Patient Information
Medicine Dosage Guidance
Current American Academy of Pediatrics resources for common over-the-counter medicines, plus practical safety reminders and help when you are unsure.
Common medicines
Choose a medicine
Select the medicine you are considering to view current weight-based guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Use your child’s current weight and verify the active ingredient and concentration on the product label.
Fever & pain
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
The AAP chart covers liquid, chewable, and tablet forms. Check with your child’s doctor before giving acetaminophen to a child under 2 years old.
Fever & pain
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
The AAP chart covers infant drops, liquid, chewable, and tablet forms. Never give ibuprofen to a baby under 6 months.
Allergy guidance
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
The AAP advises against giving diphenhydramine to children under 6 unless their doctor says to. Newer antihistamines may be safer for young children.
Important: This information does not replace advice for your child. If your clinician gave specific instructions, follow those directions. Call your practice if the label, concentration, weight, or amount is unclear.
Fever and pain
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Use your child’s current weight to choose a dose. Use age only if a current weight is not available.
Before giving a dose: Check with your child’s doctor before giving acetaminophen to a child under 2. A baby younger than 12 weeks with a fever needs prompt medical evaluation. This liquid chart is only for 160 mg/5 mL products. Do not give 500 mg extra-strength products to children under 12 or 650 mg extended-release products to anyone under 18.
How often: For products labeled for children and infants, do not give more than 5 doses in 24 hours. For children 12 and older, extra-strength tablets or gelcaps may be given every 6 hours; do not give more than 6 extra-strength tablets or gelcaps in 24 hours. Do not combine with another medicine containing acetaminophen.
Liquid and children’s chewables
| Weight | Age | Liquid 160 mg/5 mL | Chewable 160 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–11 lb (3–5 kg) | 0–3 months | 1.25 mL | — |
| 12–17 lb (5–7 kg) | 4–11 months | 2.5 mL | — |
| 18–23 lb (8–10 kg) | 12–23 months | 3.75 mL | — |
| 24–35 lb (11–15 kg) | 2–3 years | 5 mL | 1 tablet |
| 36–47 lb (16–21 kg) | 4–5 years | 7.5 mL | 1½ tablets |
| 48–59 lb (22–26 kg) | 6–8 years | 10 mL | 2 tablets |
| 60–71 lb (27–32 kg) | 9–10 years | 12.5 mL | 2½ tablets |
| 72–95 lb (33–43 kg) | 11 years | 15 mL | 3 tablets |
| 96+ lb (44+ kg) | 12+ years | — | — |
The AAP source separates infant and children’s liquid by measuring device, but both products in this table are 160 mg/5 mL. Use the syringe or cup supplied with the medicine. Never use a kitchen spoon.
Powder packets and older-child forms
| Weight | Age | Powder packets 160 mg | Regular tablet 325 mg | Extra-strength tablet 500 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48–59 lb (22–26 kg) | 6–8 years | 2 packets | 1 tablet | — |
| 60–71 lb (27–32 kg) | 9–10 years | 2 packets | 1 tablet | — |
| 72–95 lb (33–43 kg) | 11 years | 3 packets | 1 tablet | — |
| 96+ lb (44+ kg) | 12+ years | — | 2 tablets | 2 tablets |
If a dose is not shown for your child’s weight and product, do not guess. Call your pediatrician before giving the medicine.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org • Accessed 2026.
Fever and pain
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Use your child’s current weight to choose a dose. Infant drops and children’s liquid have different concentrations.
Before giving a dose: Never give ibuprofen to a baby under 6 months. Confirm whether you have infant drops 50 mg/1.25 mL or children’s liquid 100 mg/5 mL; the infant drops are more concentrated.
How often: Give every 6 hours if needed for fever or pain. Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours, and do not combine with another medicine containing ibuprofen.
Liquid forms
| Weight | Age | Infant drops 50 mg/1.25 mL | Children’s liquid 100 mg/5 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–11 lb (up to 5 kg) | 0–5 months | — | — |
| 12–17 lb (about 6–7 kg) | 6–11 months | 1.25 mL | 2.5 mL |
| 18–23 lb (about 8–10 kg) | 12–23 months | 1.875 mL | 4 mL |
| 24–35 lb (about 11–15 kg) | 2–3 years | 2.5 mL | 5 mL |
| 36–47 lb (about 16–21 kg) | 4–5 years | 3.75 mL | 7.5 mL |
| 48–59 lb (about 22–26 kg) | 6–8 years | 5 mL | 10 mL |
| 60–71 lb (about 27–32 kg) | 9–10 years | — | 12.5 mL |
| 72–95 lb (about 33–43 kg) | 11 years | — | 15 mL |
| 96+ lb (44+ kg) | 12+ years | — | 20 mL (10 mL + 10 mL) |
Use the syringe or dosing cup supplied with the medicine. The 20 mL children’s liquid dose is measured as two 10 mL amounts, as shown by the AAP.
Chewable and tablet forms
| Weight | Age | Chewable 100 mg | Adult tablet 200 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–35 lb (about 11–15 kg) | 2–3 years | 1 tablet | — |
| 36–47 lb (about 16–21 kg) | 4–5 years | 1½ tablets | — |
| 48–59 lb (about 22–26 kg) | 6–8 years | 2 tablets | 1 tablet |
| 60–71 lb (about 27–32 kg) | 9–10 years | 2½ tablets | 1 tablet |
| 72–95 lb (about 33–43 kg) | 11 years | 3 tablets | 1½ tablets |
| 96+ lb (44+ kg) | 12+ years | 4 tablets | 2 tablets |
If a dose is not shown for your child’s weight and product, do not guess. Call your pediatrician before giving the medicine.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org • Accessed 2026.
Allergy medicine
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Use your child’s current weight and confirm the product strength before selecting a dose.
Before giving a dose: Do not give diphenhydramine to a child under 6 unless your child’s doctor tells you to. The AAP notes that newer, non-sedating antihistamines may be safer for young children. Diphenhydramine can cause sleepiness or, in some children, excitement.
How often: Give every 6 hours if needed. Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours, and do not combine with another medicine containing diphenhydramine. Call 911 for trouble breathing or other severe allergic symptoms.
Children’s liquid and chewables
| Weight | Children’s liquid 12.5 mg/5 mL | Chewable 12.5 mg |
|---|---|---|
| 20–24 lb (about 9–10 kg) | 4 mL | — |
| 25–37 lb (about 11–16 kg) | 5 mL | 1 tablet |
| 38–49 lb (about 17–22 kg) | 7.5 mL | 1½ tablets |
| 50–99 lb (about 23–45 kg) | 10 mL | 2 tablets |
| 100+ lb (46+ kg) | — | 4 tablets |
25 mg tablets and capsules
| Weight | Tablet 25 mg | Capsule 25 mg |
|---|---|---|
| 25–37 lb (about 11–16 kg) | ½ tablet | — |
| 38–49 lb (about 17–22 kg) | ½ tablet | — |
| 50–99 lb (about 23–45 kg) | 1 tablet | 1 capsule |
| 100+ lb (46+ kg) | 2 tablets | 2 capsules |
If a dose is not shown for your child’s weight and product, do not guess. Call your pediatrician before giving the medicine.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org • Accessed 2026.
Medication safety
Four checks before every dose
A quick pause can help prevent common medication mistakes.
1. Use current weight
Weight is preferred when selecting a dose. If you do not know it, follow the chart’s age guidance and call if you are uncertain.
2. Read the label
Confirm the active ingredient, product strength, age limits, and expiration date every time—even if the package looks familiar.
3. Measure in mL
Use the syringe or dosing cup that comes with the medicine. Never use a kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon.
4. Avoid double dosing
Check multi-symptom cold and cough products. Different products may contain the same fever, pain, or allergy medicine.
When to get help
Ask rather than guess
Your pediatrician, pharmacist, and Poison Control can help you make the safest next decision.
Call your pediatrician
- Before acetaminophen for a child under 2 years old.
- Call the same day if you are treating a fever in an infant under 3 months.
- Before diphenhydramine for a child under 6 years old.
- Whenever the medicine, concentration, amount, timing, or child’s weight is unclear.
Possible overdose or poisoning
If your child may have received too much medicine, the wrong medicine, or an extra dose, contact Poison Control right away. Expert help is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
If someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately.
Questions about a medicine?
Call the practice where your child receives care. After hours, the regular office number connects you with the on-call provider.