Dosing Guidelines for Infant Tylenol

Having a sick child is extremely difficult. For parents of infants, the worry and frustration may be even worse. Tylenol manufactures a brand of Tylenol geared toward soothing the pain and fever symptoms of ailing infants. It comes in liquid form and is administered by dropper. Although parents might be tempted to give an infant larger doses of Tylenol to speed healing, doing so can be very unsafe.

Very Young or Small Children

• Only Infants' Tylenol, as opposed to regular Tylenol, should be given to children of a certain age and body weight. Tylenol can usually be given to older and larger children in modified doses. But children who are 3 months and younger should not be given Children's or Adult Tylenol. Of the medicines available, Infants' Tylenol, Panadol (a product manufactured by GlaxoKline Smith), Tempra (an acetaminophen) and Genapap (another acetaminophen) can be used interchangeably. A half dropper is generally enough Infants' Tylenol. Children over 11 pounds may be given a full dropper, as directed by a doctor. If a child weighs less than 6 pounds, a doctor should be consulted before any medicine whatsoever is given.

Age 4 to 11 months

• Dosages change substantially when a child nears his first half-year or first birthday. Infants aged 4 months to 11 months should be given one dropper of liquid Infants' Tylenol or one of the substitutes. (A single dropper is equivalent to 80 mg.) Infants weighing more than 17 pounds can be given a dropper and a half of children's medication, if a doctor allows it. A half teaspoonful of Tylenol Children's Elixir may be substituted.

1 to 2 Years

• Toddlers can have still higher doses of Infants' Tylenol. One and a half droppers should be enough for toddlers who weigh less than 24 pounds. Because these babies are now toddlers, ¾ teaspoonful of Children's Elixir or 1½ Children's Meltaway tablets may be substituted. Smaller children should follow dosing instructions for those aged 4 to 11 months or weighing 12 to 17 pounds.