Effect of sucrose on crying in response to heel stab.

Abstract

It has been suggested that sucrose acts as an analgesic in the neonatal period. To evaluate this further, 52 infants received either 2 ml of 7.5% sucrose or 2 ml of sterile water before heel stab blood sampling. The duration of crying in response to sampling did not differ in the two groups but was related to level of arousal at the time of stimulation.