When assessing an infant post-cleft palate repair, which behavior is commonly observed during the recovery period?

After a cleft palate repair, it is common for infants to exhibit a reluctance to feed during the recovery period. This behavior can be attributed to several factors. Post-surgery, infants may experience discomfort or pain in the area of the repair, which can make feeding uncomfortable. Additionally, there might be swelling in the surgical site, leading to difficulty in suction and swallowing.

Infants may also have a need for more time to adjust to changes in their oral anatomy following the repair. Feeding can be associated with discomfort, causing them to become hesitant or resistant to the process. Therefore, observing a reluctance to feed is a typical behavior post-operatively, as the child is adjusting physically and emotionally to the recovery situation.

The other options do not align with typical behaviors seen during the immediate recovery phase. For example, enhanced appetite is unlikely due to discomfort; sleeping through the night might not happen as the infant may wake frequently due to pain or discomfort; and increased activity levels are generally not expected since infants often remain more subdued as they recover from surgery.