I don't think I have ever questioned myself as much as when trying to decide whether or not my babies need Tylenol. Of course, there are the times where it is obvious, thanks to tiny tops of teeth poking through gums, or because they are very apparently sick, but so many other times I am the literal version of the hands-in-the-air emoji! Once you decide that you do in fact want to give them a dose you look at the bottle annnnd....wait, how much do I give them?
Among common OTC pain relievers that parents would give children at home, Tylenol/acetaminophen is the only thing that you can give to infants under the age of 6 months old. In the U.S., the concentration of infant and children's acetaminophen is 160mg per 5mL, so all dosing information in the U.S. is based on that concentration amount. The American Academy of Pediatrics also states that when giving acetaminophen to children under 2 years of age, but especially infants younger than 3 months old, you should consult your pediatrician first. As we are not doctors ourselves, we recommend this to you as well. The below dosing information is from the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition. Use the weight of your child to figure out the appropriate dosage.-
6-11 lbs: 1.25 mL
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12-17 lbs: 2.5 mL
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18-23 lbs: 3.75 mL
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24-35 lbs: 5 mL
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36-47 lbs: 7.5 mL
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48-59 lbs: 10 mL
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60-71 lbs: 12.5 mL
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72-95 lbs: 15 mL
The uses "pain reliever" and "fever reducer" are printed right on every bottle of Tylenol/acetaminophen so those are definitely sure times that you would give your baby a dose. Most doctor offices these days have nurses lines that you can call anytime during the day and sometimes even during the night. Take advantage of that whenever you are questioning whether or not to give your baby a dose!
Written by: Alyssa Liston