Nipple shields have changed over the years. You will find videos and images of rubber or latex nipple shields which are no longer used due to their thickness. Latex is also no longer used since it has a tendency to break down, has a smell and a taste and is an allergen to some. Modern nipple shields are silicone. Medela even made them with a cut-out which was supposed to be used for more skin to skin contact with the baby's chin or if flipped the other direction to prevent possibly obstructing the infants airway. Since these "contact" style have less surface area, they do not adhere as well as a full circle design such as the Ameda Nipple Shield. When is the use of a nipple shield indicated? 1. When a mom has an inverted nipple and the baby does not latch or suck because it does not feel the nipple in its mouth. Some nipples are easily identified as inverted, but others only invert when the baby tries to latch. An easy test for this is...
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