How much Tylenol should my child take?

With school in full swing, so are school germs, and it is only a matter of time before your child gets sick. The first course of treatment for fever in most cases is Tylenol or Ibuprofen, but how much should you give your child?

Fever is our bodies natural response to infections and can help our bodies fight them. In most cases, fever is not harmful to school-age children unless there is an underlying medical condition or virus. However, if your child is running a fever they likely don’t feel very well, and a dose of Tylenol or Ibuprofen may help them feel a little better and bring down their fever.

Like most medications, Tylenol and Ibuprofen dosages for children depend on the child’s age and weight. But they also depend on the type of Tylenol or Ibuprofen you are giving them.  Both Tylenol and Ibuprofen are available in infant liquid form. You can find dosing charts for both Tylenol and Advil on their websites.

Another thing to take into account is how often you can give your child a dose. Depending on how your child responds to the initial dose, it may begin to wear off and their fever may slowly creep back up.  In these cases, it is tempting to reach for the Tylenol again, however, it is important to check how long it has been since their last dose before giving them another. Generally, Tylenol can be given every 4-6 hours and Ibuprofen can be given every 6-8 hours. These dosing times will be on the bottle, so make sure to check the label before giving your child another dose.

In some cases, your pediatrician may suggest alternating between Tylenol and Ibuprofen giving a dose every 3 hours. For example, if you give your child Tylenol at 12 pm, and their symptoms return, you could give them a dose of ibuprofen at 3 pm. Then a second dose of Tylenol at 6 pm.

As with all medications, it is important to read the label. If you have questions, call your pharmacist or pediatrician’s office to double-check.