I think that one of the reasons we are having trouble with finger
feeding is that we are making it too complicated.  Using a tube with a
syringe requires 4 hands, using it with a bottle with an enlarged nipple
hole only requires 3.  Finger feeding is best used as Diane Wiessinger
uses the bottle--to prepare the baby to take the breast, NOT as an
alternative to bottle feeding after 30 minutes of struggling to get the
baby onto the breast, although it can also be used then.  And it's
easier without a syringe.

The more experience we all get helping babies take the breast, the less
we will need these alternative methods.  If the mother develops an
abundant milk supply, almost anything will work, if she gets good help
and good support.  This is why I repeat my fears about nipple shields.
This gives an appearance of working, while the milk supply diminishes.
Nipple shields should be used in the first few days (say week of life)
only on rare occasions, and any time as a last resort.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC