Healthcare providers often recommend a nonprescription drug called
acetaminophen (
Tylenol®) for infants with pain or a fever. Acetaminophen is available in many forms, but for infant use, it comes in the form of an oral solution that is taken by mouth. To give your child this medicine, shake the bottle well and dispense the medication slowly into your child's mouth toward the inner cheek. Do not try to squirt it down the throat.
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 drug. Although infant acetaminophen is generally well tolerated, serious side effects are possible, including:
- Allergic reactions
- Liver damage
- Ulcers or bleeding in the digestive tract.
(Click Infant Acetaminophen for more information on this drug, including how it works, what to do if your baby spits it up, and why it's important to keep track of every dose given.)
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