Silver nursing cups, nipple cream and hydrogel pads do different jobs. Nipple cream, such as purified lanolin, adds a moisturizing layer you reapply after feeds. Hydrogel pads cool and cushion sore skin for a set time, and then you replace them. Silver nursing cups are reusable domes you wear between feeds: they keep your bra off sore nipples and hold 1–2 drops of your breast milk against the skin, with nothing to reapply or restock. Don't layer cream under the cups, and if the feeds themselves hurt, get your latch checked first.
Silver cups make the most sense when your nipples feel raw between feeds — when your bra or a pad rubs — and you'd rather not reapply cream or peel off pads several times a day. The NHS suggests two simple self-help steps for cracked nipples: dabbing a little expressed breast milk on them after feeds, or using silver nipple cups between feeds.
Which one fits your situation?
- Your bra or pads rub sore skin between feeds → silver nursing cups. Put them on after a feed and lift them off before the next one — a cream-free routine you reuse feed after feed.
- You'd rather use a cream, or your provider recommended one → nipple cream. Use it at a different time from the cups, never under them.
- You want a cooling feeling right after a hard feed → hydrogel pads. Silver cups aren't a cooling product; gel pads give short-term cooling.
- You leak between feeds → nursing pads. Silver cups aren't absorbent, so keep pads for leaks.
Pain during the feed itself usually points to latch, which none of these fix — see when to get help.
Why Choose Go Mommy Silver Cups?
- Want durable solid silver? 925 Sterling. 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper alloy — harder than fine silver, so it holds its shape in daily wear.
- Want the highest silver purity? 999 Fine. Solid 99.9% silver with no copper alloy. It's softer than sterling, so handle it gently.
- Want the lowest starting price? Trilaminate. Silver electroplated over a copper core — not solid silver, and labeled “Trilaminate — Electroplated Silver” in your cart — from …see current price.
- Two sizes. Regular and XL, about 4.5 cm and 5.2 cm across the outside of the dome — our size guide is in the selector below.
- Nothing to restock. Each pair comes with a velvet pouch and a care card. Rinse, dry and reuse the same two cups feed after feed.
- 90 days to decide. Open the pair and use it; if it isn't right, return it within 90 days for a full refund — in the U.S. you pay return shipping unless the cups are defective. HSA/FSA eligible (check your plan), free U.S. shipping, and 20% off with code BESTSILVER20.
See more reasons Go Mommy may be the right fit for you
Go Mommy® Silver Nursing Cups
Solid sterling silver · built for daily wear
Our size guide: Regular for bra cups A–D; XL for D+ cups, if Regular feels snug, or during engorgement. Between sizes? Choose XL.
Default selection: 925 Sterling · Regular — tap Material or Size to change.
This link applies code BESTSILVER20 to your cart. It applies to silver nursing cups, one use per customer, and it can't be combined with other discounts.
20% off with code BESTSILVER20 · Full product details
How silver nursing cups compare with nipple cream, hydrogel pads, nursing pads, breast shells and natural remedies such as your own breast milk for sore or cracked nipples — what each one does, whether you can use cream with silver cups, what the research does and doesn't show, how a pair you buy once compares with creams and pads you keep buying, and when to get latch help first.
Types of Nipple Care Tools, Compared
Six options come up when your nipples are sore: silver nursing cups, nipple cream, hydrogel pads, nursing pads, breast shells and your own expressed breast milk. They solve different problems, so the right choice depends on what hurts and when.
Silver nursing cups
Reusable silver domes worn inside your bra between feeds. They keep fabric off sore skin and hold 1–2 drops of breast milk against it.
Trade-off: they cost more on day one, need a snug bra to stay centered, and aren't absorbent.
Nipple cream
Purified lanolin, nipple butters and plant-based balms add a moisturizing layer after feeds.
Trade-off: you reapply after feeds, it can mark clothing, and lanolin isn't for anyone sensitive to wool.
Hydrogel pads
Soft gel pads that cool and cushion sore nipples. Some can be chilled first — check the box.
Trade-off: they're disposable, you replace them on the schedule printed on the package, and you take them off to feed.
Nursing pads
Disposable or washable pads that catch leaking milk inside your bra.
Trade-off: they don't keep fabric off sore skin, and a damp pad can cling to a crack.
Breast shells
Hard plastic shells worn inside your bra to hold fabric away from the nipple.
Trade-off: they're bulky under clothes, and the NHS suggests avoiding breast shells if you can.
Expressed breast milk
A little of your own milk, dabbed on after feeds — free and always on hand.
Trade-off: nothing keeps fabric off the skin afterward. Silver cups hold the same 1–2 drops in place between feeds.
| Feature | Silver cups | Nipple cream | Hydrogel pads | Nursing pads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Keeps fabric off sore skin and holds breast milk against it | Moisturizes the skin | Cools and cushions | Absorbs leaks |
| When you use it | Between feeds | After feeds | Between feeds, for a set time | Between feeds |
| Reuse | Rinse and reuse | Used up, then bought again | Disposable | Disposable or washable |
| Before a feed | Lift off — no wiping needed | Check the label | Take off | Take out |
| Watch for | Needs a snug bra; not absorbent | Can mark clothing; skip lanolin if sensitive to wool | Ongoing cost | Change at each feed |
If rubbing between feeds is your main problem, silver cups are the reusable option — and they work alongside nursing pads if you leak.
How Silver Nursing Cups Work
Silver nursing cups — also called silver nipple shields or silver nipple covers, and often searched for as “Silverettes” after one well-known brand — are small silver domes you wear inside your bra between feeds, never during a feed. They do two practical things:
- Keep fabric off sore skin. The smooth dome stops your bra, clothing and nursing pads from rubbing tender or cracked nipples, and there are no fibers to catch on cracked skin when you lift it off.
- Hold a little breast milk against the skin. You express 1–2 drops of breast milk into the dome before you put the cup on, and the cup keeps that milk in place — with no creams, balms, or oils inside the dome.
What they don't do: fix a shallow latch, treat thrush or mastitis, change your milk supply, or replace hands-on help from a lactation consultant.
The routine, step by step
- Finish the feed completely.
- Express 1–2 drops of breast milk into the dome — breast milk only, no creams, balms, or oils inside the dome.
- Center the cup over your nipple, dome against the skin. No pressure is needed.
- Let your nursing bra hold the cups in place — no adhesive, no clips.
- Remove the cups before each feed. There's no cream to wipe away.
- Give them a warm water rinse after each use, pat them dry and store them in the velvet pouch.
Our step-by-step usage guide covers placement and night use in more detail.
Not the same as a nipple shield
A silicone nipple shield is a thin cover worn during a feed to help with latch, usually with a lactation consultant's guidance. Silver cups are worn only between feeds and always come off before your baby latches. Our metal vs silicone nipple shield guide explains the difference.
925, 999 or Trilaminate: what's the difference?
- 925 Sterling: solid silver — 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper alloy, harder than fine silver.
- 999 Fine: solid 99.9% silver. Softer than sterling, so it can dent if dropped.
- Trilaminate — Electroplated Silver: a copper core with an electroplated silver surface. It isn't solid silver, which is why it costs least. Rinse it gently, skip abrasive polishes, and replace the pair if the silver surface wears through.
All three are worn the same way between feeds, and no study has compared them, so choose by durability, purity or price. Purity alone can't promise how your skin will react; if you have a known metal allergy, check with your provider first. For a deeper side-by-side of the materials, see our guide to choosing a Go Mommy pair.
Regular or XL?
Both sizes are 1.6 cm high. Regular measures about 4.5 cm and XL about 5.2 cm across the outside of the dome. Our size guide suggests Regular for bra cups A–D and XL for D+ cups, if Regular feels snug, or during engorgement; if you're between sizes, choose XL so the rim rests on comfortable skin. These are outside measurements, so use them as a guide, not a strict cut-off.
Can You Use Nipple Cream or Lanolin With Silver Cups?
Not at the same time. Silver cups go on cream-free skin with only 1–2 drops of breast milk inside the dome — no creams, balms, or oils. If you'd like to use lanolin, nipple butter or a balm, or your provider has recommended one, use it during a stretch when you're not wearing the cups, and let the skin clear before you put them back on. If you've been prescribed a treatment, ask your provider how to time it with cup use.
Do you need cream at all? Not necessarily: a Cochrane review found that expressed breast milk may help as much as lanolin in the short term (see the research). Silver cups give you a cream-free routine between feeds; whether you also want a cream is up to you and your provider. Choose your cream-free pair
Traditional Methods and Natural Remedies
These are the other options you'll see recommended for sore nipples. Each one helps with a different part of soreness, and each has limits worth knowing before you buy.
Nipple cream and lanolin
Purified lanolin is the classic nipple cream; nipple butters and plant-based balms are lanolin-free alternatives. You smooth a thin layer on after a feed. Labels differ on whether you need to wipe the product off before your baby feeds, so check yours. Skip lanolin if you're sensitive to wool, and stop any product that irritates your skin.
Hydrogel pads
Hydrogel pads — called glycerin gel dressings in the research — sit over the nipple inside your bra and give a cooling, cushioning feel. They're disposable: follow the package for how long each pad can be used, and take it off before your baby feeds.
Nursing pads
Nursing pads catch leaks but don't keep fabric off sore skin. The NHS suggests changing them at each feed and choosing pads without a plastic backing; our nursing pads guide compares disposable and washable types.
Breast shells
Breast shells are hard plastic domes worn inside the bra to hold fabric away from the nipple. The NHS suggests avoiding breast shells — and nipple shields — if you can, so ask your lactation consultant before you rely on them.
Natural remedies: breast milk and saline soaks
Dabbing a little expressed breast milk onto cracked nipples after feeds is free and always on hand: the NHS suggests it, and La Leche League International notes that expressed breast milk can be used on sore nipples. Silver cups build on the same step — 1–2 drops go inside the dome, and the cup keeps them in place between feeds. Another home remedy you'll see is a saline (salt-water) soak; Katie Clark, IBCLC, shows one in the video below.
Pain Relief: What the Research Suggests
Research on nipple care products is limited, and no product has strong proof of beating the others:
- Cochrane review (Dennis et al., 2014). It brought together trials of glycerin gel dressings, lanolin (alone and with breast shells), expressed breast milk and an all-purpose nipple ointment, and found insufficient evidence that any of them improved how mothers rated their nipple pain. It also noted that applying nothing, or just expressed breast milk, may help as much as lanolin in the short term.
- Randomized trial of a silver cap (Marrazzu et al., 2015, Breastfeeding Medicine). All 40 mothers with painful nipple fissures received breastfeeding education from a board-certified lactation consultant; half were randomly assigned to also use a silver cap, and half followed a standard nipple-care handbook. Pain eased faster in the silver group at days 7 and 15, with no difference at day 2. Ten of the 40 mothers left the study before it ended, and the cap studied was a different product from ours.
- Comparison study (Nakamura et al., 2025, Journal of Human Lactation). This non-randomized study from Japan compared 47 mothers who used silver nipple protectors with a historical group of 50 mothers. It reported fewer cases of severe nipple damage, lower nipple pain on day 4 after birth, and no safety problems.
What this means for you: the studies are small, and none tested Go Mommy cups or compared 925, 999 and plated silver — so they don't show that one material works better, or that any product, ours included, will give the same results. Choose by what each option does for you day to day: silver cups keep fabric off sore skin between feeds with nothing to reapply, cream moisturizes, and gel pads cool.
Healing and Recovery
Healing depends on fixing the cause — most often how your baby is positioned and attached at the breast, according to the NHS. Cracks take longer to settle than surface soreness, and there's no reliable timeline, so watch how your feeds feel rather than counting days.
How Long Do Nipple Cracks Take to Heal?
There's no set number of days. In the trials in the Cochrane review, nipple pain (not crack healing) eased to mild levels by about 7–10 days after birth for most women, whichever treatment they used. If your nipples still hurt at every feed, or they crack or bleed, don't wait it out — get help early (see below). Our cracked nipples guide covers the full care routine.
Preventing Recurring Damage
Protection between feeds gives sore skin a break, but damage keeps coming back until the cause is fixed — often latch depth, feeding position, or tongue tie. Our positioning and latch guide and tongue tie guide cover the common fixes.
Night Feeds and Rest
With a snug sleep or nursing bra, you can wear the cups between night feeds and skip a cream routine in the dark; in a loose bra they shift.
Cost Comparison
Creams and gel pads cost less on day one, but you use them up and buy more. A pair of silver cups is a one-time purchase that you rinse and reuse (replace Trilaminate if its plating wears through).
Current Go Mommy prices (Regular / XL):
- 925 Sterling — solid silver… / …
- 999 Fine — solid silver… / …
- Trilaminate — silver-plated… / …
We show live store prices here, and they couldn't load just now. See current prices for all six options.
Code BESTSILVER20 takes 20% off the cups (one use per customer; it can't be combined with other discounts). HSA/FSA eligible, free U.S. shipping.
What you get: two cups, a velvet pouch and a care card — a reusable way to keep fabric off sore skin between feeds, with nothing to reapply or restock.
What it doesn't replace: silver cups aren't absorbent, so keep your nursing pads if you leak. They can cut down on repeat cream and gel-pad purchases, but if your provider recommends a cream you'll still use it at a different time — so how much you save depends on what you would otherwise buy.
A cost-per-wear example (assumptions, not a promise): if you wear the cups after 6 feeds a day for 6 weeks, that's about 250 wears.
At that pace, a 925 Sterling Regular pair at … works out to … per wear, and every extra week of use lowers it.
We work the per-wear figure out from the live store price, so it appears once prices load. See current prices.
Your number depends on how often and how long you use them.
Want the drawbacks spelled out too? Read our honest pros and cons of silver nursing cups.
When Silver Cups Aren't Enough — and When to Get Help
Silver cups are for comfort between feeds. They can't change what happens during a feed, and some problems need hands-on help first.
See a lactation consultant (IBCLC) or your provider if:
- one or both nipples hurt at every feed, or your nipples crack or bleed — cracks raise the risk of a nipple infection, so get help early;
- you find yourself putting off feeds because they hurt, or your baby has trouble latching;
- you notice white patches in your baby's mouth (possible thrush).
Contact your provider promptly for fever, a hot or painful area in the breast, spreading redness, or pus.
The NHS notes that sore nipples usually happen because a baby isn't positioned and attached properly, and the Office on Women's Health calls a good latch key. Our nipple pain guide covers the common causes, and our nipple thrush guide explains the signs of infection to watch for. In the U.S., your hospital, pediatrician or WIC office can point you to lactation support, and La Leche League International offers free peer support.
Go Mommy LLC makes and sells the silver nursing cups in this article, so we have a commercial interest in your choice. We have no affiliation with any nipple cream, gel pad, nursing pad or breast shell maker, and we describe those options from published clinical guidance and product labels. The creator video by Kate was paid for and licensed. Go Mommy has no affiliation with any lactation organization or clinical body referenced here.
Ready for a cream-free routine between feeds?
Solid 925 Sterling, solid 999 Fine or silver-plated Trilaminate — in Regular or XL, from …see current prices, with 90 days to decide. Use code BESTSILVER20 for 20% off.
📋 Editorial Note
Last reviewed: September 24, 2026
Authored by: Go Mommy Editorial Team — the editorial arm of Go Mommy LLC, which manufactures silver nursing cups.
Production method: AI-assisted research and drafting, followed by human editorial review. Clinical statements are written against the sources listed below and rechecked when we update the article.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. If you have persistent pain, signs of infection or feeding concerns, consult a qualified lactation consultant or your healthcare provider.
Store terms: prices, guarantee, shipping and discount terms were checked on September 23, 2026.
Sources: NHS — Sore or Cracked Nipples · Office on Women's Health — Common Breastfeeding Challenges · La Leche League International — Sore Nipples · Dennis et al. 2014 — Interventions for Treating Painful Nipples (Cochrane) · Marrazzu et al. 2015 — Silver Cap RCT (Breastfeeding Medicine) · Nakamura et al. 2025 — Silver Nipple Protectors (Journal of Human Lactation)
Related Guides:
- Best Silver Nursing Cups — Choose Your Go Mommy Pair
- Why Choose Go Mommy — Silver Nipple Covers Buying Guide
- How to Use Silver Nursing Cups — Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Clean Silver Nursing Cups — Care & Tarnish
- Pros and Cons of Silver Nursing Cups
- Silver Nursing Cups FAQ — Common Questions Answered
- Cracked Nipples — Gentle Remedies
🎯 Key takeaways
- Silver cups, cream and gel pads do different jobs: cups keep fabric off sore skin between feeds, cream moisturizes, and gel pads cool for a while.
- Don't layer cream under silver cups. Inside the dome goes breast milk only; use any cream while the cups are off.
- Silver cups don't replace nursing pads — they aren't absorbent.
- No nipple care product has strong proof of beating the others, and no study has tested Go Mommy cups.
- Pain at every feed, cracks or bleeding mean it's time for latch help — no cream, pad or cup can fix a latch.
- Go Mommy offers solid 925, solid 999 and silver-plated Trilaminate in Regular and XL, with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions: Nipple Care for Breastfeeding
How do silver cups compare with lanolin or nipple cream?
They do different jobs. Lanolin and other nipple creams add a moisturizing layer you reapply after feeds. Silver cups are reusable domes worn between feeds that keep your bra off sore skin and hold 1–2 drops of breast milk against it, with nothing to restock. A Cochrane review found no strong evidence that lanolin eases nipple pain better than expressed breast milk.
Can I use nipple cream or lanolin with silver cups?
Not at the same time. Put the cups on cream-free skin with only 1–2 drops of breast milk inside the dome — no creams, balms, or oils. If you use a cream, or your provider has recommended one, use it during a stretch when you're not wearing the cups, and let the skin clear before you put them back on.
Silver cups or hydrogel pads: which is better for sore nipples?
It depends on what you need. Hydrogel pads cool and cushion for a set time, then you replace them, and they come off before feeds. Silver cups aren't made for cooling, but they're reusable: they keep fabric off sore skin between feeds with nothing to restock. For cooling after a hard feed, choose gel pads; for everyday protection between feeds, choose cups.
Do silver cups replace nursing pads?
No. Silver cups aren't absorbent, so if you leak between feeds you'll still want nursing pads. Pads catch milk; cups keep fabric from rubbing sore skin. The NHS suggests changing pads at each feed.
Are silver nursing cups the same as a nipple shield?
No. A silicone nipple shield is a thin cover worn during a feed to help with latch, usually with a lactation consultant's guidance. Silver nursing cups are worn only between feeds and always come off before your baby latches.
Do I need to clean my nipples before feeding when using silver cups?
No. Remove the cups before each feed. There's no cream to wipe away — only 1–2 drops of your breast milk go inside the dome. Then give the cups a warm water rinse and pat them dry.
Can I wear silver cups in my regular nursing bra, or overnight?
Yes. A nursing or sleep bra holds them in place — no adhesive, no clips. A snug bra keeps them centered; in a loose bra they can shift. You can wear them between night feeds and take them off before each feed.
Are silver nursing cups safe to use while breastfeeding?
Used as directed — between feeds, with only breast milk inside the dome, and off before every feed — they're a simple comfort product, and the two silver-cup studies cited here (other products, not ours) reported no safety problems in their small groups. Stop if your skin gets irritated, and ask your provider first if you have a known metal allergy.
What does the research say about silver nursing cups?
It's small but encouraging. In a randomized trial of 40 mothers with nipple fissures, a silver cap (a different product from ours) eased pain faster than standard care at days 7 and 15. A 2025 non-randomized study from Japan reported fewer cases of severe nipple damage. No study has tested Go Mommy cups or compared 925, 999 and plated silver.
How do I know which size silver cup to choose?
Both sizes are 1.6 cm high; Regular measures about 4.5 cm and XL about 5.2 cm across the outside of the dome. Our size guide suggests Regular for bra cups A–D and XL for D+ cups, if Regular feels snug, or during engorgement; between sizes, choose XL. Use the measurements as a guide, not a strict cut-off.
How do I clean and maintain silver nursing cups?
Give them a warm water rinse after each use, pat dry and store them in the velvet pouch. For tarnish on solid 925 or 999 cups, a gentle baking soda paste works; Trilaminate is silver-plated, so clean it gently and skip abrasive pads and polishes. Our usage and care guide has the full routine.
Why do silver cups cost more upfront than creams?
You buy a pair once and reuse it (Trilaminate until its plating wears through), while creams and gel pads get used up and bought again. Solid 925 and 999 silver costs more than silver-plated Trilaminate, our lowest-priced option. Code BESTSILVER20 takes 20% off, and you have 90 days to return the pair for a full refund if it isn't right.