Medication Doses
**Note: Tylenol is phasing out their concentrated infant drops and has provided a new formulation for babies that is the same concentration as the children's suspension. See the chart below for new doses based on your child's weight. Make sure you are familiar with which product you are using.
acetaminophen (Tylenol, Feverall) For fever or pain. Doses can be given up to every 4 hours.
max dose 650 mg (unless otherwise directed)
| Weight | Tylenol concentrated infant drops (80 mg/0.8 mL) **old formulation |
Children's Tylenol suspension (160 mg/5 mL) **(new infant's formulation) |
Tylenol chewable (80 mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-12 pounds | 0.4 ml | 1/4 teaspoon **(1.25 mL) |
|
| 13-17 pounds | 0.8 ml | 1/2 teaspoon **(2.5 mL) |
1 tab |
| 18-23 pounds | 1.2 ml | 3/4 teaspoon **(3.75 mL) |
1 1/2 tab |
| 24-35 pounds | 1.6 ml | 1 teaspoon **(5 mL) |
2 tabs |
| 36-47 pounds | 1 1/2 teaspoon |
3 tabs | |
| 48-59 pounds | 2 teaspoons |
4 tabs | |
| 60-71 pounds | 2 1/2 teaspoons | 5 tabs |
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) For fever or pain. Doses can be given up to every 6 hours.
**Do not give to infants under 6 months of age
max dose 400 mg (unless otherwise directed)
| weight | infant's ibuprofen drops (50 mg/1.25ml) |
children's ibuprofen susp (100 mg/5 ml) |
children's ibuprofen chewable (50 mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-17 pounds | 1.25 ml | 1/2 teaspoon | |
| 18-23 pounds | 1.87 ml | 3/4 teaspoon | |
| 24-35 pounds | 2.5 ml | 1 teaspoon | |
| 36-47 pounds | 1 1/2 teaspoons | 3 tabs | |
| 48-59 pounds | 2 teaspoons | 4 tabs | |
| 60-71 pounds | 2 1/2 teaspoons | 5 tabs | |
| 72-84 pounds | 3 teaspoons | 6 tabs |
diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is used for hives and to reduce the itching associated with certain rashes. Benadryl can be given every 6-8 hours as needed.
max dose 50 mg (unless otherwise directed)
| weight | Benadryl elixir (12.5 mg/tsp) | Benadryl chewable (12.5 mg) | Benadryl tab (25 mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-17 pounds | 1/2 teaspoon | ||
| 18-23 pounds | 3/4 teaspoon | ||
| 24-35 pounds | 1 teaspoon | 1 tab | |
| 36-47 pounds | 1 1/2 teaspoons | 1 1/2 tabs | |
| 48-59 pounds | 2 teaspoons | 2 tabs | 1 tab |
| 60-71 pounds | 2 1/2 teaspoons | 2 1/2 tabs | |
| 72-84 pounds | 3 teaspoons | 3 tabs |
**We do not recommend combination OTC cold and cough medications for children under six years of age. Dark honey by mouth (in children over 1 year of age) is a safe and natural alternative that has been shown to decrease night time cough with colds and viruses. [Ages 1-5 years 1/2 tsp, ages 6-12 years 1 tsp, and over 12 years 2 tsp].
