Barbara, Thanks for the balanced and informative post on appropriate use of the proper kind of nipple shields. I think some people might be confused by information based on old references about other kinds of shields, one of which I know is still made. (The one with a glass or clear plastic base, and a rubber bottle-type nipple, available from Galtak in Canada.) I would like to know if you have more information on the exact dimensions of the 2 (I think) that Medela puts out and the 1 (I think) that Hollister puts out. What other brands of silicone shields are being sold, say in Walmart, etc.? I recently had a client who had purchased silicone shields with only a sort of butterfly shape, that is only 2 sides of a small amount of the outer circle the others have. She said they did not work very well. She liked the Medela large one better. I suppose it is necessary that the nipple portion be firm enough not to collapse, and to offer a firm enough surface that the milk sinuses compress themselves against the inner ring when suction draws the nipple in. But I keep worrying about it encouraging "prissy lips". I have not seen enough of its use to determine if in fact babies can learn to extend their tongues and milk the shielded areola. It would seem that this might be an important part of teaching about their use. Can anyone else add to this discussion? Jean ******************* K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC Dayton, Ohio USA *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html