Sugar water does not relieve pain in babies

Sugar water does not relieve pain in babies.

(07.09.2010) Many parents believe that sugar water soothes babies and relieves pain. The sugar water method is very old and has been handed down from generation to generation. In 2001, doctors recommended that parents put baby's sugar water on their mouths when in pain. But can sugar water actually relieve the pain of infants or babies? This question has been investigated by University College in London. The result: Sugar water does not relieve the pain. Only the facial expression changes due to the sweet taste, but the pain remains.

The study results were published by the scientists around Rebeccah Slater in the journal "The Lancet". In total, 59 newborns participated in the study. In the course of the study, the scientists scratched the toe of the toddlers with a very fine and narrow blade. They monitored the reactions in the brain with the help of electrodes. The babies were divided into two groups of almost equal size. The first group was given sugar water and the second group was still water without sugar. The pain activity did not change significantly. The sugar water probably only calms the babies or distracts them from the pain. (Sb)