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📘 About the Medicine Dose
Children's doses of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen are worked out from body weight: 10–15 mg per kg of paracetamol up to 4 times a day, and 5–10 mg per kg of ibuprofen up to 3 times a day. Choose the strength printed on your bottle to see how many ml to give.
Always check the label, use the measuring syringe that comes with the medicine and keep a note of times. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if your child is under 3 months, has another illness or takes other medicines.
🧮 Formula
✏️ Worked examples
12 kg toddler, paracetamol 120 mg/5 ml
You get| Paracetamol dose | 7.5 ml (180 mg) of Paracetamol syrup 120 mg/5 ml |
| Dose range | 5 – 7.5 ml (120–180 mg; 10–15 mg/kg) |
| How often | every 4–6 hours, no more than 4 doses in 24 hours |
| Maximum in 24 hours | 720 mg (30 ml) |
| Weight used | 12 kg |
7.5 ml (180 mg) of Paracetamol syrup 120 mg/5 ml.
Try this example →20 kg child, ibuprofen 100 mg/5 ml
You get| Ibuprofen dose | 10 ml (200 mg) of Ibuprofen syrup 100 mg/5 ml |
| Dose range | 5 – 10 ml (100–200 mg; 5–10 mg/kg) |
| How often | every 6–8 hours, no more than 3 doses in 24 hours |
| Maximum in 24 hours | 600 mg (30 ml) |
| Weight used | 20 kg |
| Avoid ibuprofen if | dehydrated, vomiting, has chickenpox, asthma made worse by ibuprofen, or kidney problems |
10 ml (200 mg) of Ibuprofen syrup 100 mg/5 ml.
Try this example →❓ Frequently asked questions
How much paracetamol can I give a 10 kg child?
100–150 mg per dose — 4–6 ml of 120 mg/5 ml syrup — up to 4 times in 24 hours.
Can I give paracetamol and ibuprofen together?
Don't give both at once routinely. If a child is still distressed before the next dose is due, a doctor may advise alternating — keep a written record.
What is the difference between 120 mg/5 ml and 250 mg/5 ml?
The 250 mg/5 ml syrup is twice as strong, so the dose in ml is half. Mixing them up is a common cause of overdose.
When can babies have ibuprofen?
From 3 months and over 5 kg, unless a doctor advises otherwise.