Debi, Thanks for your suggestion. I did suggest using the silicone nipple shield to this mother, though I didn't think of adding that she switch to a silicone bottle nipple first. We got the baby to suck for 20 seconds or so, but he seems to require immediate gratification, so I also syringed EBM into the shield while he sucked. It worked for a few seconds, so we have hope. Mother is trying to move along very slowly, mostly holding him close to her breast while he feeds. He is very easily frustrated even with the bottle he is used to. She has to wiggle it in his mouth and squeeze a bit in before he will latch on to it. I wonder if anyone out there has ever helped bring a baby this old (3.5 months) with cleft palate to the breast? Becky Butler, IBCLC La Plata, MD