A cleft palate happens if the tissue of the roof of the mouth does not completely come together. For some children some babies are born with the front and back of the palate are open. Others will only have part of the palate open.
Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly, and can have ear infections. When a baby is born with either of these conditions they will have multiple surgeries within their life. The initial surgery for a cleft lip will take place between one and four months, this surgery is to help close and bind the lip together by taking a piece of skin flap from each side and stitching them together. The repair should help give normal function as well as look. The child may need more surgeries later on to help keep up a normal