Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate: Everything A Parent Needs To Know! Cleft lip & cleft palate are common birth defects where a baby is born with a cleft/gap or split in the lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate). This malformation occurs when the baby is developing inside the mother's womb, where the tissue doesn't fuse together. These conditions can either occur solely or could occur as part of a syndrome. Cleft lip and cleft palate can either occur on one or both sides of the mouth. It is possible to have a cleft lip without a palate or vice versa or both cleft lip and palate as the lip & roof of the mouth develop separately. It has been found, that twice as many boys are born with a cleft lip, both with and without a cleft palate, and twice as many girls are born with a cleft palate without a cleft lip. Keep reading to learn more about the causes, signs & symptoms & treatment!