How much acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can I give my child?
Suzanne Berman, M.D.

Remember the following guidelines:

  1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can be given every six hours as needed for fever.
  2. If your child has a fever but is sleeping, don't wake him or her up to give medicine for fever! Let your child rest!
  3. Remember, fever is not harmful for children. We only treat with fever-reducing medications to make them more comfortable. Avoid the "tyranny of the thermometer" and go more by how your child is acting, rather than the height of the fever.
  4. Fever-reducing products, especially those containing acetaminophen, come in different strengths. (The chart below shows at least 3 or 4.) Be sure to check the label of the product you have, and be sure that you're giving the right amount for the strength of medicine you're giving.
  5. Many over-the-counter cough and cold preparations (Dimetapp, Robitussin, Triaminic, etc.) contain acetaminophen as well. Check the label. If you give your child one of these products, do not give extra Tylenol.
  6. Call us before giving any fever medication to children under age 3 months. Ibuprofen should never be used in children under age 6 months.

For acetaminophen products:

If your child weighs Give this much Infant drops
(80 mg/0.8 ml) 		Children's syrups
(160 mg/5 ml) 		Chewable tablets
(80 mg/tablet) 		Adult capsule
(325 mg/caps)
6-11 pounds 40 mg 1/2 dropper (0.4 ml) ¼ tsp ----- -----
12-17 pounds 80 mg 1 dropper (0.8 ml) ½ tsp ----- ------
18-23 pounds 120 mg 1 ½ droppers (1.2 ml) ¾ tsp ------ -----
24-35 pounds 160 mg 2 droppers (1.6 ml) 1 tsp 2 tablets ------
36-47 pounds 240 mg ------ 1 ½ tsp 3 tablets ------
48-59 pounds 320 mg ----- 2 tsp 4 tablets 1 capsule
60-71 pounds 400 mg ----- 2 ½ tsp 5 tablets 1 capsule
72-95 pounds 480 mg ----- 3 tsp 6 tablets 1 capsule
96 pounds and up 650 mg ----- ----- ----- 2 capsules

For ibuprofen products:

If your child weighs Give this much Infant drops 100 mg/2.5 ml Children's syrup
(100 mg/5 ml) 		Children's tablets
50 mg/tablet 		Jr. strength chewables
100 mg/tab
13-17 pounds 50 mg ¼ tsp ½ tsp ----- -----
18-23 pounds 75 mg 1/3 tsp ¾ tsp ----- -----
24-35 pounds 100 mg ½ tsp 1 tsp 2 tablets -----
36-47 pounds 150 mg ¾ tsp 1 ½ tsp 3 tablets -----
48-59 pounds 200 mg 1 tsp 1 ¾ tsp 3 tablets 1 ½ tablets
60-71 pounds 250 mg ----- 2 ½ tsp 5 tablets 2 ½ tablets
72-95 pounds 300 mg ----- 3 tsp 6 tablets 3 tablets
96 pounds and up 400 mg ----- ----- ----- 4 tablets

Due to the risk of Reye syndrome, we do not recommend giving aspirin or aspirin-containing products (such as Pepto-Bismol) to children with fevers.

Last revised 2/17/03

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