They help ease—and even prevent—the painful cracking and chafing of nipples that often accompanies the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Nipples may also become sore as they are constantly becoming wet and dry, due to frequent feeds and sometimes leaking milk. In some specific situations, the use of a nipple shield for a short period of time may provide some relief and support in the early days.

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. The baby must be correctly positioned at the breast, with the whole nipple area – this means the nipple plus the areola – in their mouth,’ she explains. Composed of food-grade silicone, the BPNHNA Silicone Contact Nipple Shield acts as a silicone cushion that stimulates the areola while at the same time protecting and preventing sore nipples. Specially designed to maximize the amount of skin-to-skin contact between a nursing mother and her baby, they are made from BPA-free, thin silicone.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. Made from soft, flexible silicone, the Lansinoh Contact Nipple Shield has a special cut-out design to maximize skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby. 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.

When you use a nipple shield to breastfeed, each time the baby sucks, this draws the nipple more firmly into the shield and helps ensure the nipple is correctly stretched. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.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. To determine your nipple shield size, grab a ruler or measuring tape and measure the diameter of your nipple at the base, but be sure to not include the areola and measure in millimeters. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.