Scientific studies show that even very premature newborns may experience sensation of distress which could unfavourably influence many clinical and behavioural parameters of their present and future [
1]. Pain control in newborns is so primary importance, also stressed by the American Academy of Paediatrics [
2]. The purpose of our study was comparing the analgesic effects of sucking own mother milk, versus alternative chances like caressing and/or pacifier, during routine invasive procedures in full-term newborns. The most painful routine invasive procedures in full-term newborns include venous blood sample and capillary heel stick blood sampling [
3]. The analgesic effect of oral glucose 24% solution [
4], pacifiers [
5] and skin-to-skin contact [
6] have already been demonstrated. The use of sucrose and/or pacifier for analgesia may interfere with a correct beginning of breastfeeding [
7], so it may be an interesting alternative to test the analgesic effect of breastfeeding during painful procedures. In a recent review by Shah PS et al [
8] breastfeeding is associated with changes in heart rate, duration of cry, percentage of crying time and a decrease of measured pain. Breastfeeding instead, does not seem to be favourable, if compared with higher glucose concentrations, with regards for crying duration, PIPP score and DAN score [
9‐
11]. This suggests that neonates undergoing painful procedures may be breastfed or given expressed breast milk to obtain analgesic effect. This special power of breast-sucking may be linked to relational factors (skin-to-skin contact, nearness to mother, entertainment) [
12,
13] and to specific components of human milk like sugar [
14] and triptophane [
15] a melatonine precursor that enhances in neonates the production of beta endorphins [
16], or the endogenous opioids like galattorphins [
17]. This practice may be useful for driving on breastfeeding by frequent sucking and using mother's breast for comfort.