Which goal must be met before hospital discharge to ensure proper feeding of the newborn with cleft lip/palate?

• A. The infant nurses from the breast for 15 minutes each feeding.
• B. Parents must be able to feed the infant with the proper technique after instruction.
• C. Weight must be within 2% of birth weight.
• D. Both parents will feed client to demonstrate the proper feeding method.

Answer: (D)

Discharge readiness for a newborn with cleft lip/palate centers on caregiver competency in feeding. The most important goal to confirm before leaving the hospital is that both parents can actually perform the feeding technique correctly under supervision, demonstrating they understand how to feed safely at home. When both caregivers practice feeding the infant, they gain hands-on experience with the specific methods used for cleft lip/palate, such as proper positioning, choosing or adjusting the nipple/fluid flow, pacing the feed, and recognizing signs of distress or aspiration. This shared demonstration shows they can maintain the correct technique consistently after discharge, which is vital for ensuring the infant receives adequate nutrition without complications.

Weight status matters, but it doesn’t by itself prove that the family can manage feeding safely at home. Requiring a single parent to demonstrate feeding might reveal individual competence, but having both parents participate ensures there is support and shared responsibility, which enhances safety and confidence in ongoing care.