Can I use nipple shields to feed a 6mo?

[RudeEnglishLady]

Hello

DS got his first two teeth at Xmas. Up until now there has been no problems but in the last week he's started biting down hard. One nipple got bitten till it bled freely which was a shock and of course now its sore.

I am literally curling my toes whilst feeding him now. Constantly watching him with finger at the ready to open his jaws. I feel nauseaous and it hurts! I want to try nipple shields more for the pschological help than anything else as I seem to be better at anticipating the bites. I am so on edge though.

What do I need to be aware of when choosing and using the shields? Also are there any top-tips for healing the bites.

Sorry if I seem overly bothered by this its just I loved BFing - it was such a lovely thing and I feel its a bit spoiled. DS is just so boisterous right now with his biting, hair pulling, scratching, eye gouging etc!

Please help us get back on track. Many thanks x

spellings - sorry

hello!
no experience on whether you can introduce nipple shields for the first time at 6months, as i used mine from birth. But i used them for 17 months with DS (and yes I think its a psychological thing for me as well) so it is possible to feed an older baby with them iyswim. i only stopped at 17months as DS wanted to. i used mam/avent shields as they are quite narrow so baby has nose and chin on your breast, and i felt they were more discrete than others which looked big and round to me...
i'm not sure whether they will help with the biting, or how to make wound heal - sounds very painful for you - hopefully someone with more experience can help with that.
i hope you can get things sorted and back on track asap - good luck

Thank you Strawberrylace. I'm going to the shops tomorrow, I think I know where I can get the avent ones.

I think it will still hurt a bit when he bites but I don't think he can cut the skin if they are covered. I hope. He's a bit rough and rowdy at the moment!

Can you or do you leave them on during trips out? Or do you just put them on before a feed? Scuse ignorance

not sure about nipple shields, but you can get something called jelonet from your pharmacist to put over your wound. It's a gauze type thing that you stick on to it.

never used it myself, but have heard good things about it.

Thanks Crikey. I'll check that out when I'm buying the shields this morning.

hi rude
my tescos stocks avent shields, also in mothercare i think.
i just put my shields on when feeding, but i know there are some people who keep them tucked in their bra between feeds.
i have a tupperware pot that mine live in, in a milton sterilising solution (i make up a big steriliser full of the stuff each day, and then put a bit into my pot) that way i know they are always sterile and ready to use, as my twins that i'm feeding now using shields are still little.
hope your ds calms down a bit for you and stops biting

I got them! Got a different brand - chemist said they were the ones they use in the hospital next door.

Now realise my q's were a bit daft - sorry! I'd just never even looked at one before.

Anyway DS is drinking from them, ironically he's not even attempting to bite. I'm feeling a lot safer and hopefully this is just a 'phase'. Thanks for responses.

brilliant news that DS is drinking from them and not biting you as well. hope all is back to normal asap (and i didn't think your questions were a bit daft)