If you’re in the baby/toddler stage like me, you probably find yourself on occasion holding a feverish child and asking, “How much tylenol should I give her this time? . . . Is she still at the 0.4 ml level? or is it 0.8? or maybe up to 1.2 ml?”
If it’s a particularly high or persistent fever, I may find myself calling the pediatrician or the pharmacist to determine how much tylenol or ibuprofen to give.
Dr. Sears wrote a very helpful post about the use of acetaminophen, which you can read here. With the simple equation “7 milligrams per pound of bodyweight,” you can determine exactly what dose your child needs. This Works for Me!
He even discussed if (and when) you can double up on the tylenol for a really high fever and alternating between tylenol and ibuprofen in an effort to reduce a stubborn fever.
The most helpful part of his column is a Dosage Chart which lists weight in the left-hand column, and then showing the milligrams needed and the “translation” for infant drops, children’s liquid, and children’s soft chewables.
Yesterday I checked this chart to see how much tylenol Carissa should have after her shots. (I have copied a portion of Dr. Sears’ chart below.)
| Weight: | Milligram Dosage |
Infant Drops 80mg/0.8ml |
Children’s liquid 160mg/5ml |
Children’s soft chews 80mg each |
Junior strength Caps or chews 160mg each |
| 5-8 lbs | 40mg | ½ dropper (.4ml) |
¼ tsp (1.25ml) |
N/A | N/A |
| 9-10 lbs | 60mg | ¾ dropper (.6ml) |
1/3 tsp (1.8ml) |
N/A | N/A |
| 11-16 lbs | 80mg | 1 dropper (.8ml) |
½ tsp (2.5ml) |
N/A | N/A |
Carissa is 15 lbs., 4 ozs., so I gave her 1 dropper (.8ml).
With three under four, I know I will be referring back to this chart often!
