Infant Acetaminophen (Cont.)

When and How to Take Infant Acetaminophen

General considerations for when and how to take infant acetaminophen include the following:
 
  • Infant acetaminophen drops are taken by mouth. Dispense the medication slowly into your child's mouth toward the inner cheek. Do not try to squirt it down the throat.
     
  • Infant acetaminophen drops are different from children's acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol). Make sure to carefully check which product you are using.
     
  • Infant acetaminophen drops are more concentrated than children's acetaminophen because it can be difficulty for babies to take a large volume of a medication.
     
  • Acetaminophen can be taken without regard to food or breastfeeding. However, you may want to avoid giving a dose just after a feeding, as your baby may be more likely to spit up the medication.
     
  • Be sure to shake the bottle well before every single dose of infant acetaminophen.
     
  • Make sure you know exactly how much medication to give your child and exactly how to measure the dose. If you are not sure, ask your child's healthcare provider.
     
  • It is important to keep track of how much infant acetaminophen you give your child, as it is easy to give too much (see Tylenol Poisoning). It is important to remember that acetaminophen is found in many medications (both prescription and non-prescription).
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
     

Infant Acetaminophen Dosing Information

The recommended dose of infant acetaminophen drops will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The age and weight of the child
  • Other medications your child may be taking
  • Other medical conditions your child may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your infant's dose of acetaminophen unless his or her healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Infant Acetaminophen Dosage for more information.)
 
(Infant Acetaminophen Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;