I cannot count the number of times that breastfeeding has helped me soothe an injured child. We have weathered our fair share of injuries, ranging from a scraped knee, to a pebble stuck in a child’s forehead, to a knocked-out tooth! Each time nursing has allowed me to calm the child enough to assess the injury.
It’s a known phenomenon that breastfeeding provides pain relief. Nursing also provides a welcome distraction from the injury, and comforts the child through the rhythmic sucking and through close contact with the mother.
I had the unfortunate opportunity to be reminded of all this the other …read more

Today’s tip on the advantages of breastfeeding came from a reader who noticed this piece in the Wall Street Journal on pain management for children receiving shots. Options for pain relief include sugar water, the topical numbing cream EMLA, anesthetic sprays, a relaxed attitude in the parent, and holding of the infant. The journalist also suggests:
One simple–and free–option is to breastfeed an infant while the shot is administered, a technique advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
On a friend’s advice, Jennifer Astman of Santa Monica, Calif., decided to nurse her 2-month-old son while he was given three vaccinations earlier this year. …read more