Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Papers

Randomised trial of analgesic effects of sucrose, glucose, and pacifiers in term neonates

BMJ 1999; 319 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.319.7222.1393 (Published 27 November 1999) Cite this as: BMJ 1999;319:1393

Rapid Response:

A word of caution

It is with much interest that a commonly observed phenomenon is
finally put to test and confirmed in a randomised trial. However, the
authors recommendation that the use of glucose, sucrose and pacifier be
used widely for minor procedures should be taken with caution. In
countries where exclusive breastfeeding saves millions of life a year and
where education level is low, this practise may be confusing to the
mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding their infants and where
pacifiers are banned from the wards. It also definitely contravene with
WHO Ten Steps to successful breastfeeding guidelines.

Competing interests: No competing interests

26 November 1999
S W Wong
Registrar
Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia