Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Genexa): I don’t normally recommend this medication, but here are the dosing ranges if you are going to use it. In the dosing ranges listed below, give the dose that matches your baby’s weight. For example, if your baby is 15 pounds, give about 3 ml (right in the middle of the listed dosing range), which would equal 100 mg. This can be repeated every 4 hours as needed.
Newborn 6 to 10 pounds – 40 mg (1.25 ml)
Infant 11 to 18 pounds – 80 to 120 mg (2.5 ml to 3.75 ml)
Infant 19 to 26 pounds – 120 to 160 mg (3.75 ml to 5 ml)
Child two years and older: follow the dose on the packaging
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil): This is what I recommend for fever or pain, IF you are going to treat a fever (see Fever page for guidelines). This can be repeated every 6 hours as needed.
Newborns younger than 3 months: do not give
Infant 11 to 18 pounds: 50 to 75 mg (Infant concentrated drops: 1.25 ml to 1.875 ml; Children’s liquid: 2.5 ml to 3.75 ml)
Infant 19 to 26 pounds – 75 to 100 mg (Infant concentrated drop: 1.875 ml to 2.5 ml; Children’s liquid: 3.75 ml to 5 ml)
Child two years and older: follow the dose on the packaging
Diphenhydramine liquid (Benadryl, Genexa): This is an allergy medication that you would use for allergic reactions. Do not give this medication to infants less than 6 months of age without consulting your doctor. This can be given every 6 hours as needed. See our page on Allergic Reactions for more help.
Infant 6 to 11 months (weight 14 to 19 pounds) – give 2.5 ml; equals 6.25 mg
Infant 12 to 23 months (weight 20 to 25 pounds) – give 3.75 ml; equals about 10 mg
Child 2 years and older (weight 27 pounds or more) – follow the dose on the bottle, which starts at 5 ml (12.5 mg) and goes up from there.
