This is with reference to the recent article comparing analgesic effect of direct breastfeeding with dextrose and placebo [1]. Clinical studies have shown that calming effect of breast milk is due to components other than its sugar [2]. Oral sugar may change the facial expressions of some babies giving the impression that pain is being relieved. One randomized controlled trial measured the effect of oral sucrose on procedural pain in infants, with direct measures of brain and spinal cord activity as an outcome measure for pain. The results show that sucrose has no effect on the neural activity in sensory pain circuits in the brain or the spinal cord [3].

The needle prick causes pain, discomfort and produces a sense of insecurity. Cuddling, patting and holding baby very close to the body by caretaker or mother imparts sense of security and, calms and pacifies baby. Breastfeeding can help reduce pain and calm a child because it gives the infant comforting skin-to-skin contact and imparts a sense of security. Sucrose is given because it seems to work but it probably just produces emotional blunting; the process related to pain continues with its detrimental effects.

1. Goswami G, Upadhyay A, Gupta NK, Chaudhry R, Chawla D, Sreenivas V. Comparison of analgesic effect of direct breastfeeding, oral 25% dextrose solution and placebo during 1st DPT vaccination in healthy term infants: A randomized, placebo controlled trial. Indian Pediatr. 2013; 50:649-53.

2. Blass EM, Smith BA. Differential effects of sucrose, fructose, glucose, and lactose on crying in 1- to 3-day-old human infants: qualitative and quantitative considerations. Developmental Psychol. 1992; 28: 804-10.