Nipple shield weaning

JRanalli10

My lo is 2 weeks old and will only latch with the use of a nipple shield. Anyone been successful weaning their lo off the nipple shield? If so, how did you go about this? The lc said using a nipple shield will eventually decrease my milk supply. Thanks.  

turtlewifey

I used a nipple shield for about 3 weeks with LO because she couldn't latch properly without it.  It was the only thing that saved my sanity and allowed me to keep BFing.  It took me about a week and half to get her off of it and required a lot of patience!

I tried a few different things, some of which worked and some of which didn't.

1) Unlatching her and removing the shield a few minutes in - this never worked for me.  She totally called my bluff and would refuse the nipple immediately after being on the shield.

2) Giving her the shield on the first breast and then removing it for the second.  This obviously only works if you offer both sides at each feeding.  Switching her to the second side would disorient her just enough that I could get her take the nipple for usually 1-3 minutes, but it was a constant struggle at first.  She would latch/unlatch constantly for those few minutes.  When I could sense her growing frustration, I would put the shield back on.  After about a week, she became MUCH for comfortable on the nipple for those first few minutes - this was my breakthrough.  After a few more days, she finally started taking the nipple for longer and longer periods of time.

3) Allowing her to suck on my pinky finger for a minute or so before BFing.  My LC said that their sucking motion on your finger is the same as what they should be doing wtih your nipple, so it can help acclimate them to the nipple.  I did this toward the end of my nipple shield weaning and I'm not sure if it played a role in getting her off of it or not . 

Kellymom is also has some useful info on nipple shield weaning: https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/wean-shield.html

candylies

turtlewifey:

2) Giving her the shield on the first breast and then removing it for the second.  This obviously only works if you offer both sides at each feeding.  Switching her to the second side would disorient her just enough that I could get her take the nipple for usually 1-3 minutes, but it was a constant struggle at first.  She would latch/unlatch constantly for those few minutes.  When I could sense her growing frustration, I would put the shield back on.  After about a week, she became MUCH for comfortable on the nipple for those first few minutes - this was my breakthrough.  After a few more days, she finally started taking the nipple for longer and longer periods of time.

I used this method to wean. As soon as we got too frustrated I put on the shield. I thought I'd have to use the shield forever but he eventually got  the hang of it. Hang in there!  

huskymama725

EVERY feeding try to start the feeding without the shield, after a minute or two, put the shield on. feed for 5 minutes, take the shield off, try to re-latch. after a minute (if unsuccessful) replace the shield.  do this EVERY feeding, with both breasts.  it was advice given to me by my LC, and it worked! it is possible, GL!

solsburyhill

DS is almost 3 months and I have zero desire to ditch the shield.  I love it, he nurses just fine with it, I see no reason to stop using it.

damabo80

DD went from feeding tube (1 month) to bottles (2 months) to nipple shield (2 months) to breast. 

Transitiong from the bottle to the shield took about 2-3 weeks, and transitioning from the shield to the boob took about 2-3w. I pretty much kept offering it, before each feeding, once during the feeding, and after the feeding. Eventually, something clucked and she got it.  

michpedelle85

We used the shield for 2 months and boy am I glad I dont have to keep track of that thing anymore! Every time I would go to feed him I would roll my fingers right behind the nipple to make it stick out more and to express a little milk so he would taste it.. then sandwich behind the areola to make it easier for him to latch and point the nipple up.. keep trying this until to see him get a little frustrated and then put the shield back on. I kept doing this for 2 months and then one day he just latched and we havent looked back... Good luck... it is possible.

Birdies08

We used the shield for one day on an LC's advice and then were told the next day by a different LC to start weaning from it. It took almost a week. Just so you know that it will be a long process!

Here's what we did: I offered without the shield first at every feeding, then waited until she or I became frustrated, and then put on the shield. The time before we needed it got a little longer each feeding, until I was only using it at night, then only for one or two feedings, and then (hooray) not at all. 

GL! Try not to get too upset with the process. If you're worried about your supply, make time to pump if LO doesn't seem to have emptied your breast after a feeding. If you need to use the shield, use it, and know that one day you won't need it anymore. It's just a tool that is helpful at the moment.