https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:10:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2223166 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:21:40 +0000 snowjewelz 2223166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2222963 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:06:35 +0000 just_ju 2222963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I feel like I've tried everything - wetting the edge, keeping it dry, a little lanolin on the edge, turning it inside out a little to help suction on ... Sometimes it works great, sometimes (usually at 3 am when I'm super cranky) it won't stay on for anything. Hopefully it will just click one of these days and work with no issues - or better yet, he won't need it anymore! Fingers crossed :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2222261 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:23:14 +0000 Corduroy 2222261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2222249 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 21:57:52 +0000 rpparker 2222249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: So glad you posted this! My nurse and LC introduced us to the nipple shield in the hospital and it's been amazing! Since LO is only 4 days old I'm in no rush to wean but interested in reading everyone's responses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2222242 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 21:39:29 +0000 turkeylurkey 2222242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2222219 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 21:06:25 +0000 just_ju 2222219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any tips on how to make using the shield slightly less frustrating? The thing slips and moves and annoys the crap out of me ... and I know getting stressed over it doesn't help the situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211711 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:51:39 +0000 Kezzeranne 2211711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211701 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:35:38 +0000 BabyTsMom 2211701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: For us, it was more of like one day he just was able to do it. Prior to that, I would try during a session or two per day, usually at the beginning of the session when I knew he'd be hungry enough to try. When he got too frustrated I would put the shield back on and let him nurse. And seriously like one day, he was just fine nursing without it. I really think he just needed to grow a little bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211697 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:29:57 +0000 jlm22 2211697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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 :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211692 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:25:10 +0000 blackbird 2211692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a bait and switch. Took numerous attempts and a few days before we were done with it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211688 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:20:02 +0000 Boopers 2211688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I made a post last week about this same topic that had some good advice:<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-2206437" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-weaning-off-the-nipple-shield#post-2206437</a></p> <p>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.</p> <p>I hope you are able to wean and have pain free and easy nursing! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211687 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:15:35 +0000 MrsBrewer 2211687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyTsMom: so pretty much one day he was able to, or was it more gradual and you would get a few sessions every once and awhile? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211677 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:07:29 +0000 BabyTsMom 2211677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nipple-shield-experience-and-weaning-from-it#post-2211675 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:04:59 +0000 MrsBrewer 2211675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the hospital the LC gave me a nipple shield to use and it's made the world of a difference! My LO is now 2 weeks old and we are still using the shield. I would love to be able to nurse without the shield though. </p> <p>I try offering the breast without the shield but she only opens wide enough to get the tip of my nipple in her mouth... </p> <p>Any tips or suggestions?? Should I call the LC? </p>