Turns out a little sugar is good for babies

LOS ANGELES - Mary Poppins was on to something: A spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down.

Actually, it takes just a few drops to half a teaspoon to help take the sting out of immunizations, according to an analysis published online yesterday in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Researchers from Canada, Australia and Brazil looked at 14 studies that compared the analgesic effects of sucrose (table sugar), glucose (the less-sweet component of sucrose) and water in infants who received shots. In 13 of the studies, a little something sweet seemed to help the babies, who were between 1 month and 12 months old.

Pooling the results, the researchers calculated that giving either sucrose or glucose reduced crying time by 12 seconds. Sweeteners also made babies cry less often.

The researchers weren't able to determine an optimal dose of sugar. None of the studies reported any adverse effects.

- Los Angeles Times