Cochrane Database Syst Rev

Sweet relief: Sucrose reduces pain during newborn venipuncture, Cochrane review finds

March 10, 2026

A Cochrane review of 29 randomized trials (N = 2,764) reports that orally administered sucrose, with or without non‑nutritive sucking (NNS), probably reduces pain scores during and immediately after venipuncture compared with no intervention or standard care. Sucrose combined with NNS was consistently associated with lower pain scores vs. NNS alone. Evidence comparing sucrose with skin‑to‑skin care was uncertain, and findings vs. breastfeeding were mixed, with sucrose showing a possible advantage only during the procedure. No adverse events were reported across studies.

Clinical takeaway: Consider sucrose—ideally paired with NNS—as a low‑risk analgesic option to help reduce procedural pain during neonatal venipuncture.

Source:

Bueno M, et al. (2026, March 4). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Supported by the Cochrane Neonatal Group. Sucrose analgesia for venepuncture in neonates. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41775338/