Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen Dosages

Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) can be given safely every 6 hours while Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be given every four hours. If your child seems very uncomfortable or the fever medicine wears off, it is fine to alternate Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen every three hours. For example, if Ibuprofen is given at 9 am, then Acetaminophen can be given at 12 pm and Ibuprofen again at 3 pm, etc. If you do this, please keep a log so you know when you gave your last dose. There is no need to wake a sleeping child to give her a dose of medicine; sleep will do far more good.

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD ASPIRIN. Aspirin also reduces fever but has been linked to Reyeï¿½s Syndrome, a disease that may affect the liver and brain, and should not be used in children under the age of 12.

Beware of concentration difference for Infants and Childrenï¿½s preparations. Generic preparations are just as effective as brand name medicines and are usually much cheaper.

Pounds	Acetaminphen Oral Suspension (160 mg/5 ml)	Acetaminphen Children Suspension (160 mg/5 ml)	Acetaminphen Soft Chews (80 mg)	Acetaminphen Jr. Strength Chews (160 mg)	Ibuprofen Infant Drops (50mg/1.25 ml) **6 months & older	Ibuprofen Childrenâ€™s Suspension (100 mg/5 ml) **6 months & older	Ibuprofen Chews (50 mg)	Ibuprofen Jr. Strength Chews (100 mg)	Ibuprofen Caplets (100 mg)
6-11	1.25 ml (1/4 tsp)	1.25 ml (1/4 tsp)
12-17	2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)	2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)			1.25 ml	2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)
18-23	3.75 ml (3/4 tsp)	3.75 (Â¾ tsp)			1.875 ml	3.75 (Â¾ tsp)
24-35	5 ml (1 tsp)	5 ml (1 tsp)	2	1		5 ml (1 tsp)	2	1	1
36-47		7.5 ml (1Â½ tsp)	3	1 Â½		7.5 ml (1Â½ tsp)	3	1 Â½
48-59		10 ml (2 tsp)	4	2		10 ml (2 tsp)	4	2	2
60-71		12.5 ml (2Â½ tsp)	5	2 Â½		12.5 ml (2Â½ tsp)	5	2 Â½
72-95		15 ml (3 tsp)	6	3		15 ml (3 tsp)	6	3	3
Over 96		20 ml (4 tsp) or Adult dose		4		20 ml (4 tsp) or Adult dose