A sexologist explains what perfect nipples look like

Any nipple can be ideal if it is neat, hairless and well-groomed. What ideal nipples should look like and what human preferences depend on, sexologist Kerim Kostoev told iReactor.

A woman's breasts are the most important part of her figure. There are many classifications of bust shapes, but for many women they are relatively similar. But with nipples the situation is completely different.

There are small and large, convex and flat, pale and dark. Sometimes the areolas become large and even look like maps of countries. Each form of these forms has its fans.

The formation of nipples is influenced primarily by genetics. The dimensions of the nipple areola range on average from 3 to 5 cm, but there are also completely different indicators. This situation often occurs when the nipples are different in size. This is not surprising, because 90% of women have different breasts.

Photo source: pixabay.com

Pacifier size and baby's age

The size of the pacifier should correspond to the age of the baby. Of course, the size of the mother's nipple does not change as the child grows, but it is better to increase the size of the pacifier over time. Every more or less large manufacturer of children's products must indicate on the packaging what age the pacifier is intended for. It is important to pay attention to such markings, since a pacifier that is too large can be uncomfortable to suck on, and one that is too small requires the baby to exert more effort. And it may turn out to be ineffective - on the contrary, it may irritate the baby.

What types of nipples are there depending on the size and age of the baby:

1. Size A or marking 0+ is a pacifier for children from birth to 3 or 6 months.
2. Size B – pacifier for children aged 6 months and older.
3. Size C – pacifier for babies aged 1.5 years and older.

Also, if we are talking about sizes, it is important to take into account the diameter of the opening that the nipple used to feed the baby has. The older the baby, the larger this hole (or the number of small holes) should be, since the child sucks more actively, a weak stream of food entering the mouth can irritate and tire him, forcing him to spend more effort on obtaining food. The indicator of food flow and its pressure is usually indicated by numbers from 0 to 5:

• 0 is the nipple with the smallest hole. It is suitable for newborns up to 6 months of age, including weakened and premature babies. This product can be used during mixed feeding, since the baby needs to make the same amount of effort when sucking the nipple to get food from the bottle as when sucking milk from the mother’s breast. Accordingly, the risk of complete breast abandonment is reduced.
• 1 – slow flow. This product is recommended for babies aged 6-12 months.
• 3 – fast flow. The pacifier is suitable for babies over one year old, but only for liquid products, not for porridge.
• 4 – the wide opening of the nipple allows you to feed the baby porridge and other thick foods until he gets used to the spoon.
• 5 – the width or number of holes can be adjusted by changing the flow of food from medium to slow and vice versa.

What determines breast shape?

Starting from adolescence, breasts go through a lot of changes and only after puberty they acquire their final size and shape.

However, even after this period, these parameters may change for a number of reasons:

• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• taking hormonal medications;
• chronic and other breast diseases;
• playing sports;
• performing mammoplasty;
• menopause

But still, the main factors determining the shape of the breast and its size remain hereditary indicators that contribute to the development of the mammary glands in adolescence. Sex hormones also play a very important role. If there is an interruption in their functioning, the growth of the mammary glands may stop or, on the contrary, increase significantly. The subcutaneous layer of fat and the condition of the ligaments, the strength of connective tissues and muscle fitness also determine the shape of the mammary glands.

Material of manufacture

Recently, three main materials have been used to make pacifiers and nipples. Very cheap products are made from special rubber. But the quality of this material is very low. It quickly deforms and crumbles, and does not tolerate frequent washing and sterilization. A child who already has teeth may bite off a piece of the pacifier and even choke on it. In addition, such nipples have a completely irregular shape that does not coincide with the shape of a woman’s nipple, which can cause a malocclusion. Therefore, such rubber nipples (sometimes called “daisies” or “berries”) are best used only in extreme cases, as a temporary and cheap replacement for the main product if it is lost or damaged.

There are also two more materials for making pacifiers and pacifiers, each of them is good in its own way:

1. Silicone

   – transparent material, colorless and odorless, hypoallergenic, resistant to thermal and mechanical stress, amenable to sterilization, practically “indestructible”. One feature of silicone is that it is slightly harsh and may not be liked by the baby. During the period of teeth emerging, silicone nipples, even orthopedic ones, can negatively affect the formation of the bite.

2. Latex

   – yellow natural material, flexible, soft, elastic, has a characteristic taste and subtle odor, silky to the touch, as if covered with a greasy film. This is an ideal option for weakened babies, newborns, including premature babies, as it does not require much effort during the sucking process. The peculiarity of latex is that the material does not tolerate thermal effects well and darkens with prolonged use. Latex pacifiers and nipples will need to be changed more often than silicone ones.

The best manufacturers of pacifiers for babies

Unlike bottles, nipples need to be changed frequently (every 1-3 months). But this does not mean that you can skimp on their quality. Pacifiers purchased from an unscrupulous manufacturer may:

1. Leak and do not stick well to the bottle;
2. Quickly become cloudy and wear out;
3. Smell bad;
4. Lose shape quickly;
5. Have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membrane of the baby.

If low quality materials were used in the production of the pacifier, the product may be hazardous to the baby's health. Therefore, before appearing on sale, nipples must be tested for toxic-hygienic, organoleptic and sanitary-chemical indicators and receive certificates confirming their safety.

The best manufacturers of pacifiers for babies are:

1. Philips Avent;
2. Pigeon;
3. Medela;
4. Dr. Browns;
5. Bebe Confort;
6. Tommee Tippee;
7. NUK.

Product shape

The shape of any nipple or pacifier can be round (like a “daisy” or “berry”), symmetrical or anatomically correct, that is, orthodontic. Let's consider the features of these forms:

1. Round shape of the tip - the pacifier or pacifier can be placed in the child's mouth on either side. This form is practically no longer used, but some manufacturers (for example, Kievgum) continue to produce similar inexpensive products. The main disadvantage of such products is that they gradually disrupt the natural anatomy of the facial bones. The jaws may begin to shift relative to each other, teeth grow incorrectly, and facial features become distorted. As a result, having saved on a pacifier, especially if the child sucks it regularly, in 6-7 years you will be forced to spend more than tens of thousands of rubles on the child’s treatment at the orthodontist.
2. The shape of the tip is symmetrical, like an elongated oval. Such a pacifier is also placed in the baby’s mouth on either side and can negatively affect the bite. By using such a pacifier or pacifier (like a “daisy”), the mother runs the risk that the child will refuse the breast.
3. Orthodontic, anatomically correct pacifier tip shape. It completely duplicates the female nipple when it is compressed by the child’s jaws while in the baby’s mouth. Such a product can be placed in the child’s mouth with only one side, but it has many advantages compared to analogues of other forms. Firstly, the risk of breast refusal is reduced; it is difficult for a child to distinguish a nipple from a pacifier. Secondly, the risk of malocclusion is reduced if the size of the pacifier is selected in accordance with the age of the baby. Well, the child’s comfort from sucking such a product is higher, since this form suits the child best.

Obviously, it is better to give preference to a nipple or pacifier with an anatomically shaped tip. Such products, as a rule, are of very high quality; they do not have to be changed too often, spending a lot of money.

Types of nipples

The female breast is a unique organ created by nature to produce milk and feed it to babies. The nipple is precisely responsible for where the accumulated milk will come out. The nipple is surrounded by an areola, which ranges in color from light pink to dark brown. Nipple shapes are: small, medium, large.

There are five types of female nipples based on the degree of protuberance:

1. Normal nipple. The nipple protrudes significantly from the areola even without stimulation. If you use the latter, then it increases and becomes hard.
2. Prominent nipple. The appearance of the nipple appears slightly swollen due to the fact that the areola around it is slightly raised. When stimulation is applied, the size of the nipple increases.
3. Inverted nipple. Almost all the time the nipple is inside the areola, but when aroused it can become noticeable.
4. Flat nipple. It practically does not protrude from the areola and sometimes may not respond to stimulation.
5. One-sided nipple. Another name is different nipples, when one nipple is convex and the other is not.

Design Features

There are several pacifier designs, the features of which are important to consider when choosing:

1. A design consisting of several parts - a plastic base, a silicone, rubber or latex tip and a retainer that connects both parts together. The disadvantage of this design is obvious - the pacifier can fall apart, and bacteria can accumulate and multiply in the gaps between the parts. This product is more difficult to clean and sterilize.
2. One-piece design. That is, the nipple is completely molded from silicone or latex - the base, the tip, and the handle. This is the best option in terms of hygiene, since there are no gaps where pathogenic microorganisms can multiply.
3. If we are talking about the design features of the pacifier, it would not hurt to pay attention to the presence or absence of a handle or “ear.” This element helps to remove the pacifier from the baby’s mouth without touching the lips with your hands. It also serves so that the product can be attached to a plastic chain and fixed on the baby’s clothes, as a result of which it will not fall to the floor, become dirty or lost.
4. Another interesting design detail of many pacifier models is the recess for the nose. It can be one-sided or two-sided; in the latter case, the child will be comfortable sucking the pacifier in any position. It is also desirable that the base of the pacifier, adjacent to the skin of the face, have holes. They prevent the material from sticking too tightly to the skin, the accumulation of saliva and the formation of skin irritation.
5. Lastly, nipples with plastic bases often have a glow-in-the-dark surface. Since small babies often spit out pacifiers at night, and then cannot find them and cry, this option is considered very useful among parents. During the day, the material absorbs light, and at night, in pitch darkness, it emits it. So you don't have to look for a long time for a pacifier to quickly soothe your awakened baby.

Care and preservation of breast shape

Whatever the shape and parameters of the bust, timely care and properly selected underwear can keep it in great shape.

Proper care is as follows:

1. Cleansing the breast skin with water and soft gel products, gentle peeling;
2. Wearing the right and comfortable bra;
3. Performing exercises to strengthen the chest muscle tissue;
4. The use of creams that improve skin condition;
5. Carrying out massage;
6. Protecting breast skin from ultraviolet rays with special means;
7. Posture and weight control.

Follow these simple rules to maintain and maintain beautiful and firm shape.

Special appointment

Nipples used in conjunction with feeding bottles have one, very specific purpose - feeding the baby. But pacifiers can perform additional functions:

1. Thermometer

   . There are products with built-in body temperature sensors. Young parents know how difficult it is to measure the temperature of a newborn or even a two-year-old. A heat-sensitive sensor built into the pacifier will allow you to receive the necessary information at any time, without causing the baby any discomfort or frightening him with an unknown procedure.

2. Inhaler

   . This pacifier is an excellent option for painless and comfortable treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases in newborns and children under 2-3 years of age. The baby simultaneously receives the necessary calm, satisfies the sucking reflex and receives the necessary therapy by inhaling therapeutic fumes.

3. Dispenser

   for medicines. If you have encountered such a problem as the inability to get your baby to drink liquid medicine, a dispenser pacifier will help you. On one side, it has a container for syrup and a piston that pushes the medicine, and on the other, a pacifier with a hole through which syrup or liquid enters the baby’s mouth.

Other varieties

In different eras of time, there was a standard of female breasts. At some times, a large and magnificent bust was revered, at others, small breasts were especially valued. But one thing remains unchanged - breasts are always the center of male attention and are the adornment of any woman.

Therefore, not only the main types of breasts have been identified, but even original names have been invented:

1. "Dulki." Exquisite charms of a narrow shape that become wider in the dark nipple area.
2. "Buds." Breasts are no more than size 2 with a slightly elongated narrow shape and pointed nipples.
3. "Snowy Hills" Neat, small breasts with light, slightly pointed nipples.
4. "Water surface" Quite a weighty and soft bust (size 4, 5 or more) with thin skin and veins visible through it.
5. "Alma mater". The bust is of significant size with low projection and very firm nipples.
6. "Circe". Perfectly firm breasts, size slightly larger than average, but no more than a size 3, with a brown halo and nipples pointing forward.
7. "Ripe pears." The mammary glands are large, slightly soft and saggy, with a large nipple and a brown halo.
8. "Globes". Significant size (4.5 and more) and rounded bust, with a clear prominent nipple, which is whiter at the edge and darker towards the bottom. Slightly flattened, soft breasts size 3-4 with large and light colored nipples.
9. "Renaissance". Soft large bust with full top and slightly translucent skin.
10. "Peach". The name speaks for itself. A lovely variety of female breasts - elastic, large, with delicate light-colored nipples.
11. "Lady fingers". It is large in size and its shape is similar to the famous grape.
12. "The eyes of a Turkish woman." Elongated and narrow breasts, with medium-sized nipples looking in different directions.
13. "African savannah". It has a medium size and a clear halo around the nipple, as well as dark skin.
14. "Sappho." Soft and even slightly flabby breasts, elongated towards the bottom and no more than size 2.
15. "Chloe." Miniature and regular-shaped breasts with a small and light nipple.

There are many more names for this lovely part of the female body. Comparing the bust in shape and size with vegetables and fruits, the following names were born: oranges, cranberries, lemons, melons, watermelons, grapefruits, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, turnips. The most unusual and funny names: handbags, bee stings, hooks, oars, spaniel ears, pointers, saucers, bottles, teapots.

Availability of additional accessories

When choosing a pacifier or pacifier, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the accessories that come with it. They can be very useful and save you money. What accessories can be included in a baby's pacifier package:

1. Storage container. Protects the pacifier from contamination or damage. If the container is equipped with a handle, you can attach it to the crib and stroller, insuring the pacifier from accidental loss at home or on a walk.
2. Protective cap. A very useful accessory that comes with almost all modern pacifiers. Protects the silicone or latex tip from dust, dirt and accidental touches, contact with different surfaces.
3. Chain holder for pacifier. This useful accessory, which is attached to the baby's clothing in a safe way (using a plastic clip), will prevent the pacifier from getting lost, falling or getting dirty.

Formula for ideal female breasts

Scientists from Italy have discovered the formula for the ideal female bust. To do this, you need to imagine triangle ABC, as shown in the picture. Segment AC - we will consider the base of the triangle, the corners - on the nipples and in the cavity of the collarbone.

The length AC must be divided by 2, then the resulting number is divided by the length of the segment AB and we find out the number of breast parameters. The correct and most beautiful breast shape corresponds to a number from 0.4 to 0.6.

Ideal breast parameter distance:

• between the nipples there should be from 20 cm to 21 cm;
• from the navel to the nipple - from 24 cm to 25 cm;
• the diameter of the base of the chest is from 12 to 13 cm.

Bad symptoms

Any discharge from the nipples or discomfort in this area in men should be a reason to consult a doctor. The cause may be gynecomastia (due to which a man can acquire a bust no worse than a woman’s). It occurs more often in teenagers or people over fifty due to a malfunction of the hormonal system. Women should pay attention to any changes in the nipples: shape, color, appearance of hair. And promptly contact an endocrinologist or mammologist to solve the problem.