I was using the shields for a while and they were a godsend. DS had trouble attaching initially because of a tounge tie, and my nippiles are flat and horrible. He found the nipple shield very good but then it was hard for me to get him onto the nipple without the shields as he got used to it. I didn't think they were that much of a pain, the ones I used were pretty soft and moulded onto my nipple well.