Behind every smile there’s an extraordinary caregiver
We provide support, practical guidance, community, and resources for cleft-affected families.
Created by parents, for parents.
About Behind the SmileIf you're reading this, you likely have a child with a cleft lip and/or palate, or you've just learned your baby has a cleft. Welcome.
I built Behind the Smile because when we got our cleft diagnosis, I couldn't find what I needed. There was clinical information on one end and personal stories on the other — but not much in between. No practical, parent-built guide to walk me through what was coming. So I made one.
Behind the Smile is a resource hub for cleft parents, created by a cleft parent. It covers what to expect after a cleft diagnosis, feeding a baby with a cleft, surgery preparation and recovery, and the day-to-day of raising a cleft-affected child. It isn't medical advice or a replacement for your care team — it's the guide I wish I'd had when we got the news.
IT’S LOVELY TO MEET YOU
I'm Marina, and my son was born with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. By his 2nd birthday, we'd been through so much as a family — feeding challenges, NAM, surgeries. We were proud of how far we'd come, but also disappointed by how often we'd found the right information a week or two after we needed it. We'd spent his early years researching and problem-solving instead of enjoying this precious time.
I created this space to equip future cleft parents with the practical tips and tricks of raising a cleft-affected child — so families can spend less time searching and more time thriving.
