Doses of Common Over-the-Counter Medications for Children

Below is a guide to doses of common over-the-counter medications for children. If you know your child’s weight, this is the best way to determine the dose of a medication. Age can also be used, but children of the same age can at times have vastly different weights. Be sure to note your child’s weight at each doctor’s visit.

Tylenol – All doses should be given no more often than every 4 hours

Tylenol is a good fever-reducer and pain medication.

Do not give Tylenol to a baby less than 2 months without a doctor’s advice.

Weight	Age	Infants’ Tylenol Concentrated Drops (80mg/0.8mL)	Children’s Tylenol Suspension (160mg/5mL)	Children’s Tylenol Soft Chews Chewable Tablets (80mg)	Junior Strength Tylenol Chewable Tablets (160mg)
6 to 9 lbs.		½ dropper
9 to 12 lbs.		¾ dropper
12 to 17 lbs.	2 to 12 mos.	1 dropper
18 to 23 lbs.	1 to 2 yrs.	1 ½ dropper	¾ teaspoon
24 to 35 lbs.	2 to 3 yrs.	2 dropper	1 teaspoon	2 tablets
36 to 47 lbs.	4 to 5 yrs.		1 ½ teaspoons	3 tablets
48 to 59 lbs.	6 to 8 yrs.		2 teaspoons	4 tablets	2 tablets
60 to 71 lbs.	9 to 10 yrs.		2 ½ teaspoons	5 tablets	2 ½ tablets
72 to 95 lbs.	11 yrs.		3 teaspoons	6 tablets	3 tablets
96 lbs. & over	12 yrs. & over				4 tablets

Motrin/Advil – All doses should be given no more often than every 6 hours

Motrin/Advil are good fever-reducers and pain medications.

Do not give Motrin/Advil to a baby less than 6 months without a doctor’s advice

Weight	Age	Infants’ Concentrated Drops (50mg/1.25mL)	Children’s Suspension (100mg/5mL)	Children’s Chewable Tablets (50mg)	Junior Strength Chewable Tablets (100mg)
12 to 17 lbs.	6 to 11 mos.	1 dropper
18 to 23 lbs.	1 to 2 yrs.	1 ½ dropper	¾ teaspoon
24 to 35 lbs.	2 to 3 yrs.		1 teaspoon	2 tablets
36 to 47 lbs.	4 to 5 yrs.		1 ½ teaspoons	3 tablets
48 to 59 lbs.	6 to 8 yrs.		2 teaspoons	4 tablets	2 tablets
60 to 71 lbs.	9 to 10 yrs.		2 ½ teaspoons	5 tablets	2 ½ tablets
72 to 95 lbs.	11 yrs.		3 teaspoons	6 tablets	3 tablets
96 lbs. & over	12 yrs. & over				4 tablets

Benadryl – All doses should be given no more often than every 6 hours

Benadryl is a good medicine for hives or other itchy rashes. It also can help with runny or stuffy nose due to allergies or a cold. Be aware that Benadryl may make your child sleepy. Let your doctor know if Benadryl makes your child too sleepy. There are other medicines for the same problem that don’t tend to make children sleepy.

Also be sure that you check the label of the product carefully. Look for products labelled Benadryl allergy. Products labelled “allergy & sinus” or “allergy & cold” may have different dosing and additional ingredients which may cause unwanted side effects.

Weight	Age	Children’s Benadryl Allergy Liquid (12.5mg/5mL)	Children’s Benadryl Allergy Chewable or Fastmelt (12.5mg)	Benadryl Allergy Tablets (25mg)
12 to 16 lbs.	6 to 11 mos.	½ teaspoon
17 to 21 lbs.	1 to 2 yrs.	¾ teaspoon
22 to 32 lbs.	2 to 3 yrs.	1 teaspoon	1 tablet
33 to 42 lbs.	4 to 5 yrs.	1 ½ teaspoon	1 ½ tablets
43 to 53 lbs.	6 to 8 yrs.	2 teaspoons	2 tablets	1 tablet
54 to 64 lbs.	9 to 10 yrs.	2 ½ teaspoons	2 ½ tablets
65 to 75 lbs.	11 yrs.	3 teaspoons	3 tablets	1 ½ tablets
76 to 86 lbs.	12 yrs.	3 ½ teaspoons	3 ½ tablets
86 lbs. & over	13 yrs. & over	4 teaspoons	4 tablets	2 tablets