Nipple shield (breastfeeding)

Modern nipple shields are made of soft, thin, flexible silicone and have holes at the end of the nipple section to allow the breast milk to pass through.

Breast shells may be confused with nipple shields, but shields are intended for use during the act of breastfeeding, whereas breast shells are worn in preparation for breastfeeding.

Older nipple shields were made of latex and harder, thicker plastics, and often caused more problems than they solved.

Before the invention of plastics, nipple shields were made of metal, glass, or ivory.

A 17th-century nipple shield held in Shakespeare's birthplace is made of pewter.