Tylenol Dosage Chart for Infants and Children

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that is frequently given to children of all ages when they have pain or fever. However, giving Tylenol to kids does have risks, including liver damage, overdose, and allergic reactions.

This article will explain how to give Tylenol to children safely. You will learn which type of Tylenol is safe to give kids. You will also learn the appropriate Tylenol dose for infants and children by age.

Tylenol Dosage Calculator for Infants and Children

Here's how to figure out and give the correct dose of Tylenol to your child:

1. Measure your child's weight in pounds.
2. Look at the weight-based Tylenol dosages in the charts below.
3. Use the syringe or dosing cup that came with your medication and measure out your child's dose.
   

Infant Tylenol Dosing

If you are using Infants' Tylenol Oral Suspension (with a concentration of 160 mg per 5 ml) the correct dosages by weight are indicated in the chart below.

Child Tylenol Dosing

If you are using Children's Tylenol Suspension Liquid (with a concentration of 160 mg per 5 ml) the correct dosages by weight are indicated in the chart below.

Standardized Tylenol Dosing for Children

In 2011, rules were made to give all liquid acetaminophen products for children the same concentration. The standard dosage for liquid Tylenol is 160 milligrams (mg) per 5 milliliters (ml).

While standard dosing helps prevent confusion for caregivers when giving Tylenol to kids of all ages, drug companies have not adopted all of the recommendations that experts have proposed.

For example, many people wanted specific dosing instructions for infants as young as age 6 months on the Tylenol label. Instead, these labels still say to contact your healthcare provider to find out the right dose—in fact, you should do that for any child under age 2.

Your provider or pediatrician is the best person to ask about which Tylenol dose is safe and effective for your child. It's actually a good idea to ask them about it at your child's next check-up—that way, you'll know for sure before your child gets sick.

What to Know Before You Give Your Child Tylenol

All caregivers should know and understand the risks of giving children Tylenol. Here are a few key points to remember:

• Do not give Tylenol to infants under 12 weeks of age without talking to your healthcare provider or pediatrician. If your child has pain or fever at this age, they need immediate medical care to find out what's causing it rather than at-home symptom treatment.
• Do not give children Tylenol doses more often than every four to six hours. Do not give a child more than five doses of Tylenol in one day.
• When giving liquid acetaminophen products to children, always use the measuring tool that came with the product. Kitchen teaspoons are not an accurate dosing tool.
• Shake the bottle well before preparing your child's dose.
• Always double-check the medication and the dose on the bottle. Make sure that you have measured the medicine correctly.
• Do not use Tylenol with any other product that also has acetaminophen in it. If you double up by mistake it could lead to a Tylenol overdose. Check the labels of all OTC products that you give your child.
• Follow the manufacturer's warnings on the label of the product you use. For example, the label might tell you to call your provider if your child's "pain gets worse or lasts more than five days" or if their "fever gets worse or lasts more than three days."
• Learn how to calculate the dosage of Tylenol for infants and toddlers who are under 24 pounds. The drug label only lists dosages for older kids who weigh at least 24 pounds and are 2 years old.

Other Forms of Tylenol for Children

In addition to Tylenol Oral Suspension liquid for infants and children, there are other forms of Tylenol for children over the age of 2 years. The dosing instructions will be on the label of each product.

• Children's Tylenol Chewable Tablets: 160 mg per tablet
• Children's Tylenol Dissolve Powder Packs: 160 mg per packet

Summary

When and how to give Tylenol to your child can be confusing, especially if you've never had to do it before.

Since the dosages of acetaminophen products for children have been standardized, it's much easier to determine the safe dose. The instructions for giving Tylenol to your child will often be right on the product's label.

However, if your child is younger than 2, you won't find this information on the product. Instead, you'll have to talk to your healthcare provider. They can explain how weight-based dosing is used to figure out how much Tylenol is safe to give your child.