Glass nipple shield, Europe, 1851-1900

Made:
1851-1900 in Europe
Left hand side: A627128/1, One of two lead nipple shields

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Left hand side: A627128/1, One of two lead nipple shields
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass nipple shield, second half 19th century

This glass example of a nipple shield, seen on the right, is alongside a lead one (A627128/1) on the left. It originally had a rubber teat covering the glass tip. This protected the child’s mouth from the glass. Doctors of the period advised breastfeeding was best for infants. They said babies should be breastfed by the mother if possible, or a wet nurse of ‘good moral character’. Dried milk and condensed milk were introduced in the 1860s. However, doctors claimed milk substitutes caused diarrhoea, indigestion and rickets when fed to babies.

Nipple shields protect nipples from teething babies. They also soothe sore nipples of breastfeeding mothers. They prevent nipples from flattening, contain leaking milk and help women who had trouble breastfeeding. Nipple shields of the Victorian period were never popular with mothers. They were often made of seemingly inappropriate materials such as lead and glass.

Details

Category:
Nursing & Hospital Furnishings
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A500005
Materials:
whole, glass
Measurements:
overall: 51 mm 53 mm, .01kg
type:
nipple shield