Bubble Wrap PLUS – October 2025

Can’t get enough of Bubble Wrap? The Bubble Wrap Plus is a monthly paediatric Journal Club reading list from Professor Jaan Toelen (University Hospitals Leuven) and Dr Anke Raaijmakers (Sydney Children’s Hospital). 

This comprehensive list is developed from 34 journals, including major and subspecialty paediatric journals. We suggest that this list can help you discover relevant or interesting articles for your local journal club or keep you up to date on the latest paediatric research.

Most headaches are like uninvited guests who pop in, make some noise, and leave without much fuss. However, when headaches become persistent, they can significantly impact one’s quality of life. A recent study in the Journal of Child Neurology reviewed the management of these headaches in children. Only in a quarter of the children (47 out of 182) did the headaches disappear. The standout hero? Coenzyme Q10 – the only treatment to statistically prove its worth. Other contenders (e.g. magnesium, topiramate, and botulinum toxin injections) showed promise but did not reach significance. Interestingly, children who stayed active with regular exercise were also more likely to find relief (yet another reason to keep moving!).

In this issue of the Journal of Paediatrics, a study was conducted to investigate whether virtual reality (VR) distraction can reduce cannulation distress. This study tested whether the use of VR goggles during IV insertions in the emergency department would make the experience less scary or painful compared to standard care. The results showed that VR did not significantly impact distress, pain, or fear levels, and in about a quarter of the cases, the VR did not function properly. Technique is not always beneficial, and perhaps blowing bubbles (Don’t Forget The Bubbles!) might be a less costly and more effective approach.

Newborns often experience hypoglycemia right after birth, and some babies (preterm, SGA, gestational diabetes…) are more at risk. A study in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health compared breastfed and formula-fed babies to see how feeding type affects blood sugar. They concluded that babies who drank formula had slightly higher blood sugar levels on the first day of life, but both breastfed and formula-fed babies had about the same chance of hypoglycemia. In other words, formula improves glycemia, but breastfeeding is just as safe when it comes to preventing dangerous hypos. Breastfeeding can still be confidently encouraged for at-risk newborns, which is reassuring!

In a multi-hospital study (published in Pediatrics) researchers found that about 1 in 12 families reported feeling ignored – a condition they called “listening neglect”. Families most often felt unheard due to staff disrespect, dismissive attitudes, lack of translation services, broken promises, rigid policies, or needing to shout louder just to be noticed. Interestingly, patients and college-educated parents were more likely to speak up about these experiences. Bottom line: hospitals could use a little less talking at patients and a lot more listening to patients- after all, no one wants a prescription for “selective hearing syndrome.”

You will find the list is broken down into four sections:

If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments!