Weaning from Nipple Shield

Give it a little more time, she'll switch eventually.
I've used the shield for three babies, and each time I wean the shield a little sooner. :)

R.,
My baby is also addicted to the breast shield. I've heard of many people successfully weaning their baby from the shield by just slipping the shield off at each feeding, and evenutually the baby catches on. Unfortunately, my baby never did. I was told I could just get rid of the shield completely and he would eventually eat, but I really didn't want to try that. I hope this helps you since I wasn't able to wean my own baby from the shield, but I just wanted to let you know that if you do have to continue with the shield, you can still successfully breastfeed. My son is 8 months old now, still breastfeeding and doing great, and still using the shield. I was so stressed out that I wasn't going to be able to continue nursing and that I would lose my milk because of the shield, because that's what everyone kept telling me, but that hasn't been the case for me. So, I hope you're able to get rid of the shield, but if not, don't get too discouraged, because at least your baby is still getting the breastmilk, which is the most important thing. My advice would just be to hang in there and keep trying, because your baby may be one that will stop needing the shield. I'm still trying and hoping with my son, but I've realized that the shield isn't really a horrible thing. After all, it has allowed me to breastfeed when I probably wouldn't have been able to otherwise. Good luck to you!

I wish I had had this source when I was nursing. I couldn't get my little boy to stop using it either. I nursed him for 13 months and I used the shield the entire time. I was just thankful to be able to nurse him. A few months into nursing it didn't bother me to use it. Good luck.

R.- My daughter also needed a nipple shield. I think she was around 2-3 months old when we just stopped using it. I would stick with it for now, if your child prefers, and just expect that one day soon she'll take the nipple as it is and will never miss the shield. You won't miss it either...

I remember how hard that was and a few tears also! I think the nipple shield was a big setback for us also. But my boy would not latch for about 2 weeks so they had us use it. They do get used to it because it is easy. It has been almost 10 months since I had to get me boy away from the shield. I think it just takes persistance. We would start every feeding without it and then in frustration go back to it. We just finally had to go cold turkey. We threw away teh sheild so we would not be tempted to use it. It was a long day and a few tears were shed by all but it was better than having to use it the rest of the time we nursed. Try putting your milk around your nipple from some that you have already expressed while she is trying to latch. Also sqeazing on your boobs in certain spots help express the milk by hand while she is trying to latch or suck. If you can make it easy for her in the begining she will be more eager to work harder for it when she gets the hang of it. Hang it there!! She will come around adn just need you.

My best advise is to keep trying and not give up. Tickle her lips with your nipple, coo at her, make it a game. Just don't give up

I'm not one to give very good advice because we were never able to wean from the nipple shield.. I'm not trying to be discouraging, but trying to let you know that if you have to keep using it, it's not a big deal. My cousin used the nipple shield for 7 months because she figured it was best that her baby got breastmilk. So all I'm trying to say, is if it doesn't work to wean, it's totally okay. At least from my perspective. Drs might tell you otherwise, but you get really good at using the nipple sheild even when trying to breastfeed in front of others. I'm sure that the majority of babies wean from the shield though...

Hi R. -
I am the mother of a 6 year old girl, and 2 boys- almost 5 and 2.5. When my daughter was born she was not a good nurser and we struggled a lot with how to get her to latch on right, get enough milk, etc. Her weight was a concern, so we had to supplement as well. We were advised to try a nipple shield to help her learn to suck. She did well with this. Then we found out that with the shield, she was only getting 75% or less the milk she needed per feeding. It was then time to wean her. Like your daughter, she did not like me taking the shield off and she fought my nipple. But if I kept putting the shield back on, she would have never learned to nurse on me. It's okay if she gets mad. When she's hungry enough she will nurse without the shield. I just made the decision not to use the shield anymore ( when she was about 6 weeks.) The first few feedings were not pleasant, but she figured out what she needed to do pretty quick and then we were on the right track. The best advice I got was that I am the mom and she needs to learn from me. I had to teach her how to nurse without the shield. I pass on the same advice to you and wish you the best. When all our nursing issues were resolved, breastfeeding became a wonderful time for both of us. (P.S. Neither of my boys had any trouble learning how to breastfeed. They were pros from the very beginning! :) Blessings to you. C. M

I was a big fan of the nipple shield for a few reasons- as were my children. Just over time I used it less and less. I believe I switched to every other feeding using it- and decreased it from there. I probably finally was rid of it when my children were 3 or 4 months old. I know the lactation consultant said get rid of it sooner, but with twins and w/ my first, my nipples were too sore (& it was easier). So I would say- don't stress about it. She will get the hang of your nipples overtime. Do what works for you and your baby. good luck!

I think what night help is if you stimulate your nipple and make it hard to pop it out and have your babys mouth open wide insert your breast with areola and nipple inside babys mouth.This may seem odd at first, but with a little practice your baby should get the hang of it. Dont get discouraged because your baby will sense it.

Hi R.,

My little man had a hard time gettting started BF also. We were in the NICU for a week as he came a little over 5 weeks early. I ended up using a nipple shield also to get him started. It took me about a month and a half two months to wean him from the shield, but we did get it done. I just remained persistent and eventually he quit fighting me. I was in the same boat as you, I was tired of feeling like my body didn't work right without an "attachment" and was getting so frustrated. I was tired of having to wash the shield every time we finished, pretty much everything about it was driving me nuts! I just kept at it and it worked. Stay persistent and you should be able to ditch that shield soon.

Good luck!

Hi R.,
I don't know anything about nipple shields because my baby girl, who was born ten days before yours, is a star nurser! I do know, however, that when she isn't hungry enough she doesn't eat ravenously...maybe let your baby get a little hungry (don't starve her by any means) and maybe she'll try harder to get it right with the nipple!

I have no personal experience with nipple shields, but I'll bet I know where you can find someone who does and who would be able to advise you - call your local La Leche League. You should be able to find the contact information through an online search, or through your pediatrician or OB/GYN. Also, are you working with a lactation consultant? If not, you should be able to get a referral from your medical provider. Good luck, and keep at it - breastfeeding is one of the best gifts you can bless your child with.

G.

R.

I had the exact situation with my son. One morning I was tired and he was hungry. I decided to wait until he was really screaming and had his mouth open really wide. I had him in the football hold and fimly placed his open mouth on my breast. He gulped but then began to suck. We never needed the shield again. I then nursed him until he weaned himself at about 14 months. I can't say I was relaxed about it all, but this worked. I would suggest planning it out better than I did and pick a time when she is really hungry. Once she connects that she gets milk without the shield, I believe she will be weaned. I would love to hear how it works for you.

K.

I used a nipple shield for at least a couple of months. I wanted to get rid of it, but was happier to have something that made breastfeeding work. We kept trying (not all the time, but occassionally), and eventually they learned to nurse without it. I think I would try one feeding a day to start, then they just seemed to outgrow it and actually prefer nursing without it. Also, try starting the feeding with it, then removing it a few minutes into it. You may also want to consider working with a lactation consultant. I worked with several, and they were absolutely invaluable in helping me get through the challenges with nursing.

Hi,
I had to use a shield because of the same problem you are having. I went to lactation nurse to try to get my baby off of it and it worked only at her office. It didn't work when we got back home and I tried to feed him without it. So I kept using the shield and tried once a while to feed without it. When my baby was about three month old, he could finally grab on my nipple and fed without a shield since then. I don't have to use it anymore. So, I guess it takes a time till your baby is a little bit bigger and her mouth getts bigger too. Just don't give up, it will work. :-)

Good for you, making breastfeeding work for your baby! First, some moms use a nipple shield for much of their nursing career, and that's okay. As long as you hear swallowing, there is milk in the tip of the shield after nursing, baby is satistfied, and baby is gaining weight, it's no big deal. If you want to ditch the shield, try nursing without the shield at night when she is sleepy. You might have to latch with it then remove it, or she might latch without it. Instinct kicks in when babies are sleepy. Often, weaning happens between 2 - 4 months because the shield gets misplaced and it's nurse or go hungry, so baby just eats, the end! No worries. :)

HAve you tried all the tricks to pull your nipples out naturally..pumping for a minute, rolling it between your fingers, or pinching to fit in her mouth? Also maybe if you pump to draw the nipple out use the milk you get and us the supplementer to help her like you did with the shield, so she realizes that this is what she needs to do.

Good luck

Like many others, I also had to use the nipple shield. The advice that I recieved that I think helped the most was to pinch your nipple so it could fit a little better in their tiny month. Then quickly squeeze some milk out so she taste it and hopefully she start to suck to get some more. This will probably work the best if you do this at a time that she's especially hungry. But if nothing works don't stress about it. Breastfeeding is hard! Atleast she's get the nutrients so needs. Good Luck and your doing great!

Get a hold of your nearest Le Leche League meeting... You will get the help you need hands down. Lots of mothers cloth diapering and doing ASL and of course nursing.

Okay first off, I have been there... when your nipples are hurting so bad and you want to breastfeed but it is super frustrating. I admire you for sticking with it because it is not easy at first. I also used a nipple shield and it saved me. My son is now 8 months old and we are still breastfeeding. Without a nipple shield. I believe I weaned him around 3 months when he was big enough to handle me. (My milk comes out really fast) Initially I would maybe just do one side and then if he got frustrated I would put the shield on for the other side. Then I got to the point where I could feed him during the day without, but it was easier for both of us to use it at night. It was gradual and again, I didn't try to wean him until he was a little older than your daughter. I know eventually she will prefer to eat without it but it will take time. Just get her on your breast without it more and more. It will come.

check out kellymom. com. they have a ton of helpful step by step advice on that web site GL, N.

Hi R.!! Just keep at it and don't get discuraged. The other ladies had some great advice. I had trouble nursing my dd(now 5!) and we started with a nipple shield too. And we successufully nursed for 2.5 years!!

I think she was a little older (maybe 3 months?) when we were able to nurse without the shield. I would start nursing by using it, and then when we were in the middle, I would slip it off. But it just takes time and patience!

stick with it and stay calme. It will all happen in time. Good luck!
J.

My son pretty much weaned himself after a few days since he wanted to smell me. There were some comments I read about that recently, I think on reviews on Babies 'R Us. I wonder if a lactation consultant might have some ideas. Will she start with the shield and then switch once your nipples are ready? I know it's frustrating to have to use them as they can be messy, etc. I hope she decides to swith soon! I wonder if using a smaller size would make a difference as she'd have to work harder. She might then prefer au natural.

I wish you all the best -you have come a long way and have just one more little thing until it's all smooth and oh so worth it.
I had flat nipples also, and once I found this out and received some excellent advice had complete success.
Medela makes nipple shells which worked great for me. Medela is a breast pump company that also has other things. Milk Moms is a woman who is very knowledgeable and sells Medela, pretty sure you can still find her on the internet. The shells are worn at all times, except when nursing, and then your nipples are no longer flat. There is a hole formed in the middle of the shells and the middle of the nipple goes there. Next pregnancy you should wear these while pregnant so they are ready to go.
Then, to get her to switch over...it seems like long ago I heard advice to trim at the nipple shield a bit at a time so as to eventually have it all trimmed away. I guess the trick is to trim just a little enough the baby hardly notices, and then go from there.
When I had my flat nipples I met a wonderful woman at Le Leche League who took me home with her two afternoons. I was using the shield, and my nipples were cracking and my baby weighed less than birth weight at on month and the Dr. had insisted on formula every two hours. He said I was dried up and to forget it. My baby certainly needed something. I switched doctors to a woman who had nursed her two babies and had the breast pump rental business because otherwise it was unavailable. I pumped every time he ate, and eventually had enough milk, but still couldn't nurse him directly as I hadn't worn the shells long enough. My new friend (a friend of the doctor's also) wondered if my baby would take the breast after more than a month of nipple shield and bottle. She was still nursing a one year old -and he nursed from her immediately, so we knew he would. What a relief. And, then she kept me at her home the two afternoons and encouraged and helped me until it he was nursing right on! It was so hard to go through but so worth all the work.
Some of the LeLeche people are real nuts, but I found a gem. I guess she felt sorry for me because I was cried.
Your local hospital may have a brast feeding consultant which would be worthwhile.
That Milk Moms woman is very energetic and friendly -as I recall she nursed twins. Milkmoms.com, I just looked her up and she's still going.
Hang in there and good luck. Be sure you get a "Cadillac" (maybe today we should say Honda or Toyota) pump when you go back to work. I loved the Medela (back in the day) and I know they still are great.

Hello,
I had a really hard time breasfeedding my newborn son as well. I went and saw at least a half dozen lactation consultants. I ended up using a nipple shield to. I started using the nipple shield when he was about 7 weeks old. When he was around 3 months old, I couldn't find the shield and tried to latch him on. It was successful. He didn't need it and neither did I. So, we just weaned ourselves. I hope my experience helps you. C.

Bless you for sticking with it and making sure your baby has only the best!

R.,

I struggled with this same issue, and it was a very frustrating path! What I did was that I would try, every time we breast fed, to start her without the nipple shield. Then, when I switched sides, I would try to start her on the second side without the nipple shield. If she didn't want to nurse without it, I would then feed her with it. It was a long and frustrating process, but by 3 months, she was done with the nipple shield. (Patience and perseverence are necessary!) At that same time, because we did not give her bottles of pumped milk daily, she also began rejecting bottles, and would never take them again. So be careful to continue regular bottle feeding (of pumped milk or othewise) if you need her to take a bottle while you work.

R.,
I am a mother of 2 boys, ages 4 and 2, and I have another little one on the way. I don't have flat nipples, but my breast are large. With my first son, I had a horriable time breast feeding. By 5 months I had pretty much had enough and started supplementing a lot, only nursing 2 times a day. With my second child, I coud tell we were going in the same direction and I didn't want it to end up that way. I had a public nurse come over to my home and teach me how to breast feed. She gave me one bit of advice that made the world of difference to me. She said when I went to have the baby latch on, take my nipple and slightly pinch it. When I put it in his mouth, point it to the roof of his mouth. I don't know if that makes any sense at all. It is hard to explain without showing. I hope it helps. ~Mandy C.

I succesfully weaned off the shield when my little one was two months old. We started with it and it made us a really great team. We were at the mall one day, she was hungry I didn't have the shield, she nursed. It takes patience. The old theory was that a nipple shield would slow down your milk supply. The new studies are showing that it does not. I would start her on the shield and let her get that initial let down of milk kind of like a treat, then try to nurse for a few minutes without it. Try that once a day. It will eventually click. Good luck!