Fever and aches have a way of showing up at the worst possible times: bedtime, weekends, the night before picture day. If you’re staring at a medicine bottle thinking, “How much do I give… and am I doing this right?” you’re in good company.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) are two of the most commonly used medicines to help kids feel better when they have pain (like sore throats, earaches, or headaches) and to bring down a fever. They don’t treat the underlying virus or infection, but they can make your child more comfortable while their body does its job.
The key is dosing correctly. Kids’ medicine isn’t “one size fits all,” and it’s easy to make mistakes. Don’t give a little extra “just to be safe” or switch back and forth between medicines every few hours.
Below, you’ll find
If you need to give your child one of these medicines, the clinicians at Zarminali Pediatrics recommend following these steps:
|
Weight |
Infant or Children’s Liquid Medicine (160 mg/5 mL) |
Chewable Tablet (80 mg) |
Junior Strength Chewable Tablets or Capsules (160 mg) |
|
5-10 lbs |
1.25 mL |
|
|
|
11-17 lbs |
2.5 mL |
|
|
|
18-23 lbs |
3.75 mL |
|
|
|
24-29 lbs |
5 mL |
2 tablets |
1 tablet or capsule |
|
30-35 lbs |
6.25 mL |
2.5 tablets |
1 tablet or capsule |
|
36-40 lbs |
7.5 mL |
3 tablets |
1.5 tablets or capsules |
|
41-46 lbs |
8.75 mL |
3.5 tablets |
1.5 tablets or capsules |
|
47-52 lbs |
10 mL |
4 tablets |
2 tablets or capsules |
|
53-58 lbs |
11.25 mL |
4 tablets |
2 tablets or capsules |
|
59-64 lbs |
12.5 mL |
|
2.5 tablets or capsules |
|
65-69 lbs |
13.75 mL |
|
2.5 tablets or capsules |
|
70-76 lbs |
15 mL |
|
3 tablets or capsules |
|
77-81 lbs |
16.25 mL |
|
3 tablets or capsules |
|
82-87 lbs |
17.5 mL |
|
3.5 tablets or capsules |
|
88-93 lbs |
18.75 mL |
|
3.5 tablets or capsules |
|
Over 94 lbs |
20 mL |
|
4 tablets or capsules |
|
Weight |
Infants’ Drops (50 mg/1.25 mL) |
Children’s Liquid Medicine (160 mg/5 mL) |
Children’s Chewable Tablet (50 mg) |
Junior Strength Chewable Tablets or Capsules (100 mg) |
|
11-21 lbs |
1.25 mL |
2.5 mL |
1 tablet |
|
|
22-27 lbs |
2.5 mL |
5 mL |
1 tablet |
1 tablet or capsule |
|
28-32 lbs |
|
6.25 mL |
2 tablets |
1 tablet or capsule |
|
33-38 lbs |
|
7.5 mL |
3 tablets |
1.5 tablets or capsules |
|
39-43 lbs |
|
8.75 mL |
3 tablets |
1.5 tablets or capsules |
|
44-54 lbs |
|
10 mL |
4 tablets |
2 tablets or capsules |
|
55-65 lbs |
|
12.5 mL |
|
2.5 tablets or capsules |
|
66-76 lbs |
|
15 mL |
|
3 tablets or capsules |
|
77-87 lbs |
|
17.5 mL |
|
3.5 tablets or capsules |
|
Over 88 lbs |
|
20 mL |
|
4 tablets or capsules |
For most children, the American Academy of Pediatrics does NOT recommend alternating between acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin) every few hours. For example: Don’t give a child acetaminophen at 8 a.m., ibuprofen at 11 a.m., and switch back to acetaminophen at 2 p.m. Doing this can increase the risk of overdose or giving the wrong dose.
Likewise, don’t give your child acetaminophen and ibuprofen together at the same time.
Instead, use just one medication at a time, and follow the dosing schedule (every 4–6 hours for acetaminophen; every 6–8 hours for ibuprofen) if they need more.
“Your pediatrician’s guidance may be different if your child has chronic conditions or a history of frequent/high fevers or febrile seizures. They may suggest alternating or taking both at the same time to control fevers and reduce the risk of seizure. Talk to your pediatrician first before taking these steps,” notes Dr. Matthew Hornik, who sees families at Zarminali Pediatrics & Urgent Care - West Bloomfield.
If you have questions about giving your child medications or finding the right dose, contact your pediatrician.
Think you have given your child more medication than you should to your child? Get immediate guidance by calling poison control at 1-800-222-1222. Based on your situation, they may recommend you go to the ER, visit your pediatrician, or monitor your child at home.