Nipple Shields

jesswags2011 · October 2014

Hello,
My daughter is now almost 3 months old and she still needs a nipple shield to feed properly. Has anyone else had this problem and know how to fix it?
Will it harm her gums or development of teeth by continuing to use it?

Thanks for any information!

foreverapartofme · October 2014

I would suggest touching base with a lactation consultant. One of my friend's LO needed to use a nipple shield for about three to four months. At that point the LC had her start feeding with it and remove it during the feeding when baby was getting sleeping, only to slip the nipple in the mouth. Gradually she was able to get rid of the shield.

On the other hand, if your baby needs the shield, I would not think it would harm her gums or teeth development. To me it is similar to a bottle nipple, which babies use all the time and it does not harm them. Good luck!

vvvvvfee · October 2014

i used a nipple shield with DS for the first 8 weeks or so. i'd recommend weaning off of it as soon as you can just because it is such a pain in the ass! what worked for me was to let DS nurse for a while with it on first, so he wasn't crazy starving, and then offer the breast without it. if he started to freak, i'd put it back on again. eventually he was doing the second half of the feed without it, and then we were able to stop using it completely. (here's a good overview: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/breastfeeding/nipple-shields-steps-to-weaning-off-a-nipple-shield#.VDVKPRb4ayd) your LO is a little stronger now and will have better head/neck control then when she was a newborn, so hopefully you should be able to wean off of it relatively easily. i would definitely see a LC if you are having trouble doing it on your own.

i agree, though, that it should not harm their oral development at all. they're still taking the same shaped nipple into their mouth, it just has a longer extension on it.

jenn43 · October 2014

PPs have given great advice for weaning off the shield. My LO used the nipple shield until some time around 4 months. If it doesn't work right away, wait a couple weeks and try again.

clwheel · October 2014

I agree with PP. Slowly taking in away mid-feeding helped DD not be able to use it. Just be patient and keep at it and you'll get there

JmeJoLee83 · October 2014

Had anyone used a shield the entire time they breast fed? I'm 4.5 months And still using them..do I have to wean?

unaveragejane · October 2014

My LC told me it would be okay if we were never able to wean off of the shield.

jenn43 · October 2014

I definitely think weaning off the nipple shield is more of a convenience thing. I found that after we stopped using the shield I was able to feed LO in public or a large group of family much easier. Before every time he would latch I would have to hold the shield one, and if he popped on and off a bunch it was a huge pain. Now I just pull my shirt up a little bit, and his head blocks any sort of view, even if he's playing around a bit.

RachelCA29 · October 2014

JmeJoLee83 said:
Had anyone used a shield the entire time they breast fed? I'm 4.5 months And still using them..do I have to wean?

I know someone that used a shield for the whole 8 months she breastfed (her supply dropped when she started solids). It's really more of a convenience thing in my opinion. When I used a shield for the first 6 weeks I couldn't really nurse in public or even at other people's houses because sometimes my baby would knock it off and it would get milk everywhere, etc.

Now without it I feel like breastfeeding is so convenient, and I actually can do it anywhere. With it I felt kind of trapped in my house for feedings, since it was a "process" to use it.

junebug555 · October 2014

My LC told me to first attempt bf without it and then if no success with latch then use nipple shield for few minutes and then re-try without it again. Of course it was a pita with mess (make sure you have paper towels around), but DD started getting it in a week. Probably very consistent in about 2. I hope this helps

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