What is Cleft Lip & Palate?

Around one in 700 babies are born with a cleft around the world. That's over 1,200 babies born with a cleft each year in the UK!

In early pregnancy, different parts of a baby’s face develop separately and then join together. If some parts do not join properly, the baby is born with a cleft.

A cleft lip and/or palate is the most common craniofacial abnormality (a problem to do with the skull and face) which babies can be born with.

The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) is a small charity supporting people born with a cleft and their families in the UK.
We bring together people affected by cleft to help them connect with others who share their experiences, welcoming them into a supportive community for life.

Tags: disability, disabilities, special needs, disabled