Years ago, nipple shields were made of thick latex (the rubbery amber stuff), and this could cause\u00a0a reduction in the amount of milk that babies received.\u00a0\u00a0Newer shields are made out of thin, flexible silicone, and don’t cause the same problems.<\/p>\n
It may be that your baby needs the extra help with milk transfer that the shield provides at this time, and may just not be quite ready to \u201cgraduate\u201d quite yet.<\/p>\n
Here are some techniques you can use to\u00a0encourage him to take the breast\u00a0<\/a>:<\/p>\n I hope that your baby will soon make the transition from nursing with the shield to nursing without, but regardless of when (or if) that happens, you can feel good about the fact that in spite of the challenges you encountered in the beginning, you are continuing to provide him with the many\u00a0nutritional, immunological, and psychological benefits\u00a0<\/a>of breastfeeding.<\/p>\n Join the more than six millions of moms who come to Breastfeeding Basics each year for information and support, and visit Anne on\u00a0Facebook.<\/a>\n
![\"Anne](\"http:\/\/www.breastfeedingbasics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Anne-avatar-150x150.jpg\"){kind=avatar}
Anne has been helping moms reach their breastfeeding goals for over 35 years, as a La Leche League and an IBCLC in private practice since 1990. Breastfeeding six children gives her a unique combination of first hand experience as well as professional expertise. In 1999, she started her website,www.breastfeedingbasics.com,\u00a0<\/a>with lots of information on breastfeeding and parenting, and a wonderful group of bloggers, including Abby from\u00a0The Badass Breastfeeder,<\/a>\u00a0Rachelle from\u00a0Unlatched,<\/a>\u00a0and Marie from\u00a0Anarchy in the Sandbox.<\/a><\/p>\n
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