If you can plan ahead, get an emla patch from your chemist, turn up 45 minutes before he is due for the test, and ask them where to put it.

When the test is being done, you might find it easiest to sit him in your lap, facing outwards. Put one arm, around his body like you are giving him a cuddle (which will keep his arms down, or whichever arm they aren't using, anyway) and the other around his upper body or forehead, depending on how much he will struggle. Sing to him, talk to him quietly. Try hard not to cry, and I sympathise - I do this for a living and I had tears in my eyes when we had to get Molly tested. One nurse will probably hold the arm out straight while the other one takes the blood.

Oh, and the heel ***** thing - the reason they don't do it after the baby is a few months old is that the results don't come out right for some of the tests.