Glass Nipple Shield - "S Maw Son & Sons"

c. 1918 - 1929
Overview

Item 1: Original small grey box with black print
Item 2: Glass nipple shield used for breast feeding.

Historical information

This glass nipple shield originally had a rubber teat covering the glass tip - this protected the child’s mouth from the glass.

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.

Glass nipple shields were used in nursing to provide a temporary solution for breastfeeding challenges. They were made from glass and were designed to cover the nipple during breastfeeding. Glass nipple shields allowed for milk to flow through and were often used when babies had difficulty latching onto the breast or when mothers were dealing with sore or flat nipples. These shields were a short-term solution and were intended to help mothers transition to breastfeeding without the discomfort of sore nipples or difficulties with latching.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-124-2021.188
Item type
Medical Equipment
Material
Glass
Width
50 mm
Height or length
50 mm
Inscriptions and markings

On box, are the following words:
"Glass Nipple Shield with India-Rubber Teat"

Contextual information

Owned by Mrs Jean Geary (nee Burt) who was a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital in the 1920's

Keywords
maternity
Medical Equipment
Place made
Aldersgate Street, London, United Kingdom
Primary significance criteria
Historic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Last modified
Friday, 8 May, 2026
Completeness
100
Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Glass Nipple Sheild

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