The silicone rubber used for nipple shields should be soft enough to snip with a
scissors, just like ordinary gum rubber was.  My wife used the Med---
shields for
my sons first week or two.  She was given them by the nursery nurse because
my son's tongue couldn't come out far enough to cover his lower jaw.  (This was
1988 - now he'd probably have a frenotomy.)  After a week or two, he was able
to latch properly, and she just stopped using them.  He apparrently never
noticed
the difference - just latched right on.  Incidentally, he nursed until he
was 4, and
still asked for it for another year after my wife weaned him!  He's never
had any
other problem with tongue-tie; he sticks his tongue out with gusto, and has no
trouble with whistling or blowing bubbles with gum.

Jonathan
****************************************
*       L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.       *
* Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor and  *
*    Student Lactation Consultant      *
****************************************