Weaning off the Nipple Shield

I didn't know I should have been weaning mine off it for a few months, so I didn't even try until my pediatrician told me to at his 4 month checkup. At that point it took me several weeks. I don't remember exactly how long.

What I ended up doing that worked was start him out with it just like usual, and then partway through the feeding when the flow was good and he looked like he was getting good suction and latch, take him off and remove it and put him back on quickly. I'd just slip it off and put him right back. It took a few tries (or a few days) to get him to even go back on once I'd taken it off. When he couldn't re-latch, I'd put it back and try again on the other side. Once he was able to latch back on himself I did that for a few days. Then I started trying to get him to latch on from the start. That took a while too because he would get impatient for the letdown, which wasn't as hard with it on. Finally he was able to latch on and start by himself. I still kept it close for a couple weeks because occasionally he would refuse and get frustrated still, so I'd put it on and then slip it off partway through.

It might take a while longer before he can do it. Our nursing was pretty well established and he was a pretty efficient nurser before I tried it. Plus I had a pretty fast letdown. If he won't do it right away, just try again in a week or so, and keep working at it.

You can also ask a lactation consultant what method they recommend to get rid of it. The pediatrician told me I should really try to wean him off it because sometimes it can cause milk supply issues. You might never have that problem, but it is probably a good idea to try anyways, because nursing while we were out was an ordeal making sure I always had one with me, plus spares. The moment of panic I experienced when I had a hungry baby and no shield (I thought) was enough to make me try it. Good luck!

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A lactation consultant at the hospital gave me one when my son was born, and sent me home. I HATED IT....but I was determined to nurse him. After about 4 months, he was finally able to latch on without it. Every few days, I would pick a feeding where he was really hungry and offer him my breast without the shield. It took a few weeks of trying, but I remember one day, he just did it! I was so excited, and he ended up nursing for 16 months. When my daughter was born, I was completely against using the shield again, so I feel grateful that I had a wonderful consultant that time around who helped us with latching right away. GOOD LUCK! And thank you for nursing your babies...it's so good for them!

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I would wait until he's really good and comfortable nursing, and not falling asleep right away while eating. I would also wait until you know the difference between a "hungry" cry and a "starving" cry. Then when he's hungry but not starving, offer the breast without the shield. Really pinch your breast in such a way that he can get your whole nipple in his mouth because that is what will trigger the sucking reflex. Good luck.

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i used one until one day i was at the docs office and she was SCREAMING and i couldnt find it, I tried without it and she latched. Try at night when hes sleepy, try at different times. Once she fed without it i left it off. she would fuss for a day about it but then she gave it up and nursed fine without it.

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I was never able to wean my baby off the shield. I just pumped and gave it to him that way. He's 5 months old and I'm still pumping. Good luck.

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We were lucky enough to get rid of it after six long months, it can be a pain can't it? One thing that helped was trying to quickly take it off while she was drowsy because she was less likely to notice. After trying for a long time to get away from it I finally committed to it and forced myself to try at EVERY feeding to start without it, often without success. This went on for about a week and was frustrating but finally after all of the practice for her (and my nipple) we got the hang of it! It really simplifies things once it is gone so good luck. You can do it!!

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Kellymom has great info on this. Pretty much anything pertaining to breastfeeding...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/wean-shield.html

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If you're using one due to a flat or inverted nipple, there is another shield that is not a nursing one. It's from Medela, and comes in 2 pieces. The half spherical shaped piece has holes on one hemisphere of it. The 2nd piece is a flat pliable plastic with a hole in the middle. To wear it, you put your nipple through the hole on the flat piece, after the 2 are fit together. Make sure the holes on the rounded piece are pointing up, or you may leak if you wear it too long. You need to wear a bra with it, and it kind of gives you a mid-80's Madonna looking chest I don't know the exact science behind it, but it pulls the nipple out, the hope is that it's enough for babe to latch onto. I don't think it's very expensive, I'd say $20 on the high side. And you get a complete pair to use on both sides if necessary.

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I lost mine. And I cried. Because I was scared (and sleep deprived).

I LOVED my nippleshield. He was allergic to lanolin (and wouldn't eat if there was anything on my nipples but nipple, so no lotion of any sort for relief) and he was eating 20oz a feeding, and would nurse for over an hour at a stretch... so I was in PAIN before the lactation consultant gave me the angels singing in chorus shield.

He was NOT happy. And the morning was rough. And by afternoon he was fine. Grumpy about it but fine. By the next day he didn't even care (but my nipples hurt).

Found it the next night (I SWEAR I had checked where I found it), and from that point on used it intermittently. Then one day a few weeks later I lost it again, and it was gone for good.

I've got a 12 week old and have been wondering much the same. Every time I try he's eats for a few minutes and then starts fussing at the breast OR I'm in pain so we end up going back to it. I was really self-conscious about having to use it in the beginning, but now that he's growing and putting on weight I don't feel so bad. My midwife and doula reassured me that some women need to use it for the entire duration of nursing . . . and that's ok. Maybe there will come a time when my little guy is ready to wean off of it, but it's not right now. Sorry, I know this doesn't give much advice, just wanted to let you know you're not alone.