Some links may be affiliate links. I may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. For a baby with a cleft palate, one of the most important steps in preparing for palate repair surgery is eliminating the bottle and transitioning to a sippy cup! Josie had to be able to drink all of her liquids from a cup (no bottle!) by the time surgery came around. This is because drinking from the bottle nipple could potentially damage the surgery site (the roof of her mouth). Since she left the NICU, Josie had been drinking her milk from the Dr. Brown’s specialty feeding…