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Nipple shields were the only way I was able to nurse for the first 2-3months. The nurses and LC said his mouth was just way too small in the beginning. Honestly, I'm not sure how I was able to wean him off of it. I just know that I kept trying without it, and at first he would refuse outright, and as he got bigger was able to nurse without it....

I made a post last week about this same topic that had some good advice:
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-2206437

My LC suggested starting with the nipple shield and then removing it after a few minutes. I went cold turkey after making that post last week. My LO won't get a deep latch and won't put his tongue past his lower gums so we are still having super painful nursing sessions.

I hope you are able to wean and have pain free and easy nursing!

Ugh. 12 weeks and still using the shield. I tried to wean but then it hurt to much, I started using it again! Sorry, my reply wasn't helpful

@MrsBrewer: We used one for 5.5 months. Bait and switch never worked. I eventually resigned myself to using it for the whole time. But around 4.5 months she started playing with it after nursing and sticking it in her mouth. She also started putting her mouth on my nipple. Then one day she just latched on and nursed. I think she just was old enough to learn where the milk came from. All my attempts to wean off it in the first five weeks were just an exercise in frustration. I'm grateful we had it!

I found that after about a month I could start by using the sheiks and then take it off mid-feeding. Then after awhile we were able to nurse without them. I think the nipple shield help us do bottle feedings without having confusion

@just_ju: Are you wetting the edge shield with a little water before putting it on? That helps it stick a little bit. There are also 2 (maybe more) sizes available so you might need a different size.

My LO is 17 days old and we're trying to wean off the shield. My pediatrician requires weekly weigh ins as long as we use it. LO is fine without it but I haven't been able to wean myself off using it on my inverted nipple due to pain. I'm trying to add one shield-free feeding per day. I made it until 6pm today shield-free. Tomorrow I'll see how far into cluster feeding I can get.

Not saying you should do what I did/am doing... I used a nipple shield from the start due to flat nipples/poor latch. DD is almost 7 months and we still use it sometimes. Her latch naturally got better as she grew bigger/stronger, I really don't need it anymore but sometimes just put it on out of habit! I don't know what it did/did not do to my supply... I never had a good supply but I don't think it was b/c of the shield at all. I am so thankful for it b/c it saved our nursing relationship and made it possible to go this long!