Infant Acetaminophen Dosage

For children two to three years old weighing between 24 to 35 pounds, the recommended infant acetaminophen dosage is 1.6 mL every four hours as needed. Before giving the drug to children under the age of two, however, ask your child's healthcare provider for dosing recommendations. Try giving your child his or her infant acetaminophen dose before a feeding to help prevent spitting up the medication.

 

Infant Acetaminophen Dosage: An Introduction

The recommended dose of infant acetaminophen (Concentrated Tylenol® Infants' Drops) will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your child's age and weight
  • Other medications your child may be taking
  • Other medical conditions your child may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust you child's dose of infant acetaminophen unless his or her healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Infant Acetaminophen Dosing for Children Under Two

You may have noticed that your bottle of infant acetaminophen does not give any dosing information for children under the age of two. This may seem a little odd, since this product is made especially for infants. The bottle suggests that you contact your child's healthcare provider for dosing instructions. This is for several reasons. It is always a good idea to contact your child's healthcare provider any time your child has pain or a fever. It is also important to accurately know your child's situation in order to dose the medication properly. Because children grow, the dose will change. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the appropriate dose for your child under the age of two.
 

Infant Acetaminophen Dosing for Older Children

For children ages two to three years old (weighing 24 to 35 pounds), the recommended infant acetaminophen dose is 1.6 mL every four hours as needed (but not more than five times in a day). The dropper that comes with infant acetaminophen drops measures 0.4 mL or 0.8 mL (but not 1.6 mL). In order to measure 1.6 mL, you will need to give two 0.8 mL doses. If your child weighs less than 24 pounds or more than 35 pounds, ask your child's healthcare provider about the proper dose for your child. Children age two and older may take children's acetaminophen instead of infant acetaminophen drops.
 
(Infant Acetaminophen Dosage Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;