#148: Can babies with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate successfully do baby-led weaning? July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness month and in this episode I’m joined by Vikash K. Modi, MD. Dr. Modi is a Pediatric Otorhinolaryngologist and Co-Director of the Cornell Cleft & Craniofacial Program.   He’s explaining the difference between cleft lip and cleft palate and why cleft lip babies will have no difficulty with baby-led weaning and starting solids. For babies with cleft palates, there may be more challenges but Dr. Modi shares tips for promoting self-feeding success in these babies, even though the transition to solid foods occurs usually when baby is awaiting cleft palate repair surgery.   We also cover drinking for babies with cleft lips and cleft palates and how sippy cup and straw cups are not indicated for cleft palate but why open cup working will work. If you’ve struggled with feeding your baby breastmilk or formula because of cleft anomalies, please know that things WILL get easier when you make the transition to solid foods.     If you’re ready to raise an independent eater and prevent picky eating then let’s get started learning about baby-led weaning together! Subscribe, rate and review the podcast here.   FREE BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS ONLINE WORKSHOP: https://babyledweaning.co/workshop   FREE BABY-LED WEANING RECIPE IDEAS FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/babyledweaningrecipes/   FOLLOW @BABYLEDWEANTEAM ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/babyledweanteam/   SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE: https://www.blwpodcast.com/148