- Tylenol should not be given to children under 2 months of age unless prescribed by a healthcare provider.
- Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age unless prescribed by a healthcare provider.
- Always read and follow medication instructions.
- Whenever possible, use the syringe or dropper that comes with the product. If you are measuring in teaspoons, use a medicine measuring spoon rather than a regular kitchen spoon, which is less accurate.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Not for use under 2 months of age unless instructed by a healthcare provider.
- Repeat dose every 4-6 hours while symptoms last.
- Do not give more than 5 doses in 24 hours .
- Do not give with any other product containing acetaminophen.
- Tylenol dosage chart from HealthyChildren.org
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Not for use with children under 6 months of age, unless instructed by a healthcare provider.
- Repeat dose every 6-8 hours as needed.
- Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours .
- Ibuprofen dosage chart from HealthyChildren.org
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Not for use with children under 6 months of age, unless instructed by a healthcare provider.
- Non-sedating alternatives (eg, loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra)) are available over-the-counter and are safer for young children.
- Repeat dose every 6 hours as needed.
- Children’s Benadryl Fastmelts : Each fastmelt tablet contains the equivalent of 12.5 mg of Diphenhydramine HCL, dosed the same as chewable tablets.
- Risk of side effects : May cause drowsiness in some children but can also cause excitement in others.
- Benadryl dosage chart from HealthyChildren.org