The nipple shields come in three sizes—16 millimeters, 20 millimeters, and 24 millimeters—to fit various nipple sizes. A nipple shield is a nipple-shaped piece that covers the nipple during breastfeeding to help with pain, soreness, and feeding for baby. Once you decide to wean from the nipple shield, you can try removing the shield during a feeding earlier and earlier each time so baby can get an idea of what it’s like without it. When the shield size closely matches your own nipple, it may help your baby transition to your breast without the use of a shield later,” Amy Peterson, IBCLC and Evenflo Feeding Infant Feeding Consultant, tells Verywell Family. The breast shells can be worn to collect letdown from the opposite breast of the one you’re nursing on so that none of your milk will go to waste.

The Cradle Shell nipple shield and breast shell set offers two immediate solutions for breastfeeding problems. Premature babies are therefore initially fed in special care using a nasogastric tube,’ says Dr Lee. With a butterfly shape that suctions to your areola, the Haakaa Nipple Shield resembles the nipple on a bottle and works with all breast sizes.Mothers who had babies with tongue ties rave that the Lansinoh Contact Nipple Shields feel the closest to not wearing anything at all, and the shields helped moms continue to breastfeed, even when they were ready to give up. Feeding is hard work and does not give them enough milk, and they can become miserable and exhausted. Moms with inverted nipples say that hard nipple shields can be difficult to keep in place, but the NUK Barely There Nipple Shield, which is made from soft, pliable silicone, holds suction well. A nipple shield can offer support and relief for these different reasons, and they’re worth trying if you find yourself struggling with breastfeeding. When their breast milk production becomes established, and the baby can suck and swallow well, it is possible to transfer the baby back to the breast,’ says Dr Lee.

If you are still learning how to correctly breastfeed with a nipple shield, they can also give you tips for the best results for you and baby. The best nipple shields are correctly sized, comfortable, and made from a material that suits your needs. Nipple shields are easier for babies with tongue ties to latch onto, and they also protect the mother’s nipple. When the baby is correctly positioned, latched on and sucking, you will be able to see the breast moving as the milk is being ejected.One of the difficulties of breastfeeding with flat or inverted nipples is that they don’t stimulate a newborn’s suck reflex as well as a finger, pacifier, or bottle—they just don’t reach the soft palate of a baby’s mouth. That’s why a nipple shield can really aid a breastfeeding mom with small, flat, or inverted nipples. Skin-to-skin contact with the baby’s face lying close to the mother’s breast is important for maternal bonding and the baby’s emotional and social development,’ she says. Instead of using nipple shields, you may prefer to try a contact shield, which has a cutaway portion to allow the baby’s cheek to rest against the breast.

When a baby has a tongue-tie, they may not be able to open their mouth wide enough to get the whole areola into their mouth,’ says Dr Lee. Made of food-grade silicone, the nipple shields have perforated ridges on the base where the nipple meets the areola, allowing for a comfortable fit.Using nipple shields can have negative consequences on breastfeeding, so they are only recommended in specific situations,’ Dr Lee says.