Six databases including Medline, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and SinoMed, were searched from inception to July, 2023. A Bayesian network meta-analysis with random effects models was performed using R software and Stata 15.0. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42023451102).

A total of 28 studies involving 2624 preterm and full-term infants were included and 8 acoustic stimulation interventions were identified. Regarding pain levels during procedures, maternal voice, maternal voice plus, music therapy and maternal voice plus, music therapy plus, other pharmaceutical interventions, vocal music therapy, white noise, and white noise plus were significantly more effective than control group [standardized mean differences (SMD) ranged from − 2.6 to − 0.87]. White noise plus was the most effective intervention for reducing pain levels during procedures (90.6 %). Regarding pain levels after procedures (no specific time mentioned), maternal voice, maternal voice plus, music therapy and maternal voice plus, music therapy plus, other pharmaceutical interventions, other non-pharmaceutical interventions, routine care, vocal music therapy, and white noise plus were significantly more effective than control group (SMD ranged from − 4.7 to − 1.6). Music therapy and maternal voice plus was the most effective intervention for reducing pain levels after procedures, without specific time mentioned (95.29 %). Regarding pain levels 1 min after procedures, only music therapy plus and other pharmaceutical interventions were effective (SMD ranged from − 4.5 to − 4.9) and music therapy plus was the most effective intervention (93.41 %). No interventions had significant effects on pain levels 3, 5, and 10 min after procedures. Regarding heart rate, only white noise plus could provide a lower increase during procedures. For oxygen saturation, only vocal music therapy could provide a lower decrease after painful procedures (no specific time mentioned). No interventions had significant effects on stabilizing respiratory rate.

This review suggests that multiple acoustic stimulation interventions are effective for pain relief in both preterm and full-term infants undergoing painful procedures. More high quality studies with larger sample size are required to generate evidence regarding the short- and long-term effectiveness and safety of acoustic stimulation interventions on painful procedures.