Updates

Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic

Cleft Palate Bottles

Medela "Special Needs" Feeder (Formerly called Haberman Bottle)

  • A long, specially-designed nipple
    • Nipple has long slit that can be rotated within the mouth to change rate of flow.
    • Three lines on nipple. The longest line corresponds to “fast flow,” the medium line corresponds to “slow flow” and the shortest line corresponds to “off.” Align the desired flow line under the middle of the nose to control the flow of milk.
    • The feeder can also compress the nipple to increase the flow rate beyond what the baby is getting through compression of the nipple in the baby’s mouth.
  • It comes in standard- and mini-size nipples, where the length of the nipple that goes in the baby’s mouth is different in size. (Families in our clinic are only provided with a standard-size nipple)
  • The bottle has a thin, one-way flow valve. Assemble the bottle by placing the white part of the one-way flow valve facing the nipple chamber and the yellow plastic disk toward the bottle chamber.
  • Wash with warm soapy water and air dry.
  • Ordering information:

Pigeon Bottle

  • Nipple has modifications
    • Comes in two sizes - regular and mini; one of each size comes in a new bottle, so pay attention to which size is being used and stick with one size rather than alternating between the two sizes. The manufacturer suggests that the small size is a slower flow than the regular size.
    • The nipple has a Y cut on the tip, so this bottle can have a fairly fast flow.
    • There is a soft side to the nipple that is to be placed on the baby’s tongue during feeding.
    • To align the nipple correctly, line up the notch on the nipple under the middle of the baby’s nose.
  • The bottle has a one-way flow valve that is placed in the collar of the bottle. The flat disk side of the valve should be placed toward the nipple.
  • This is a typical-looking bottle that is semi-squeezable; the caregiver can squeeze the bottle in coordination with the baby’s compression of nipple. However, because the bottle tends to be relatively “fast flow,” the bottle typically does not need to be squeezed by the caregiver.
  • Wash with warm soapy water and let air dry.
  • Ordering information:
    • Parent Line: 888.766.8443
    • Also available through Amazon.com. Additional suppliers may be found online.

Dr. Brown's Specialty Feeding System

  • This bottle uses regular Dr. Brown’s bottle parts, but has a one-way flow valve (called an “infant-paced feeding valve”) that is designed to be used with Dr. Brown’s components.
  • The blue valve should be placed in the collar of the bottle with the flat disk toward the nipple chamber.
  • You can purchase all parts of the bottle at any large superstore that sells baby products, but the blue one-way flow valve must be purchased directly through Dr. Brown’s.
    • You can purchase different “levels” of nipples that control flow rate at these stores.
  • Clean in dishwasher or sterilize.
  • Ordering information:

For specific feeding questions, feel free to contact the speech-language pathologists on the Cleft Palate Team