Newborns, especially preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), undergo numerous painful procedures.
Because of their immature pain regulation, they can experience these procedures intensely.
Preventing and treating procedural pain in hospitalised newborns is important, as repeated untreated pain has been associated with poorer physical growth and potential effects on brain development.
Accessible, low-cost solutions such as sucrose – a sweet sugar solution placed in a baby’s mouth shortly before needle procedures – have been used for decades and is recommended in multiple guidelines for procedural pain relief in infants.
However, its use in clinical settings remains inconsistent and proof of its effectiveness in some procedures, such as venepuncture (where blood is drawn with a needle), has been limited.
A study, published March 4 (2026) in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, examined 29 clinical trials involving more than 2,700 preterm and full-term babies undergoing venepuncture in hospitals.
It found that sucrose probably reduces pain during and immediately after the needle procedure when compared to no treatment, water or standard care.
The findings also suggest that sucrose works especially well when combined with non-nutritive sucking, such as a pacifier or dummy.
No immediate short-term side effects were reported; however, more research is needed to understand any potential long-term effects of repeated use in babies who spend an extended time in the NICU.
Study co-author and Canada’s University of Ottawa PhD candidate Ligyana Korki de Candido said: “Parents may be surprised to learn that something as simple as a few drops of sugar solution can make a real difference to their baby’s comfort during blood tests.
“This is a low-cost, safe intervention that works within minutes, and it can be especially helpful when other comforting methods like skin-to-skin contact or breastfeeding aren’t possible.”
Although sucrose is already widely used in neonatal units, the researchers found considerable variation in how it is given, including differences in dose and timing.
They suggest that the findings can help inform clearer clinical protocols and more consistent practice.
They also highlight that sucrose should be used purposefully for painful procedures and documented appropriately, rather than being given routinely to settle a crying baby.
“To ensure safety and clinical consistency, sucrose must be administered under formal medication protocols that define specific timing and dosage for painful procedures,” said study co-author Associate Professor Dr Hu Jiale from Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States.
