In short: Silver nursing cups are worn over the nipple between feeds and may help with sore or mildly cracked nipples. The NHS lists them as one option, and a small study found faster pain relief. They don’t fix the cause, which is most often how your baby is attached – so if breastfeeding hurts, get support from your midwife, health visitor or an IBCLC lactation consultant.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 27 September 2026
Why do nipples hurt when breastfeeding?
Some tenderness in the first days is common, but pain at every feed, cracks or bleeding are not normal. According to the NHS, the most common cause is positioning and attachment: the nipple sits too far forward in your baby’s mouth and gets pinched against the hard palate. Until attachment improves, no product will fully solve the problem.
What are silver nursing cups?
They are thin, anatomically shaped caps worn directly over the nipple, under your bra, between feeds. Silver is known for its antibacterial properties, and the cup also protects the nipple from rubbing against clothing.
One example is Koala Babycare Silver Cups, made from trilaminate (two layers of 925 silver and a copper core), nickel-free and made in Italy. They don’t need sterilising between uses and can be kept for your next baby.
What do guidelines and research say?
- The NHS suggests that if your nipples start to crack, you can dab a little expressed breast milk on them after feeds or use silver nipple cups between feeds.
- A randomised trial (Marrazzu et al., 2015) of 40 breastfeeding mothers with nipple fissures found faster pain relief with a silver cap than with standard care, with no adverse effects. The study is small, so silver cups may help but are not a guaranteed cure.
How to use silver nursing cups
- After a feed, place the cup over your nipple and hold it in place with a well-fitting nursing bra.
- Remove it before the next feed and rinse your nipple with water as the manufacturer advises.
- Don’t wear the cups while breastfeeding.
- If you leak, you can combine the cups with nursing pads.
- Clean and store them according to the instructions supplied.
What else helps sore nipples (NHS)
- Keep breastfeeding, or express if the pain is too much.
- Change breast pads at every feed, ideally without a plastic backing.
- Wear a well-fitting bra without underwire.
- Let your baby feed for as long as they want.
When to get help straight away
Contact your midwife, health visitor, an IBCLC lactation consultant or your GP if:
- it hurts at every feed or the pain doesn’t ease despite the cups,
- your nipples bleed or the cracks are deep,
- you notice redness, swelling, pus, a hard painful area in the breast, or you have a high temperature,
- you are sensitive to metals or your skin becomes irritated.
Find more essentials in breastfeeding and in our Koala Babycare range.
Frequently asked questions
Do silver nursing cups heal cracked nipples?
They may help ease pain faster, but they are not a treatment on their own. The cause – usually attachment – should be checked by a professional.
Are silver nursing cups safe for my baby?
Remove them before feeding and rinse your nipple with water, as the manufacturer advises. Don’t wear them while breastfeeding.
When can I start using them?
From the first days of breastfeeding, when nipples start to feel tender.
Do I need them if my nipples don’t hurt?
No. Some mums wear them mainly to protect against rubbing, but they are not essential.
Can I use nipple cream as well?
Follow the cup manufacturer’s instructions and ask your midwife, health visitor or lactation consultant about nipple care.
Sources
- NHS: Sore or cracked nipples when breastfeeding
- Marrazzu A. et al. (2015). Evaluation of the effectiveness of a silver-impregnated medical cap for topical treatment of nipple fissure of breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding Medicine.
- Koala Babycare Silver Cups product description at Evitas (material, use, care)
This content is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor, midwife or lactation consultant.
