weeks of foetal development in the womb. The condition can vary in severity and is usually identified during the foetal anomaly scan at 20 weeks – although the presence of a cleft palate is not always reliably detected. Early diagnosis and treatment are important as any delay may affect the baby’s feeding, growth and development.
Health visitors can support babies, children, and families by providing information and guidance. They monitor feeding and growth, offer emotional support, and work collaboratively with specialist services to promote the child’s development and wellbeing.
iHV Resources
📃 Good Practice Points and Parent Tips
Developed in collaboration with topic experts, health visitors, and other professionals, our resources draw on the latest available evidence at the time of publication. Each resource is produced through a robust quality assurance process and peer reviewed to ensure accuracy, relevance, and strong alignment with health visiting practice.
