The claim

「Squeeze a newborn’s nipples to prevent inversion」

Q: Squeeze a newborn’s nipples to prevent inversion

Myth — There is no need to squeeze, and squeezing achieves nothing. Newborn breast swelling — even a little milk — is a passing effect of maternal oestrogen and resolves on its own; an inverted nipple in a newborn likewise needs no treatment and corrects itself with growth. Breast and neonatal specialists agree: a gentle touch does no harm, but squeezing hard breaks the skin, lets bacteria in and causes infection, and can damage the soft tissue and the structures inside the nipple. Inverted nipples are worth attention at puberty, not at birth.

Verdict

Myth

There is no need to squeeze, and squeezing achieves nothing. Newborn breast swelling — even a little milk — is a passing effect of maternal oestrogen and resolves on its own; an inverted nipple in a newborn likewise needs no treatment and corrects itself with growth. Breast and neonatal specialists agree: a gentle touch does no harm, but squeezing hard breaks the skin, lets bacteria in and causes infection, and can damage the soft tissue and the structures inside the nipple. Inverted nipples are worth attention at puberty, not at birth.

Sources

人民网健康 · People.cn Health (published by People's Daily)
人民网健康·生活（人民日报社主办）. (2016/08/19). 新生儿乳头内陷不打紧青春期时可以用物理治疗. http://health.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0819/c14739-28648791.html
Direct source · Established news media · checked 2026-08-02

「Squeeze a newborn’s nipples to prevent inversion」

Verdict

Sources

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Further reading