Children’s Medication Dose Tables
Use your child’s current weight to find the recommended dose. Always check the medication label to make sure the concentration matches the table.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Dose Table
| Child's Weight | 6 - 11 lbs | 12 - 17 lbs | 18 - 23 lbs | 24 - 35 lbs | 36 - 47 lbs | 48 - 59 lbs | 60 - 71 lbs | 72 - 95 lbs | 96+ lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid 160 mg/5 mL | — | 2.5 mL | 3.75 mL | 5 mL | 7.5 mL | 10 mL | 12.5 mL | 15 mL | 20 mL |
| Liquid 160 mg/1 tsp | — | 1/2 tsp | 3/4 tsp | 1 tsp | 1 1/2 tsp | 2 tsp | 2 1/2 tsp | 3 tsp | 4 tsp |
| Chewable 160 mg tablets | — | — | — | 1 tab | 1 1/2 tabs | 2 tabs | 2 1/2 tabs | 3 tabs | 4 tabs |
| Adults 325 mg tablets | — | — | — | — | — | 1 tab | 1 tab | 1 1/2 tabs | 2 tabs |
| Adult 500 mg tablets | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 tab | 1 tab |
Ibuprofin (Motrin/Advil) Dose Table
| Child's Weight | 12 - 17 lbs | 18 - 23 lbs | 24 - 35 lbs | 36 - 47 lbs | 48 - 59 lbs | 60 - 71 lbs | 72 - 95 lbs | 96+ lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant Drops 50 mg/ 1.25 mL | 1.25 mL | 1.875 mL | 2.5 mL | 3.75 mL | 5 mL | — | — | — |
| Liquid 100 mg/ 5 mL | 2.5 mL | 3.75 mL | 5 mL | 7.5 mL | 10 mL | 12.5 mL | 15 mL | 20 mL |
| Liquid 100 mg/ 1 tsp | 1/2 tsp | 3/4 tsp | 1 tsp | 1 1/2 tsp | 2 tsp | 2 1/2 tsp | 3 tsp | 4 tsp |
| Chewable 100 mg tablets | — | — | 1 tab | 1 1/2 tabs | 2 tabs | 2 1/2 tabs | 3 tabs | 4 tabs |
| Junior-Strength 100 mg tablets | — | — | — | — | 2 tabs | 2 1/2 tabs | 3 tabs | 4 tabs |
| Adult 200 mg tablets | — | — | — | — | 1 tab | 1 tab | 1 1/2 tabs | 2 tabs |
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) Dose Table
| Age | Form | Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | — | Ask a doctor. |
| 2 to under 6 years | Liquid 5mg/ 5mL | 2.5 mL once daily. If needed, may increase to 5 mL once daily or 2.5 mL every 12 hours. Maximum: 5 mL in 24 hours. |
| Under 2 years | — | Ask a doctor. |
| 6 years and older | Liquid 5 mg/5 mL | 5–10 mL once daily. Maximum: 10 mL in 24 hours. |
| Chewable 5 mg | 1–2 tablets once daily. Maximum: 2 tablets in 24 hours. | |
| Chewable 10 mg | 1 tablet once daily. Maximum: 1 tablet in 24 hours. |
Important Medication Safety Information
- Use an oral syringe or the dosing device that comes with the medicine for liquid doses. Kitchen spoons are not accurate for measuring medication.
- Check the medication label every time. Liquid concentrations can vary, so make sure the concentration on the label matches the table.
- Milliliter (mL) is the standard abbreviation. 5 mL = 1 teaspoon (tsp).
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Do not use in children under 6 weeks unless directed by your child’s healthcare provider. A fever in a baby under 12 weeks requires prompt medical evaluation. Doses may be given every 4 hours as needed. Do not give more than 5 doses in 24 hours.
- Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil): Do not use in children under 6 months unless directed by your child’s healthcare provider. Doses may be given every 6–8 hours as needed.
- Aspirin should not be given to children or teenagers to treat fever or pain.
- Check other medications for acetaminophen or ibuprofen to avoid giving duplicate doses.
- If you are unsure of the correct dose, have questions, or your child is taking other medications, please contact our office. We are happy to help.