Chances of having a child with a cleft palate or cleft lip

If a parent has a cleft lip or cleft palate or has a child with one, the chances of having another child with the condition increase. The following table illustrates the risks.¹

Chances of having a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate

Does the parent have cleft lip or cleft palate?	Does the parent have a child with cleft lip or cleft palate?	Chance of a child or another child with cleft palate	Chance of a child or another child with cleft lip with or without cleft palate
No	No	0.04% (1 in 2,500)	0.1% (1 in 1,000)
No	Yes, 1 child affected	2% (1 in 50)	4% (1 in 25)
No	Yes, 2 children affected	8% (1 in 12)	9% (1 in 11)
Yes	No	6% (1 in 17)	4% (1 in 25)
Yes	Yes	15% (1 in 7)	17% (1 in 6)

Citations

1. Kirschner RE, LaRossa D (2000). Cleft lip and cleft palate. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 33(6): 1191–1215.