Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Dosing

Here are some important general guidelines for using these products:

• We recommend acetaminophen/Tylenol as a first line treatment for pain and/or fever. If your child’s response does not seem adequate, try ibuprofen as an alternative.
• You are treating your child, not a number on the thermometer. Your goal in treating a fever is to make your child comfortable, not to make the number lower.
• Whenever possible, use your child’s most current weight when choosing an appropriate dose of medication.
• Do not give both acetaminophen and ibuprofen to a child with fever. It is OK to “tag team” a dose of the second medicine on a one-time basis if you are having trouble making your child comfortable, but this should not be a recurrent procedure. Please discuss this with your physician.
• If necessary acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used in alternating doses every 4 hours. For example, Tylenol at noon then Motrin at 4 PM.
• Temperature should be measured rectally in children under 12 weeks of age. Temporal artery thermometers (swipe along forehead) can be used after 12 weeks of age. Ear (otic) thermometers should be reserved for children over the age of 6 months. An oral thermometer is not appropriate until your child can hold it under his tongue for several minutes without biting (usually around age 5).
• Never give acetaminophen or ibuprofen to an infant under 2 months of age. In addition, do not give ibuprofen to an infant under the age of 6 months without specific direction from a physician.
• Acetaminophen rectal suppositories can be purchased at your pharmacy without a prescription. They are helpful to have on hand in case your child has fever or pain and is vomiting and can’t keep down acetaminophen by mouth. Use K-Y Jelly or Vaseline to lubricate the suppository and insert in the child’s rectum every 4 hours as necessary.