Yes, babies generally transfer more milk when breastfeeding without a nipple shield. Studies measuring intake by weighing infants before and after feeds have found reductions ranging from about 22% to 58% depending on the type of shield used. That said, the picture is more nuanced than those numbers suggest, and for some babies a shield is the only reason breastfeeding works at all.
How Much Less Milk Comes Through a Shield
The most direct evidence comes from studies that weighed babies before and after feeds, both with and without a shield. In one study of mother-infant pairs at five to eight days postpartum, a thin latex shield reduced milk transfer by about 22%, dropping the average intake from 38.4 grams to 29.9 grams per feed. A thicker, older-style shield (rarely used today) cut transfer by 58%, nearly halving what the baby received.
A separate study found a similar pattern: median milk transfer dropped from 47 grams without a shield to 27 grams with one. And a pumping study that measured how much milk could be removed from the breast found that a fitted nipple shield cut the volume roughly in half, from a median of about 77 mL without a shield to 32 mL with one. The percentage of available milk actually removed from the breast also dropped significantly, from around 69% to 41%.
These numbers make the case look straightforward, but they mostly come from older shield designs. Modern ultra-thin silicone shields are thinner and more flexible than the latex versions tested in those early studies, which likely means the gap has narrowed. Still, a barrier between your baby’s mouth and your skin does reduce the efficiency of milk removal to some degree.
Why the Shield Reduces Transfer
The main issue is what happens hormonally. When your baby sucks directly on your breast, nerve endings in the nipple send signals that trigger the release of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for your let-down reflex. A silicone barrier dulls that stimulation. In the study showing a drop from 47 to 27 grams, researchers attributed the difference specifically to reduced oxytocin release in mothers using shields.
Less oxytocin means a weaker or delayed let-down, which means milk doesn’t flow as freely even though it’s there in the breast. Your body is still making the milk. The problem is getting it out. Over time, if less milk is removed per session, the breast may also start to slow production, since milk supply is driven by demand. This is why lactation professionals generally recommend shields as a short-term tool rather than a permanent solution.
Weight Gain May Not Suffer
Here’s the reassuring part: despite the per-feed reduction in milk transfer, babies using nipple shields don’t necessarily fall behind on growth. A study tracking infant weight gain at two weeks, one month, and two months found no statistically significant difference between babies who breastfed with a shield and those who breastfed without one. Babies appear to compensate, likely by feeding more frequently or for longer stretches.
For premature infants transitioning from tube feeding to breastfeeding, shields can actually help. In a review of 15 preterm babies, 60% consumed at least half their prescribed feeding amount during their very first attempt with a nipple shield. For a baby who otherwise couldn’t latch at all, that’s a meaningful improvement over zero.
When a Shield Is Still the Right Call
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommends that nipple shields be used only after other solutions have been tried and only with guidance from a lactation specialist. That’s not because shields are dangerous. It’s because they’re meant to solve a specific problem (flat or inverted nipples, latch difficulties, severe pain, premature babies with weak suck) while you work toward feeding without one.
If your baby can’t latch without a shield, removing it prematurely could mean your baby gets no milk at the breast instead of somewhat less milk. A shield that keeps you breastfeeding is better than no breastfeeding at all. The goal is to transition off the shield when your baby’s latch matures or the underlying issue resolves, not to stop using it before you and your baby are ready.
Tips for Transitioning Off a Shield
Most lactation professionals suggest trying the bare breast first, when your baby is calm and not frantically hungry. Start a feed with the shield to get milk flowing, then gently remove it mid-feed when your let-down is active and your baby is in a rhythmic sucking pattern. Some babies accept the switch immediately. Others need days or weeks of gradual attempts.
Skin-to-skin contact before feeds can help by encouraging your baby to root and latch instinctively. Trying different breastfeeding positions sometimes makes the bare nipple easier for your baby to grasp. If your baby refuses the breast without a shield, that’s okay. Keep offering, stay patient, and track wet and dirty diapers to make sure intake stays adequate during the transition.
If you’re concerned about supply while still using a shield, pumping after feeds can help ensure your breasts are emptied more completely. Since the shield reduces how much milk your baby removes per session, a few minutes of pumping afterward sends your body the signal to keep production up.