Lisa:  Has this mom tried to feed baby in the clutch/football hold with the
baby's chin fully down on its chest?   This helps shorten the distance that
the baby's tongue needs to go to cover the bottom gum.  If the baby is
truly "addicted" to the shield some have found success with progressively
cutting away portions of the shield starting at the tip (but this can leave
rough edges).  I know of one shield-weaning case where the LC had the mom
covered her entire breasts with Saran wrap with a hole for  the nipples.
The plastic wrap "tricked" baby enough and then they did away with that
within 48 hours.  I'd caution mom that the wrap would have to be big enough
for baby not to suck in the wrap and it must be fully "plastered" to the
breast (I think the mom used anhydrous lanolin to secure the wrap). 'Just
an idea.
Chris

 Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC   email: [log in to unmask]
                HSR & Health Educational Consultant