Today, we are going to dive head-first, or maybe even chest-first, into the wide world of nipple shields. While they aren’t for everyone, they can definitely help with some issues while helping you to achieve your goals when nursing your infant. We are going to cover some use case scenarios as well as a few pros and cons when using the nipple shields. We also want to hear from you! Have you or a friend or family member ever used them before? What was their experience? Would you recommend them? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.
Best Use Cases That Nipple Shields Can Help With
Please note that nipple shields are a good tool when used at the right time. They can definitely help in some situations, but they should be used in specific situations. Consult with your doctor, or lactation specialist on whether or not they may be the right choice for you and your child. Have an IBCLC credited specialist observe your latch and talk to them about your issues and they can recommend a course of action from there as well! This is important because when using these shields, there is a chance of causing the body to reduce milk production because the nipples aren’t receiving enough stimuli to encourage proper milk production.
- Can help with poor latch and mom has pain or blistering nipples (needs to be seen by IBCLC to resolve root cause).
- Help soothe pain from a nipple injury such as a cut, scrape or cracks.
- If you have a very strong or heavy let down, nipple shields can help to curb the flow level.
- Night weaning.
- Can increase success with bottle acceptance (Here is a handy IG Reel that will help go into more depth).
- Transition from tube feeding to breastfeeding, and/or for preemie babies.
- If your nipple doesn’t extend long enough or is inverted, this can help a baby achieve a better latch by elongating the nipple length.
Tips And Best Practices For Putting On A Nipple Shield
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting the absolute best fit for everyone, there are a few tips and strategies that you can use to help you get the best fit possible right out of the box. Here is our list of tips:
- Slightly invert the shield at the start.
- Gently stretch side to side as you fold shield over the nipple.
- Use a little breast milk or nipple cream to secure an airtight seal if shield is coming off (usually not needed if shield is the right size).
- We recommend you watch this excellent video from Breastfeeding Confidential that demonstrates in great detail how to properly put on a nipple shield.
- Check out our Instagram Reel for more information!
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about tips for using nipple shields. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
If you have questions about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help. Please reach out to us here! We always look forward to hearing from you.
