I find that the best way to wean a baby off  the nipple shield is to 
encourage mom to use good latch practices with the shield on...  If mom 
lets baby slide onto the shield with his little lips pursed, that 
obviously will not work with the bare breast.  If she crosses his lips 
with the teat of the shield so he needs to open wide, that behaviour is 
preserved for breastfeeding without the shield.

I find that most babies are easily weaned off the shield by offering the 
breast without the shield when they are calm and not too hungry, and 
then progressing to offering more and more feedings without it.  I plant 
a suggestion whenever I give one to a mother, telling her "the day the 
dog eats the shield is the day the baby will latch without it".  Lets 
her know not to panic if it gets lost, etc, that she can bf anyway!  
Teaching her to wedge the breast (Diane's nipple sandwich technique) to 
make it easier for the baby to grasp is another good trick.

I've also had several moms continue to use a shield for a long period of 
time.  One was an anxious mom that did not want baby to ever fuss at 
all.  Another had very retracting nipples, and the baby had a short 
tongue and could not grasp the breast without the shield, even months 
down the line. Most wean off gradually over several days to weeks.
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC

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