Basic Care and ComfortQuestion 1205 of 2368
The nurse is teaching a parent how to feed a newborn who has a cleft lip and cleft palate. Which instruction is correct?
- Keep the newborn lying flat so formula can flow to the back of the mouth.
- Feed the newborn as fast as possible so the feeding is shorter.
- Hold the newborn in an upright position during feedings.
- Stop breastfeeding because it is never possible with a cleft lip.
Show answer
Correct answer: Hold the newborn in an upright position during feedings.
Upright feeding is recommended for a newborn with a cleft. Breastfeeding may still be possible because breast tissue can close the gap in the lip.
Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Other Childhood Disorders: Implementation (Take Action). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Basic Care and Comfort"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026