Parent Resource

Pediatric Dosing Charts

Helpful dosing guidance for common children’s medicines, including fever reducers, pain relievers, and allergy medicines.

Medication dosing for children is usually based on your child’s current weight, not age alone. Kids Central Pediatrics provides these dosing charts as a general resource for families in Oak Ridge, West Knoxville, Lenoir City, and surrounding East Tennessee communities.

Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
Benadryl
Zyrtec
Claritin
Cold Care

Important Disclosure

These dosing charts are provided for general educational purposes only and are intended for otherwise healthy children. Medication recommendations may vary based on your child’s age, weight, medical history, symptoms, allergies, and other medications.

These charts do not replace medical advice from your child’s pediatrician. Always follow the instructions from your child’s healthcare provider. If you are unsure about the correct medication, dose, timing, or whether your child should be seen, call Kids Central Pediatrics before giving medicine.

For accidental overdose, medication error, or possible poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If your child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, cannot be awakened, or appears seriously ill, call 911.

Medication Safety

Before Giving Your Child Medicine

Use this checklist before giving any over-the-counter medication. If you are unsure what to give, how much to give, or whether your child should be seen, please call Kids Central Pediatrics.

Dose medicine based on your child’s current weight whenever possible

Use milliliters, or mL, whenever possible

Use the dosing syringe, dropper, or medicine cup that comes with the medication

Do not use kitchen spoons for medicine dosing

Check the active ingredient before giving more than one medicine

Do not give more than the recommended dose

Do not give doses more often than recommended

Do not give ibuprofen to babies younger than 6 months unless directed by a doctor

Call Kids Central Pediatrics before giving acetaminophen to a baby younger than 3 months

Never give aspirin to a child unless directed by your pediatrician

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you think your child received too much medicine

Fever & Pain

Acetaminophen Dosing Chart

Common brand: Tylenol
Common use: Fever and mild pain
Common liquid concentration: 160 mg / 5 mL

Important: Call Kids Central Pediatrics before giving acetaminophen to a baby younger than 3 months. Do not combine multiple medicines that contain acetaminophen.

Child’s Weight	Liquid 160 mg / 5 mL	Chewable 160 mg Tablets	Adult 325 mg Tablets	Adult 500 mg Tablets
6-11 lbs	1.25 mL	Do not use	Do not use	Do not use
12-17 lbs	2.5 mL	Do not use	Do not use	Do not use
18-23 lbs	3.75 mL	Do not use	Do not use	Do not use
24-35 lbs	5 mL	1 tablet	Do not use	Do not use
36-47 lbs	7.5 mL	1 1/2 tablets	Do not use	Do not use
48-59 lbs	10 mL	2 tablets	1 tablet	Do not use
60-71 lbs	12.5 mL	2 1/2 tablets	1 tablet	Do not use
72-95 lbs	15 mL	3 tablets	1 1/2 tablets	1 tablet
96+ lbs	20 mL	4 tablets	2 tablets	1 tablet

Frequency: Follow the product label or pediatrician guidance. Do not give more than directed.

Source values adapted from St. Louis Children’s Hospital acetaminophen dosing resources and AAP/HealthyChildren medication safety guidance.

Fever, Pain & Inflammation

Ibuprofen Dosing Chart

Common brands: Motrin, Advil
Common use: Fever, pain, and inflammation
Common children’s liquid concentration: 100 mg / 5 mL
Common infant drops concentration: 50 mg / 1.25 mL

Important: Do not give ibuprofen to babies younger than 6 months unless directed by a physician. Avoid ibuprofen if your child is dehydrated, vomiting repeatedly, has kidney disease, or has been told to avoid NSAIDs.

Child’s Weight	Infant Drops 50 mg / 1.25 mL	Children’s Liquid 100 mg / 5 mL	Chewable 100 mg Tablets	Adult 200 mg Tablets
Under 12 lbs	Call KCP	Call KCP	Do not use	Do not use
12-17 lbs	1.25 mL	2.5 mL	Do not use	Do not use
18-23 lbs	1.875 mL	3.75 mL	Do not use	Do not use
24-35 lbs	2.5 mL	5 mL	1 tablet	Do not use
36-47 lbs	3.75 mL	7.5 mL	1 1/2 tablets	Do not use
48-59 lbs	5 mL	10 mL	2 tablets	1 tablet
60-71 lbs	Do not use	12.5 mL	2 1/2 tablets	1 tablet
72-95 lbs	Do not use	15 mL	3 tablets	1 1/2 tablets
96+ lbs	Do not use	20 mL	4 tablets	2 tablets

Frequency: Every 6 to 8 hours as needed, unless your pediatrician gives different instructions. Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours unless directed by a physician.

Source values adapted from St. Louis Children’s Hospital ibuprofen dosing resources and AAP/HealthyChildren medication safety guidance.

Allergy Symptoms

Diphenhydramine Dosing Chart

Common brand: Benadryl
Common use: Allergic reactions, hives, itching, and nasal allergies
Common liquid concentration: 12.5 mg / 5 mL

Important: Diphenhydramine should not be used for colds and should not be given to children under 6 unless directed by a doctor. Do not use diphenhydramine to make a child sleepy.

Child’s Weight	Liquid 12.5 mg / 5 mL	Chewable 12.5 mg Tablets	Tablet 25 mg	Capsule 25 mg
20-24 lbs	4 mL	Do not use	Do not use	Do not use
25-37 lbs	5 mL	1 tablet	1/2 tablet	Do not use
38-49 lbs	7.5 mL	1 1/2 tablets	1/2 tablet	Do not use
50-99 lbs	10 mL	2 tablets	1 tablet	1 capsule
100+ lbs	20 mL	4 tablets	2 tablets	2 capsules

Frequency: Follow pediatrician guidance. Some pediatric references list every 6 hours as needed.

Source values adapted from St. Louis Children’s Hospital diphenhydramine dosing resources and AAP/HealthyChildren medication safety guidance.

Seasonal Allergies

Cetirizine Dosing Chart

Common brand: Zyrtec
Common use: Seasonal allergies, itching, and hives
Common liquid concentration: 1 mg / mL or 5 mg / 5 mL

Important: Use only age-appropriate children’s products. Call Kids Central Pediatrics before using allergy medicine in young children, combining allergy medicines, or using allergy medicine for symptoms that may be more serious.

Age	Dose	Liquid Amount	Frequency	Notes
6-23 months	2.5 mg	2.5 mL	Once daily	Use only as directed. Contact Kids Central Pediatrics with questions.
2-5 years	2.5-5 mg	2.5-5 mL	Once daily	Start with the lower dose unless directed otherwise.
6+ years	5-10 mg	5-10 mL or age-appropriate tablet	Once daily	Follow the product label or pediatrician guidance.

Frequency: Usually once daily. Follow the product label or pediatrician guidance.

Source values adapted from pediatric cetirizine dosing resources and should be reviewed by Kids Central Pediatrics before publication.

Seasonal Allergies

Loratadine Dosing Chart

Common brand: Claritin
Common use: Seasonal allergies, nasal allergies, eye allergies, hives, and itching
Common liquid concentration: 5 mg / 5 mL

Important: Loratadine should be used for allergy symptoms, not for colds. Do not use for children under 2 unless directed by a doctor.

Age	Liquid 5 mg / 5 mL	Chewable 5 mg Tablets	Tablet 10 mg	Frequency
Under 2 years	Do not use unless directed by doctor	Do not use	Do not use	Call Kids Central Pediatrics
2-5 years	2.5 mL	Do not use	Do not use	Once daily
6-11 years	5 mL	1 tablet	Do not use	Once daily
12+ years	10 mL	2 tablets	1 tablet	Once daily

Frequency: Once daily. Follow the product label or pediatrician guidance.

Source values adapted from St. Louis Children’s Hospital loratadine dosing resources and should be reviewed by Kids Central Pediatrics before publication.

Cough & Cold Safety

Cough and Cold Medicine Safety

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not always recommended for young children. The FDA does not recommend over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children younger than 2 because they could cause serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. Manufacturers also label many cough and cold products to state that they should not be used in children under age 4.

Important: For many children, supportive care is safer and more helpful than multi-symptom cold medicine. If you are unsure what is safe for your child, please call Kids Central Pediatrics before giving medication.

Supportive Care for Cold Symptoms

Fluids

Rest

Saline nose drops or spray

Gentle suctioning for infants

Cool mist humidifier

Honey for cough only if your child is over 1 year old

Fever or pain medicine when appropriate

Call Kids Central Pediatrics if your child has trouble breathing, symptoms that are worsening, signs of dehydration, persistent fever, ear pain, severe sore throat, or if you are unsure what is safe.

When to Call

When to Call Kids Central Pediatrics Before Giving Medicine

If you are unsure what medicine to give, how much to give, or whether your child should be seen, please call Kids Central Pediatrics before giving medication.

Situation	Why You Should Call
Your baby is younger than 3 months and has a fever	Young infants need medical guidance for fever.
Your child is younger than 6 months and you are considering ibuprofen	Ibuprofen is not recommended under 6 months unless directed by a physician.
You do not know your child’s current weight	Pediatric dosing is often weight-based.
Your child is vomiting repeatedly or may be dehydrated	Some medicines may not be appropriate, and dehydration may need medical evaluation.
Your child has trouble breathing	Breathing concerns should be evaluated promptly.
Your child has a chronic medical condition	Some medicines may not be safe depending on the condition.
Your child takes prescription medication	Over-the-counter medicines can interact with other medications.
You are considering more than one over-the-counter medicine	Some products contain overlapping active ingredients.
Symptoms are worsening or not improving	Your child may need an exam or a different care plan.
You are unsure what to give or how much to give	The safest next step is to call for guidance.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Call 911 or seek emergency care right away if your child has trouble breathing, blue lips or face, a severe allergic reaction, a seizure, severe dehydration, extreme sleepiness or confusion, a serious injury, a stiff neck with fever, signs of poisoning or overdose, or any symptom that feels like an emergency.

For possible poisoning, medication overdose, or accidental ingestion, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control provides free, confidential help for poison exposures and medication mistakes.

Pediatric Dosing Guidance in East Tennessee

Kids Central Pediatrics provides pediatric care and parent guidance for families in Oak Ridge, West Knoxville, Lenoir City, and surrounding East Tennessee communities. If you have questions about fever medicine, pain relief, allergy medicine, cold symptoms, or safe dosing for your child, please contact our office.

Sick Visits

Contact Kids Central Pediatrics if your child is sick, symptoms are worsening, or you are unsure whether your child should be seen.

Well-Child Visits

Routine checkups are a good time to ask about safe medication use, vaccines, growth, development, and common childhood concerns.

Newborn Care

Call before giving medication to a young infant, especially if your baby is younger than 3 months or has a fever.

After-Hours Guidance

If your child has an urgent concern after hours, follow the office instructions for reaching the appropriate pediatric guidance.

Trusted Medication Safety Sources

The medication safety information and dosing chart structure above were adapted from trusted pediatric resources and should be reviewed by Kids Central Pediatrics before publication.

American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren

Parent guidance for acetaminophen, ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, and safe medication use.

Visit HealthyChildren.org

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Dosing Tables

Published pediatric dose tables for acetaminophen, ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, cetirizine, and loratadine.

View Dosing Tables

U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Safety guidance on over-the-counter cough and cold medicine use in young children.

Read FDA Guidance

Poison Control

For possible overdose, medication mistake, or accidental ingestion, call 1-800-222-1222.

Visit Poison Control

Pediatric Dosing FAQs

Should children’s medicine doses be based on weight or age?

Children’s medicine dosing is usually based on weight because children of the same age can vary in size. If you do not know your child’s current weight, call your pediatrician before dosing.

Can I use a kitchen spoon to give medicine?

No. Kitchen spoons are not accurate for medication dosing. Use the dosing syringe, dropper, medicine cup, or measuring device that comes with the medication.

Can I alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen?

Some families are instructed to alternate these medicines, but this can increase the risk of dosing mistakes. Call your pediatrician before alternating medications.

Can I give ibuprofen to a baby?

Ibuprofen is generally not recommended for babies younger than 6 months unless specifically directed by a physician. Call your pediatrician before giving ibuprofen to an infant.

Can I give acetaminophen to a newborn?

Call your pediatrician before giving acetaminophen to a baby younger than 3 months. Fever in a young infant needs medical guidance.

Are cough and cold medicines safe for young children?

Many cough and cold medicines are not recommended for young children. The FDA does not recommend over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children younger than 2, and many manufacturers label these products not to be used in children under 4.

What should I do if I gave my child too much medicine?

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. If your child has trouble breathing, is unconscious, has a seizure, or appears seriously ill, call 911.

Can I give my child adult medicine at a smaller dose?

Do not give adult medicine to a child unless your pediatrician specifically tells you to do so. Adult products may contain ingredients or strengths that are not appropriate for children.

What if my child spits out medicine?

Do not automatically repeat the dose. Contact your pediatrician or pharmacist for guidance because the next step depends on the medicine, timing, and how much was swallowed.

Can my child take over-the-counter medicine with prescriptions?

Some over-the-counter medicines can interact with prescription medications. Contact your pediatrician or pharmacist before combining medicines.