Surgical treatment is only one part of the management of the child with cleft lip and palate. This paper exclusively focuses on other important aspects of this management This includes the information and psychological supports of the parents, whether the cleft lip is diagnosed prenatally or at birth, the practical aspects of the consultation within the team of the different specialists involved (surgeon, anesthetist dentist, orthodontist, speech therapist otorhinolaryngologist, geneticist, child psychologist). The school teacher must also be concerned at the beginning of the first school year. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.