The following table gives acetaminophen dosing guidelines by weight. It can be used for the different products available, including Tylenol, generics and store brands. Acetaminophen can be administered every four hours.
Acetaminophen is a very effective medicine for fever and pain. It has NO effect on other symptoms related to a cold.
Never give acetaminophen to INFANTS UNDER FOUR MONTHS OF AGE without talking to our office first.
If your child has a stiff neck, is unusually lethargic or unresponsive, or might be dehydrated please call our office immediately.
Infant drops and the children's syrup have very different concentrations. Use only the dropper provided with the infant drops and the teaspoon to measure the dose of the children's syrup.
Many over-the-counter cold and cough preparations also contain acetaminophen. Use of these products along with an acetaminophen preparation may result in a dangerous overdose. We recommend single-ingredient medications whenever possible.
Acetaminophen is also available as a rectal suppository for use in children who refuse to take medicine by mouth or who are vomiting. The brand name is Feverall, and it is available in most pharmacies. This medication can be very helpful when used appropriately, but dosing guidelines vary. Use rectal acetaminophen only on the recommendation of our office.
If your child is sick and you would like them seen in the office, you can book a same day sick (week days) or urgent care visit (weekends/holidays) using MyChart.
| Weight | Dose | Infant Oral Suspension** 160mg/5ml | Children's Syrup 160mg/5ml | 80mg Chewables | 160mg Chewables |
| 6-12 lbs | 40 mg | 1.25 ml | |||
| 12-17 lbs | 80 mg | 2.5 ml | 2.5 ml | ||
| 18-23 lbs | 120 mg | 3.75 ml | 3.75 ml | ||
| 24-35 lbs | 160 mg | 5 ml | 5 ml | 2 | 1 |
| 36-47 lbs | 240 mg | 7.5 ml | 3 | 1 ½ | |
| 48-59 lbs | 320 mg | 10 ml | 4 | 2 | |
| 60-71 lbs | 400 mg | 12.5 ml | 5 | 2 ½ | |
| 72-95 lbs | 480 mg | 15 ml | 6 | 3 | |
| 95+ lbs | 640 mg | 20 ml | 8 | 4 |
The following table gives ibuprofen dosing guidelines by weight. It can be used for the different products available, including Motrin, Advil, generics or store brands. Ibuprofen can be administered every six hours.
Ibuprofen is a very effective medicine for fever and pain. In addition, it is also a very effective anti-inflammatory medication. Ibuprofen has NO effect on other symptoms related to a cold.
Do not give ibuprofen to infants under six months of age.
If your child has a stiff neck, is unusually lethargic or unresponsive, or might be dehydrated please call our office immediately.
The most common side effects of ibuprofen are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Giving the medicine with a full stomach is the best way to help prevent these side effects. If your child already has these symptoms, it might be better to use acetaminophen instead.
Note that ibuprofen is available in a variety of dosage forms and concentrations. Please be sure to use the dose appropriate for the type of medication you are using. In addition, use only the dropper provided with the oral drops to measure the dosage of ibuprofen. This dropper is a very different size than the dropper provided with acetaminophen drops and other droppers available. Improper use could result in over- or under-dosing.
If your child is sick and you would like them seen in the office, you can book a same day sick (weekdays) or an urgent care visit (weekends/holidays) using MyChart.
| Weight | Dose | Oral Drops (50 mg/1.25 ml) | Suspension (100 mg/5 ml) | Chewables 50 mg | Chewables 100 mg | Caplets 100 mg |
| 12-17 lbs | 50 mg | 1.25 ml | 2.5 ml | |||
| 18-21 lbs | 75 mg | 1.875 ml | 4 ml | |||
| 22-32 lbs | 100 mg | 2.5 ml | 5 ml | |||
| 33-43 lbs | 150 mg | 3.75 ml | 7.5 ml | 3 | 1 ½ | |
| 44-54 lbs | 200 mg | 5 ml | 10 ml | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 55-65 lbs | 250 mg | 12.5 ml | 5 | 2 ½ | 2 ½ | |
| 66-76 lbs | 300 mg | 15 ml | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| 77-87 lbs | 350 mg | 17.5 ml | 7 | 3 ½ | 3 ½ | |
| 88-98 lbs | 400 mg | 20 ml | 8 | 4 | 4 |