Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that is frequently given to children of all ages to help manage pain or fever. However, giving Tylenol to kids does have risks, including liver damage, overdose, and allergic reactions.
This article will explain how to give Tylenol to children safely and which type is safe. You will also learn the appropriate Tylenol dose for infants and children based on weight.
Verywell / JR Bee
Should You Give Your Child Tylenol When They Have a Fever?
Tylenol Dosage Calculator for Infants and Children
Here’s how to figure out and give the correct dose of Tylenol to your child:
Check with your child’s healthcare provider to make sure you know the correct dose to give.
Infant Tylenol Dosing
There are also other formulations of infant acetaminophen with different concentrations, and dosing would be different if you are using a different concentration.
What is a Safe Dosage for Infant Tylenol?
In the United States, the Tylenol label does not provide weight-based dosing for children under the age of 2 years old. Instead, it is recommended that you ask your provider.
Child Tylenol Dosing
Maximum Dose
Children 6 to 11 years: 325 mg every four to six hours; maximum daily dose: 1,625 mg/day.
Children ≥12 years and Adolescents:
Standardized Tylenol Dosing for Children
The standard dosage for liquid Tylenol is 160 milligrams per 5 milliliters.
However, it also comes In different concentrations, so always make sure you check the concentration on the box.
Your provider or pediatrician is the best person to ask about which Tylenol dose is safe and effective for your child. It’s a good idea to ask them about it at your child’s next check-up—that way, you’ll know for sure before your child gets sick.
What to Know Before You Give Your Child Tylenol
All caregivers should know and understand the risks of giving children Tylenol. Here are a few key points to remember:
When to Call Poison ControlCallPoison Controlif you have given too much Tylenol to your child or have given them the next dose too soon. Remember that more is not better when it comes to taking medicines like Tylenol.
When to Call Poison Control
CallPoison Controlif you have given too much Tylenol to your child or have given them the next dose too soon. Remember that more is not better when it comes to taking medicines like Tylenol.
What Happens If You Take Too Much Tylenol?
Other Forms of Tylenol for Children
In addition to Tylenol Oral Suspension liquid for infants and children, there are other forms of Tylenol for children over the age of 2 years. The dosing instructions will be on the label of each product.
How to Choose a Tylenol Product
Summary
When and how to give Tylenol to your child can be confusing, especially if you’ve never had to do it before.
The instructions for giving Tylenol to your child will often be right on the product’s label.
However, if your child is younger than 2, you won’t find this information on the product. Instead, you’ll have to talk to your healthcare provider. They can explain how weight-based dosing is used to figure out how much Tylenol is safe to give your child.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Pediatrics.Acetaminophen dosage table for fever and pain.American Academy of Pediatrics Healthychildren.org.Acetaminophen dosing tablets for fever and pain In children.Tylenol.TYLENOL® Dosage for Children’s & Infants’ Medicine.St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Acetaminophen (Tylenol) dose table.James L, Sullivan JE, Roberts D.The proper use of acetaminophen.Paediatr Child Health. 2011;16(9):544-547. doi:10.1093/pch/16.9.544Heard K, Bui A, Mlynarchek SL, et al.Toxicity from repeated doses of acetaminophen in children: assessment of causality and dose in reported cases.Am J Ther. 2014;21(3):174-183. doi:10.1097/MJT.0b013e3182459c53Brass EP, Reynolds KM, Burnham RI, Green JL.Medication errors with pediatric liquid acetaminophen after standardization of concentration and packaging improvements.Acad Pediatr.2018;18(5):563-568. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2018.03.001Goldman RD.Acetaminophen in children: an old drug with new warnings.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(10):1065-1066.Pan SD, Zhu LL, Chen M, Xia P, Zhou Q.Weight-based dosing in medication use: what should we know?Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:549-560. doi:10.2147/PPA.S103156
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Pediatrics.Acetaminophen dosage table for fever and pain.American Academy of Pediatrics Healthychildren.org.Acetaminophen dosing tablets for fever and pain In children.Tylenol.TYLENOL® Dosage for Children’s & Infants’ Medicine.St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Acetaminophen (Tylenol) dose table.James L, Sullivan JE, Roberts D.The proper use of acetaminophen.Paediatr Child Health. 2011;16(9):544-547. doi:10.1093/pch/16.9.544Heard K, Bui A, Mlynarchek SL, et al.Toxicity from repeated doses of acetaminophen in children: assessment of causality and dose in reported cases.Am J Ther. 2014;21(3):174-183. doi:10.1097/MJT.0b013e3182459c53Brass EP, Reynolds KM, Burnham RI, Green JL.Medication errors with pediatric liquid acetaminophen after standardization of concentration and packaging improvements.Acad Pediatr.2018;18(5):563-568. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2018.03.001Goldman RD.Acetaminophen in children: an old drug with new warnings.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(10):1065-1066.Pan SD, Zhu LL, Chen M, Xia P, Zhou Q.Weight-based dosing in medication use: what should we know?Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:549-560. doi:10.2147/PPA.S103156
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Acetaminophen dosage table for fever and pain.American Academy of Pediatrics Healthychildren.org.Acetaminophen dosing tablets for fever and pain In children.Tylenol.TYLENOL® Dosage for Children’s & Infants’ Medicine.St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Acetaminophen (Tylenol) dose table.James L, Sullivan JE, Roberts D.The proper use of acetaminophen.Paediatr Child Health. 2011;16(9):544-547. doi:10.1093/pch/16.9.544Heard K, Bui A, Mlynarchek SL, et al.Toxicity from repeated doses of acetaminophen in children: assessment of causality and dose in reported cases.Am J Ther. 2014;21(3):174-183. doi:10.1097/MJT.0b013e3182459c53Brass EP, Reynolds KM, Burnham RI, Green JL.Medication errors with pediatric liquid acetaminophen after standardization of concentration and packaging improvements.Acad Pediatr.2018;18(5):563-568. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2018.03.001Goldman RD.Acetaminophen in children: an old drug with new warnings.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(10):1065-1066.Pan SD, Zhu LL, Chen M, Xia P, Zhou Q.Weight-based dosing in medication use: what should we know?Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:549-560. doi:10.2147/PPA.S103156
American Academy of Pediatrics.Acetaminophen dosage table for fever and pain.
American Academy of Pediatrics Healthychildren.org.Acetaminophen dosing tablets for fever and pain In children.
Tylenol.TYLENOL® Dosage for Children’s & Infants’ Medicine.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Acetaminophen (Tylenol) dose table.
James L, Sullivan JE, Roberts D.The proper use of acetaminophen.Paediatr Child Health. 2011;16(9):544-547. doi:10.1093/pch/16.9.544
Heard K, Bui A, Mlynarchek SL, et al.Toxicity from repeated doses of acetaminophen in children: assessment of causality and dose in reported cases.Am J Ther. 2014;21(3):174-183. doi:10.1097/MJT.0b013e3182459c53
Brass EP, Reynolds KM, Burnham RI, Green JL.Medication errors with pediatric liquid acetaminophen after standardization of concentration and packaging improvements.Acad Pediatr.2018;18(5):563-568. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2018.03.001
Goldman RD.Acetaminophen in children: an old drug with new warnings.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(10):1065-1066.
Pan SD, Zhu LL, Chen M, Xia P, Zhou Q.Weight-based dosing in medication use: what should we know?Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016;10:549-560. doi:10.2147/PPA.S103156
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