Anyone have experience with getting baby to adjust to just nursing rather than always needing to use a nipple shield? We had trouble getting him to latch but it's been two weeks and I'd like to get him nursing without it. Especially since it makes it really hard to nurse around others, since I have to be pretty exposed to get the shield on 
Advice??
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Not sure this will be much help, but DS kind of weaned himself. He flailed/fussed a lot for a few weeks while nursing, and accidentally reached up and knocked it off one day (around 2.5 months) and then latched on before I could put it back on. I had just been to the ped to see their LC and she said I may never wean from it and that her daughter nursed for a year with one. I still used it off and on for a couple weeks as needed, but it was gone by 3 months. I tried earlier to wean him, but he definitely wasn't ready.
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I ha to use mine for 5 months
I tried to get rid of it every few weeks but she just couldn't get it. One day she was really hungry and I couldn't find it, so I tried to latch her and it worked! I used it a few more times after that but eventually just stopped. I can't even remember when. I think it's just trial and error until LO "gets" it. Maybe try to take it off after let down so you know your milk is flowing and baby will be less likely to get frustrated.
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LO has been on the nipple shield for a month now and it's so reassuring to know that there's a chance he'll wean himself. I've been trying on and off to wean him but he's not having it. Did any of you all have issues with hyperactive letdown? I think that's the issue that we're having and I'm not sure if the nipple shield is going to help or hurt that issue
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I was able to wean off the nipple shield without too much difficulty by just starting to offer my breast without the shield. He would try to latch somewhat unsuccessfully at first and so I would give it a few tries then go back to the shield only if he wouldn't latch on at all. Eventually he got the hang of it and I just stopped using the shield (which made nursing SO much easier!)
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I started weaning by at every nursing session, trying to get him on without. Often, we would go back to the shield, but after about two weeks he got it.
I know it's inconvenient, but try to let your LO guide the way. For me, LO was three weeks early and has a small mouth, so latching was hard until he was a bit bigger (maybe 4-5 weeks). If yours was early at all you might just have to wait until they grow a little. -
DS used the nipple shield for the first two weeks. I started offering the breast without the shield for one or two daytime feedings. It took a few days for him to figure out it out. Nighttime feedings were the last to transition because I didn't want to deal with a frustrated baby in the middle of the night. One thing I did that I think helped was to stare at him and open my mouth really wide - like he would have to open his mouth to get a good latch. Overall it took less than two weeks to do all feedings without the shield.
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We used it for the first six or seven weeks, then quit really easily. She just seemed to 'get it' one day. I sometimes would use the shield for one boob, then offer the other boob without it and that helped in the transition. Good luck! One thing though, that shield had saved my nipples, I had a real shock when we ditched it. Be sure to use lanolin!
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This thread is soo encouraging to me! I was just thinking about searching HB for any past threads about weaning off the nipple shield.
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I am so encouraged/relieved to hear that the shield eventually goes away!! It's such a pain and makes it just about impossible to feed around other people. Ugh. @Pink Champagne I think you may have nailed it, he was two weeks early and definitely seems to have a hard time getting enough in his mouth without the shield. We'll keep working at it, I guess.
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@travelgirl1: I wondered about this... will definitely keep lanolin handy when he finally goes without!
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So glad you posted about this, @bpaig! I'm also using a nipple shield and worried LO won't ever be able to BF without it.
She was small when born, has a small mouth, & has a terrible latch which in turn was killing my nipples. Plus she gets super fussy if I try to BF without the shield (she's fussy anyway but without the shield is so much worse).
Glad to hear there's a chance we may be able to go without at some point!
I tried to get rid of it every few weeks but she just couldn't get it. One day she was really hungry and I couldn't find it, so I tried to latch her and it worked! I used it a few more times after that but eventually just stopped. I can't even remember when. I think it's just trial and error until LO "gets" it. Maybe try to take it off after let down so you know your milk is flowing and baby will be less likely to get frustrated.
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