Sucrose solution, 24%, has been most studied in the literature worldwide. Some institutions have decided that the potential benefits do not outweigh the costs of prepackaged sucrose solutions. Sucrose lollipops, or D5W (dextrose 5% in water), may be satisfactory substitutes. Another cost effective option is to make up 5cc increments of 24% sucrose solution in oral unit dose syringes, as is done for pediatric oral meds.

Sucrose solution is a non-pharmacologic pain intervention, not generally handled by hospital pharmacies. It is available from the manufacturers by the case lot, like other nursery supplies.

The use of sucrose solution for many causes of newborn discomfort have not been studied. Severe head molding from forceps or vacuum may cause the newborn "baby headache". Most babies cry during a bath but are easily soothed while their hair is washed with warm water. Babies with bruised noggins will cry louder when you wash their heads, or slip a shirt over their heads.

Babies feel hunger until mother's milk comes in, though healthy newborns are perfectly stable with colostrum only, they will continue to complain until the milk is present in sufficient volume to fill their tummies. Large babies complain loudly. This type of ravenous cry can be interrupted by less than half a cc of sucrose, or water supplementation.

When compared to neonatal morphine, sucrose is quite benign, and is often used as a comfort measure for babies weening from narcotic dependence.

Newborns have a unique endorphin response to sweet. Since breastmilk is sweet, this probably has a strong survival value. Interestingly, the proportion of lactose (milk sugar) is highest in the newborn period, before 21 days.

In Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing , Debbie Gearner Thompson wrote:

Research demonstrates that sucrose can safely and effectively provide analgesia for young infants receiving heel lancings and other painful procedures. It is thought that the analgesic effect of sucrose works on opioid receptors because in animal studies, this effect can be blocked by naloxone (Blass, Fitzgerald, & Kehoe, 1987). The age dependency of oral sucrose analgesia may be the result of developmental changes in the interaction between gustatory and pain pathways (Anseloni et al., 2002). The unique response of the neonate to an oral sucrose solution allows for a very safe and effective measure in minimizing procedural pain.

Many nurseries do not use sugar for pain management. Often attitudes exist about this being a step backwards, not forwards.

Using sweets to soothe fussy babies is an old fashioned idea.

Karo, (corn syrup), mixed and boiled with water is a remedy used for painful colic since the 1940's. Traditional Indian naming ceremonies have included a taste of something sweet for thousands of years.

Whisky for gum pain, cola or coffee for colic, and other old fashioned practices have gone by the wayside. Americans no longer try to introduce food like meat and potatoes in early infancy that babies can not digest.

Sugar is is a basic building block of energy for all organisms, and is safe for babies.