Does the silicone nipple for breastfeeding harm the baby?

Is a silicone nipple for breastfeeding harmful for the baby?

Breastfeeding is not always simple. Sometimes mothers find themselves in a situation in which the pain in their nipples becomes difficult to bear. The silicone breastfeeding nipple was created for these women. Are you familiar with this product? Do you know its advantages and disadvantages?

It’s time to find out with Baby on Board.

Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful connections between a mother and her baby.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to consider that alongside the beauty of sharing such a special moment, there are some less positive factors that do not always make mothers’ task easier.

When the baby does not latch on to the breast correctly, although Montgomery’s tubercles promote the hydration of the nipple, this may not be sufficient to avoid situations of pain and discomfort, such as cracked nipples.

Many mothers find themselves faced with this kind of pain and looking for solutions that will enable them to breastfeed their babies without experiencing the pain caused by this act.

Some try to improve the way in which the baby latches onto their breast by using a breastfeeding pillow and, in this way, manage to solve the problem. Others feel the need to use silicone breastfeeding nipples.

Today we are going to look at silicone breastfeeding nipples and try to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using this type of protector. If you want to clear up your doubts about this product, this article is just for you.

1. What is a silicone breastfeeding nipple?

The silicone nipple for breastfeeding is a nipple protector that can be used while breastfeeding.

This product comes in various shapes and textures and is used, fundamentally, by women who feel pain when feeding their children because their breasts are sore.

2. What is the silicone nipple for?

The silicone nipple for breastfeeding serves to soothe the pain caused to the mother by the baby’s incorrect latching on to the breast.

In this way, the mother will be able to continue breastfeeding her child, even though her nipples are cracked, thus avoiding the aggravation of nipple pain.

3. What are the disadvantages of breastfeeding with a silicone nipple?

As a rule, experts recommend that the use of the silicone nipple only as a last resort, since its use has some disadvantages. Among these are:

– Creation of habit in the baby, who may refuse to feed without it;
– Lack of stimulation of the mother’s nipple by the baby’s tongue and possible reduction in the flow of milk;
– Cautious alleviation of the symptoms of cracked nipples without any effective treatment;
– Only temporary solution that does not promote the baby’s correct latch on to the breast;
– Need to sterilise the silicone nipple after each feed.

Does breastfeeding with the silicone nipple cause any harm to the baby?

The silicone nipple can be harmful for a baby in the sense that if the baby becomes accustomed to it they may refuse the breast when it is not used.

In this way, in the absence of the protector, the baby can refuse the breast. In the same way, the eventual reduction in the milk flow can cause the baby to not feed as well. Both situations can lead to a loss of weight in the child or to their not feeding properly.

Does the silicone nipple give the baby colic?

Although there are reported cases in which baby’s colic has been aggravated by the use of the silicone nipple, this is unlikely.

The increase in colic would be related to a greater intake of air during feeding, due to the accumulation of air between the silicone nipple and the mother’s breast.

Nevertheless, this amount of air is usually not enough to cause colic in the child.

Does breastfeeding with silicone nipples reduce milk?

Yes, silicone nipples can in fact reduce the flow of milk as the mother’s breast is less stimulated.

This situation is harmful for the baby, who will feed less, and also for the mother, since by not removing the milk effectively she may suffer from mastitis.

4. What are the advantages of silicone breastfeeding nipples?

Despite its inconveniences, the use of silicone nipples can be a great help in certain situations and also has some advantages. These are the following:

– Minimising pain at the time of breastfeeding for mums who are unable to promote the baby’s correct grip on the breast;
– Support breastfeeding for women with flat or inverted nipples;
– Reduction of the risk of sores caused by sucking on the nipples.

5. Who should use silicone nipples?

As mentioned, silicone nipples should be used as a last resort. Still, they are suitable in situations where mothers feel their nipple hurting at the time of breastfeeding and cannot get the baby to latch on to their nipple properly during breastfeeding.

The sore nipple of the breasts can create cracks and pain for mothers, which will be soothed