10 Best Nipple Shields for Breastfeeding Moms
Breastfeeding moms who experience difficulties like cracked nipples, sore nipples, or latching problems are sometimes advised by a lactation consultant about using a nipple shield.
Nipple shields are made with a thin piece of silicone that is worn over the areola and nipple during breastfeeding. At the end, there are tiny holes where breast milk will pass through when the baby is nursing.
These were created with the intent of helping troubling mothers continue with their breastfeeding journey.
How?
Well, they can help with reducing nipple pain, babies who have difficulties latching, as well as with moms who have flat/inverted nipples.
If your lactation consultant or a breastfeeding specialist has suggested using a nipple shield then I’m sure you’re wondering where and what one to even purchase.
Here I’ve listed out some of the best nipples shields for breastfeeding moms.
But if you’re short on time you can check out my top 5 nipple shields below.
(This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer policy here.)
| Name | Best for... | Features | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medela Contact Nipple Shield | Best Overall | ✅ Shape allows for skin-to-skin contact ✅ Available in 3 different sizes ✅ BPA free |  |
| Lansinoh Contact Nipple Shield | Best for Tongue-Ties | ✅ Design helps with skin contact between mom & baby ✅ BPA & BPS free ✅ Comes with a case | |
| Momma Bear Premium Nipple Shields | Best for Flat & Inverted Nipples | ✅ Company is environmentally aware ✅ Latex-free, phthalate-free, & BPA free ✅ Money back guarantee | |
| Purifyou Premium Nipple Shields | Best with Case | ✅ PVC free, lead-free, & BPA free ✅ Can exchange at anytime ✅ Has a large & roomy case that helps keep them clean longer | |
| Haakaa Nipple Shield | Best for Transitioning from Bottle to Breast | ✅ Easy for mom to hold into place ✅ Non-toxic ✅ Has an anti-colic vent build into it | |
Read on to learn more about these nipple shields as well as what other ones work great for breastfeeding moms!
Best Nipple Shields
Medela Contact Nipple Shield
Medela is a very popular brand that sells a variety of breastfeeding products.
This nipple shield is actually #5 in Breast Shells & Nipple Therapy Products on Amazon!
Something that’s great about this silicone nipple shield is that it comes with 2, so that you always have one clean, PLUS a carrying case!
This Medela nipple shield is available in 3 different sizes.
You can purchase the Medela Contact nipple shield here.
Lansinoh Contact Nipple Shield
Lansinoh is another brand that makes lots of different kinds of breastfeeding products for new moms.
Because of this nipple shield’s low profile, it’s ideal for babies who have tongue-ties and have a more limited range of motion with their tongue.
Their contact nipple shields come in 2 different sizes; 20mm and 24mm.
When you buy these you get 2 nipple shields plus a carrying case!
They are also BPA and BPS free!
You can get the Lansinoh Contact nipple shield here.
Momma Bear Essentials Premium Nipple Shield
Momma Bear Essentials is environmentally aware and has plastic-free packaging!
They have a unique cut out shape to help allow for a closer connection between you and baby.
These nipple shields are also said to be great for flat or inverted nipples.
Their nipple shields are non-toxic, lead-free, latex-free, as well as BPA free.
Every purchase comes with a total of 6 20mm sized nipple shields plus a drawstring bag.
And if during the first 60 days you find that you don’t like them, you can return them and get a full refund!
You can get the Momma Bear Essentials Premium nipple shield here.
Purifyou Premium Nipple Shield
These nipple shields are toxic and latex-free.
Every purchase comes with 3 nipple shields along with a carrying case.
These nipple shields are available in 2 different sizes, 20mm and 24mm.
And if you’re unhappy with it, you return it within 30 days for a full refund!
You can buy the Purifyou Premium nipple shields here.
Haakaa Nipple Shield
The Haakaa nipple shield has a unique design with its realist areola design and its spiral mechanics nipple head.
This nipple shield is BPA, PVC, as well as phthalate-free.
Something that’s great about this nipple shield is that it has an anti-colic vent to help prevent the baby from taking in unwanted air. This design is also anti-flatulence which means when the milk starts to flow too fast it will help prevent the baby from choking.
The Haakaa nipple shield is great for moms who are trying to transition from bottle to breast.
You can purchase the Haakaa nipple shield here.
MAM Nipple Shield
The MAM nipple shield has a unique shape to help mom and baby get the most skin-to-skin contact when breastfeeding.
You can choose from 2 different sizes. The one above is a size 2 (23mm) but they also have a size 1 that’s 17mm that’s also available to buy.
When you buy these you’ll get 2 nipple shields as well as a carrying case!
These nipple shields are made with baby-safe materials and are made with SkinSoft silicone for a more natural feeling.
You can buy the MAM nipple shield here.
Philips Avent Nipple Protectors
This nipple shield is shaped to help allow maximum skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby.
They are made with odorless, taste-free, and BPA free silicone.
You can get the Philips Avent nipple shield here.
Ameda Contact Nipple Shield
The Ameda Contact nipple shield is made out of a nice thin and flexible silicone.
Unlike many of the other nipple shields on this list, this nipple shield only comes with 1 shield and no case. Which would work if you’re only looking for a short term solution.
It comes in size 24mm.
You can purchase the Ameda Contact nipple shield here.
Ardo Tulips Contact Nipple Shield
This nipple shield is available in 3 sizes; small (16mm), medium (20mm), and large (24mm).
Every set comes with 2 nipples shields plus 1 storage box.
One great thing about Ardo is that they made it with a ridge free design to help prevent friction which can lead to further nipple pain and discomfort.
You can get the Ardo Tulips Contact nipple shield here!
Assist Perfect Nipple Shield
This nipple shield is made out of food-grade silicone and is BPA free.
Their spiral pacifier design is made to help prevent the baby from choking while eating. It also has space in between the pacifier and nipple to help avoid painful bites to mom.
This nipple shield’s triangular petal-style is made to be lighter and easier for mom to hold into place.
You can get these nipple shields here.
Common Questions About Nipple Shields
What does a nipple shield help with?
As I’ve mentioned above, nipple shields can help with flat or inverted nipples by helping them “pop” out, babies who have trouble with latching, and reducing nipple pain.
But they can also help with breastfeeding premature infants, babies with ankyloglossia also known as tongue-tie, and going from bottle to breast.
Normally though once these problems have resolved you can stop using and/or begin to wean your baby off of the nipple shield.
How do I know if I need a nipple shield?
Typically someone like a breastfeeding specialist or lactation consultant will recommend using these if you are having one or more of the following problems above.
Do NOT assume you need a nipple shield, get one, and start using it by yourself!
If used incorrectly it could lead to other problems such as low milk supply, clogged milk ducts, mastitis, and weight loss in babies.
So ALWAYS talk to a breastfeeding expert before you start using a nipple shield. If they think using a nipple shield is a good idea they can show you how to properly use it while breastfeeding.
What size nipple shields should I get?
Nipple shields come in a couple of different sizes.
The most common ones are 16mm, 20mm, and 24mm.
To make sure you get the best fit, have a lactation consultant help you!
Do you have to Sterilise nipple shields every time?
Before using a brand new nipple shield you should? Yes you should sterilize it.
Do you need to sterilize your nipple shield every time you use it? No, but is ideal though that you clean the nipple shield after each feeding.
You can do this by rinsing off any breastmilk that may be in there still then washing it with soap and hot water.
After that leave it in a clean area and let it air dry.
Once it’s dry you can keep it in a container.
If you ever need to sterilize your nipple shield you simply just need to put it in boiling water for 10 minutes. Be sure though that there is enough room in the pot so that the nipple shield isn’t touching the pot.
Do nipple shields cause nipple confusion?
Nipple confusion or nipple preference is a term used to describe an infant’s fussiness or frustration when they are having problems switching back to the breast (commonly happens when babies go from a bottle nipple to breast).
Nipple shields have a different texture, feel, and work a little differently than our nipples. That being said, I would say that they could cause nipple confusion.
Why?
Because if they get too used to using a nipple shield they may prefer it over a bare breast.
This could make breastfeeding without a nipple shield difficult for the baby to adjust to and cause them to become fussy and frustrated.
How do I transition from nipple shield to breast?
One of the main things I did to help my little one wean from the nipple shield was having her nurse with the nipple shield on for a couple of minutes then I would unlatch her, quickly remove the nipple shield, and then latch her back on.
This ended up working really well for us!
Another thing I would also do was work on latching her to my bare breast at the start of each feeding.
If she couldn’t get it and started to get upset I would just simply put the nipple shield on and would try again later.
If your baby is getting too upset trying to figuring it out without a nipple shield just use it for now and try again later! You don’t want your baby to associate your breast like that!
Other things that are said to help with transitioning from nipple shield to breast are lots of skin-to-skin contact, nursing frequently, trying to latch when the baby is in a half-asleep half-awake state, and hand expressing milk so that some is on your nipple before you try latching baby on.
How long does it take to wean off a nipple shield?
This will differ with every mom and baby.
It took me about 4 days to completely wean my baby off of the nipple shield.
For other moms, it can happen sooner or even take weeks until they are able to stop using the nipple shield.
Some moms have even used nipple shields during their whole breastfeeding journey!
So just be patient and work on transitioning from nipple shield to breast every time you feed them (once it’s time to wean them off though of course).
My Concluding Thoughts
Nipple shields can definitely be helpful but I feel should only be used in certain circumstances.
Some even say only in extreme circumstances.
If you are seeing an actual lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist and they recommend using a nipple shield to help get your breastfeeding journey going, then by all means go for it!
Your lactation consultant will properly show you how to use it, how to put it on, what size to get, and how you can wean your baby off of it.
Though nipple shields aren’t the solution for every problem, they do have a time and place.
So please before you start using one, contact a breastfeeding specialist first and see what they recommend!
You should also be aware and read of all of the pros and cons of using nipple shields.
I hope this list of the best nipple shields for breastfed babies helps you!
(Please keep in mind that I am NOT a breastfeeding specialist, lactation consultant, or medical professional of any kind. I am just a Mom who’s going off of her own experience and research. You can read my full disclaimer policy here.)
Other Posts You May Like:
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What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Breastfeeding
Have you ever used a nipple shield before? What was the reason for it? What was your experience like? Tell me about it below in the comments! And if you liked this post, give it a share! Thanks!