What feeding strategy should a nurse recommend for an infant with a cleft lip and palate?

For an infant with a cleft lip and palate, providing brief rest periods and frequent burpings during feeding is crucial. Infants with these conditions often have difficulty with the standard sucking mechanism and can easily become fatigued during feedings. By incorporating rest periods, the infant can recuperate and maintain a more effective feeding pace. Frequent burpings help prevent the accumulation of air in the stomach, which can lead to discomfort and increase the risk of aspiration due to improper swallowing techniques.

The other options, while they may seem to offer solutions, do not adequately address the specific needs of these infants. Unrestricted continuous feeding could lead to overexertion and aspiration risks. Using a special feeding bottle without burping fails to incorporate necessary breaks for the infant, which can lead to feeding difficulties and discomfort. Feeding using a syringe only does not provide a comprehensive approach to managing the infant’s needs during feeding, as it may not allow for adequate bonding or the development of proper feeding techniques. Thus, offering brief rest periods and encouraging burpees is the most supportive and effective strategy for feeding infants with these oral abnormalities.