Weaning off nipple shield - need your tips!

[Lynzjam]

So DD is coming up for seven weeks now and I feel she is ready to be seemed off the nipple shields I've been using pretty much since she was a week old. It was the only way she would feed at the breast.

She is putting on weight really well so I feel now she is bigger, now is the time.

So was wondering if anyone has any tips or personal experience regarding this?

Was visiting my friend the other day, who has a toddler and a new baby. She made a scissor shape with her hand and took my boob inbetween her index and middle finger so it made my nipple long then to my amazement, DD latche, and started to suck! She started to fuss eventually so I put shield back on. I think we are pretty close to ditching them though!

Try when she isn't frantically hungry and you are relaxed. Start a feed with it latch off then remove and try or when in the bath or bed with lights down.

kellymom has some tips here
I basically did it by getting a bf counsellor to help me latch him on without and then just kept going. Took some courage as I found it quite scary at first but haven't used them since about 5 weeks and he's 8 weeks now

I used nipple shields for 12 weeks and have been feeding without for 7 weeks now. I'm slightly different from you OP, in that DD would feed without one, it just blardy hurt! Anyhow, I just went cold turkey. I decided now was the time and went for it without. It took a little persuasion to get her to take the breast, but once she did she fed just fine. I used them occasionally for the next few days when I was feeling mentally fragile, and then ditched them altogether.

In terms of latching without, I did what your friend did. Cupped my boob to make the nipple more prominent - it seemed to help. Good luck with it!

If you need to make nipple more prominent you can try latch assist by lansinoh.

link

My SIL is weaning her DD off - starts a feed with and then takes it off when her DD isn't so hungry.

Don't panic if your DD insists on carrying on feeding with them - it doesn't necessarily affrect your milk supply - I feed DD1 successfullywitn them for 22 months. I have v inverted nipples & it was the only way she could latch.

That said DD2 (now 6 mths) has just started to feed without them, though I still have to put them on at the start of a feed when a) she's hungry & b) to draw the nipple out.

Just saying that it's not the end of the world if you're stuck with it. Just remember to have a spare in the car at all times - we ended up driving back from a weekend away because we'd forgotten one when we'd got down to just night feeds!