I confess that Yes! I am a frequent user of nipple shields. Never leave home without one. A great last resort when alternative is pump and bottle or wean. Have always used same method of application (was in package directions about 9 years ago?). INVERT the shield until only one-third of dome remains. This is very easy to do -- try it. Push this small remaining bubble against mom's nipple very firmly (engorged moms may wince a little), smooth rim against breast and allow dome to evert to original shape. Bingo -- lots of breast tissue in dome. Moms are able to do this readily on their own. Have noticed that dads are especially handy at it. To maintain all that lovely tissue in dome mom needs to trap edges of shield and pull firmly toward rib cage. Squeeze and shove is disastrous. I always use regular size. When don't they work for me? Very, very large, very, very soft breasts with very, very flat areolae. The shield is engulfed by the breast. Joanna Koch, IBCLC