Kathleen, I think your comments were excellent.

I have tended to describe these situations as "nipple confusion" because I
think it sounds less serious to the mother. I can say, in a light tone of
voice, that the baby seems a little confused, all this is new to him, etc.

When mothers hear that the baby has "imprinted" on a bottle nipple or that
the baby has a "nipple preference" they (in my experience) seem to see it as
a bigger problem. Or they are upset that their baby "prefers" the other
nipple - it seems more like a personal rejection. But if the baby is
"confused" - well, we all get confused sometimes, and usually we can work it
out.

It may not be as technically accurate as some other terms, but I think it
makes the problem seem less huge to a new & stressed-out mother.

Teresa Pitman