Children’s paracetamol and ibuprofen doses, from the label
This kids medicine dosage calculator looks up the dose of children’s paracetamol (called acetaminophen in the US) or ibuprofen in a published chart and turns it into millilitres for the strength printed on your bottle. Choose the US label chart, which doses by weight from 24 to 95 lb (2 to 11 years), or the UK NHS chart, which doses by age from 2 months to 17 years. You also see the minimum gap between doses and the most allowed in 24 hours.
It is information only, not medical advice. It never goes beyond its source: under 24 lb or 2 years the US label says “ask a doctor”, and so does this page. The label on your own bottle always comes first.
How to use the Kids Paracetamol & Ibuprofen Dose Calculator
- Pick the medicine and the chart — the US label (by weight) or the NHS (by age).
- Enter your child’s weight (lb or kg) and age (years or months).
- Choose or type the strength printed on your bottle, for example 160 mg in 5 mL.
- Tick anything in the “Before you give it” list that applies.
- Measure the amount with the syringe or cup that came with the medicine, and note the time.
Kids Paracetamol & Ibuprofen Dose Calculator features
Two official charts
The weight-and-age chart printed on US children’s Drug Facts labels, and the NHS age chart.
Your bottle’s strength
mL = mg ÷ strength for any liquid, rounded down to 0.1 mL so the measured amount never exceeds the dose.
Hard limits
Refuses ages and weights outside the chart, the strong “6+” and “7+” liquids for younger children, and ibuprofen under 5 kg.
Safety checks
Chickenpox, dehydration, asthma, other medicines and allergies are flagged with the source’s wording.
The US label chart (by weight)
US children’s liquids contain 160 mg of acetaminophen or 100 mg of ibuprofen in 5 mL, and their Drug Facts labels share one chart: “if possible, use weight to dose; otherwise, use age.” Under 24 lb or under 2 years, the label says ask a doctor. Acetaminophen may be repeated every 4 hours while symptoms last, no more than 5 times in 24 hours; ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours, no more than 4 times a day. Infants’ ibuprofen drops (50 mg per 1.25 mL) have their own chart for babies from 6 months, which this page does not reproduce — follow that bottle exactly, or ask your doctor.
| Weight | Age | Acetaminophen 160 mg/5 mL | Ibuprofen 100 mg/5 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 24 lb | Under 2 years | Ask a doctor | Ask a doctor |
| 24–35 lb | 2–3 years | 5 mL (160 mg) | 5 mL (100 mg) |
| 36–47 lb | 4–5 years | 7.5 mL (240 mg) | 7.5 mL (150 mg) |
| 48–59 lb | 6–8 years | 10 mL (320 mg) | 10 mL (200 mg) |
| 60–71 lb | 9–10 years | 12.5 mL (400 mg) | 12.5 mL (250 mg) |
| 72–95 lb | 11 years | 15 mL (480 mg) | 15 mL (300 mg) |
The NHS chart (by age)
UK paracetamol comes as an infant liquid (120 mg/5 mL, up to 5 years) and a six plus liquid (250 mg/5 mL). The NHS gives 2.5 mL at 3–5 months, 5 mL at 6–23 months, 7.5 mL at 2–3 years and 10 mL at 4–5 years of the infant liquid, then 5, 7.5 and 10 mL of the six plus liquid at 6–7, 8–9 and 10–11 years, 10–15 mL at 12–15 and 10–20 mL from 16 — up to 4 times in 24 hours, at least 4 hours apart. At 2 to 3 months: 2.5 mL up to twice a day, only over 4 kg and born after 37 weeks.
Ibuprofen 100 mg/5 mL: 2.5 mL at 6–12 months (3 or 4 times a day), 5 mL at 1–3 years, 7.5 mL at 4–6 and 10 mL at 7–9 years (up to 3 times a day), 6 to 8 hours apart; at 3 to 6 months only over 5 kg, up to 3 times a day. The 200 mg/5 mL liquid is for 7 to 12 years; from 12, 200 mg tablets.
India and other countries
Paracetamol liquids sold in India come in several strengths, so always match the volume to your bottle. We could not verify an official chart from the Indian Academy of Pediatrics or the National Formulary of India, so none is built in. Follow your bottle’s label or your paediatrician’s prescription; to turn a prescribed dose into millilitres, the medicine dose calculator or the mg to mL calculator does the arithmetic.
When to get help instead
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher needs advice straight away — call NHS 111 or your child’s doctor. The NHS also lists a temperature of 39 °C or more at 3–6 months, a fever lasting 5 days, dehydration, a rash that does not fade under a glass, a stiff neck, a first fit, difficulty breathing or a child who is hard to wake. If you have given too much medicine, get help even if your child seems well.
Kids Paracetamol & Ibuprofen Dose Calculator FAQ
How much paracetamol (acetaminophen) can I give my child?
Follow the chart on your bottle. US labels give 160 mg (5 mL) at 24–35 lb up to 480 mg (15 mL) at 72–95 lb, every 4 hours, at most 5 times in 24 hours; the NHS doses by age, at most 4 times.
Why does it say “ask a doctor” under 2 years?
That is what US children’s and infants’ acetaminophen labels say for under 24 lb or 2 years. A doctor can give a dose for a younger baby.
What is the paracetamol dose per kg for a child?
Labels and the NHS give fixed amounts for each weight or age group rather than a per-kg figure. A doctor may prescribe per kg; if so, use that prescription.
My bottle is a different strength from the chart. What now?
Choose or type its strength: the same mg dose becomes a different number of mL. Then check that your bottle’s own label covers your child’s age, because strong liquids are made for older children.
Can I give paracetamol and ibuprofen together?
Not at the same time. The NHS says you can alternate them only if a doctor or nurse tells you to, and to write down when you gave each one.
When should I not give ibuprofen?
The NHS says not under 3 months, under 5 kg, with chickenpox or dehydration, and not with asthma unless a doctor recommended it. Ask a pharmacist about other conditions and medicines.