Comparison 2. Heel lance: sucrose (20% to 33%) versus water.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 PIPP at 30 s after heel lance	2	105	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.42 [‐2.86, 0.01]
1.1 Term infants	1	44	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.70 [‐4.96, ‐0.44]
1.2 Preterm infants	1	61	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.56 [‐2.42, 1.30]
2 PIPP at 60 s after heel lance	1	31	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.80 [‐3.81, 0.21]
2.1 Preterm infants	1	31	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.80 [‐3.81, 0.21]
3 PIPP score during heel lance (1st heel lance)	1	107	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐1.52, 1.52]
3.1 Newborns of diabetic mothers	1	107	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐1.52, 1.52]
4 DAN score at 30 s after heel lance	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.90 [‐8.58, 4.78]
4.1 Term infants	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.90 [‐8.58, 4.78]
5 NIPS during heel lance	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.0 [‐2.42, ‐1.58]
5.1 Term infants	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.0 [‐2.42, ‐1.58]
6 Duration of first cry (s)	2	142	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐8.63 [‐19.88, 2.61]
6.1 Term infants	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐5.0 [‐17.40, 7.40]
6.2 Preterm infants	1	110	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐25.41 [‐52.06, 1.24]
7 Total crying time	2	88	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐22.11 [‐32.52, ‐11.70]
7.1 Term infants	2	88	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐22.11 [‐32.52, ‐11.70]
8 Heart rate (beats/min) during heel lance	2	96	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.81 [‐8.57, 6.94]
8.1 Term infants	2	96	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.81 [‐8.57, 6.94]
9 Percentage change in heart rate 1 min after heel lance	2	86	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [‐5.81, 7.61]
9.1 Term infants	2	86	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [‐5.81, 7.61]
10 Respiratory rate (breaths/min) during heel lance	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.0 [‐7.64, 5.64]
10.1 Term infants	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.0 [‐7.64, 5.64]
11 Oxygen saturation (%) during heel lance	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐5.0 [‐12.79, 2.79]
11.1 Term infants	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐5.0 [‐12.79, 2.79]
12 Skin blood flow during heel lance (perfusion units (PU))	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐32.0 [‐68.87, 4.87]
12.1 Term infants	1	56	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐32.0 [‐68.87, 4.87]
13 Nociceptive‐specific brain activity (mean weight)	1	44	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.05, 0.09]
13.1 Term infants	1	44	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.05, 0.09]