Paracetamol and Ibuprofen for Children: Doses by Country

Two in the morning, a hot and miserable child, both syrups in the cabinet. The dose is not a number remembered from last winter: it depends on the child's weight or age, on the strength written on this bottle, and on the country whose leaflet is in the box — the same drug carries different tables in the UK, the US and Russia. Below are those tables, each from its own source, and the one rule that holds everywhere: one drug at a time, by the bottle in your hand.

When to see a doctor

Right away: fast or labored breathing, ribs pulling in; blue lips; seizures; a rash that does not fade under a pressed glass; a child who is unusually drowsy, hard to wake or inconsolable; any fever in a baby under twelve weeks (CDC, US; NHS, UK). Also right away, even if the child seems fine: any suspicion of an extra dose of paracetamol — the other parent may have given one, or a cold remedy contained it. Overdose shows no symptoms for hours and the antidote works best early (NHS, UK). An extra dose of ibuprofen: call 111 in the UK.

The same day: fever longer than four days (CDC, US) or three (NHS, UK); a baby of three to five months on ibuprofen who is no better after 24 hours (NHS; Russian leaflet); a child who will not drink or has lost a lot of fluid to vomiting or diarrhea (Drug Facts, US).

Routinely: a child who needs these medicines more than a few days a month, or who has kidney, liver, heart or bleeding problems — ask the doctor for the dose in mg and ml, written down. The full three tiers, with emergency numbers by country, are on the first signs of a cold.

What is happening

A child's dose is worked out from body weight, so age tables are an approximation of weight, and every bottle has its own strength: US paracetamol comes as 160 mg/5 ml since 2011, the UK sells 120 mg/5 ml and 250 mg/5 ml, Russia's Children's Panadol is 120 mg/5 ml. The tables below only make sense next to the bottle they were written for. How to measure them without a kitchen spoon: liquid medicines, mg, ml and syringes.

What to do

Paracetamol, UK (NHS). Regularly from three months. At two to three months only if the baby weighs over 4 kg and was born after 37 weeks: 2.5 ml of the 120 mg/5 ml syrup, up to two times in a day, at least four hours apart (after the MenB vaccinations, up to three doses four hours apart), then a doctor. Syrup 120 mg/5 ml: 3–5 months 2.5 ml; 6–23 months 5 ml; 2–3 years 7.5 ml; 4–5 years 10 ml. Syrup 250 mg/5 ml: 6–7 years 5 ml; 8–9 years 7.5 ml; 10–11 years 10 ml; 12–15 years 10–15 ml. At least four hours apart, no more than four doses in 24 hours, no longer than three days without a doctor or pharmacist, never with another paracetamol product.

Paracetamol, US (Drug Facts, 160 mg/5 ml). Under 24 lb or under two years: ask a doctor. 24–35 lb (2–3 years) 5 ml; 36–47 lb (4–5) 7.5 ml; 48–59 lb (6–8) 10 ml; 60–71 lb (9–10) 12.5 ml; 72–95 lb (11) 15 ml. Every four hours while symptoms last, no more than five doses in 24 hours; stop and ask a doctor if fever lasts more than three days or pain more than five.

Paracetamol, Russia (Children's Panadol 120 mg/5 ml). From three months; 10–15 mg per kg per dose, at most 15 mg/kg; at least four hours apart, no more than four doses a day, at most 60 mg/kg a day; the leaflet's weight table; no longer than three days without a doctor; at two to three months only once, after vaccination.

Ibuprofen, UK (NHS). From three months and over 5 kg. Syrup 100 mg/5 ml: 3–5 months 2.5 ml up to three times; 6–11 months 2.5 ml three to four times; 1–3 years 5 ml; 4–6 years 7.5 ml; 7–9 years 10 ml; 10–11 years 15 ml — three times a day; 12–17 years 200–400 mg up to three times. At least six hours apart (four if four doses); with food or milk. A baby of 3–5 months: a doctor if no better within 24 hours; from six months: no longer than three days without a doctor. Not with chickenpox, not when dehydrated; with asthma or stomach, heart, liver or kidney problems, ask first.

Ibuprofen, US (Drug Facts). Children's Motrin 100 mg/5 ml: under 24 lb or under two, ask a doctor; 24–35 lb 5 ml; 36–47 lb 7.5 ml; 48–59 lb 10 ml; 60–71 lb 12.5 ml; 72–95 lb 15 ml; every six to eight hours, no more than four times a day; stop if fever or pain lasts more than three days. Infant drops are a different strength, 50 mg/1.25 ml: 6–11 months (12–17 lb) 1.25 ml; 12–23 months (18–23 lb) 1.875 ml; under six months, ask a doctor; only with the enclosed syringe.

Ibuprofen, Russia (Nurofen for children 100 mg/5 ml). From three months and 5 kg; at most 30 mg/kg a day, six to eight hours apart, by age and weight: 3–6 months (5–7.6 kg) 2.5 ml up to three times, at most 7.5 ml a day; 6–12 months (7.7–9 kg) 2.5 ml three to four times, at most 10 ml; 1–3 years (10–16 kg) 5 ml, at most 15 ml; 4–6 years (17–20 kg) 7.5 ml, at most 22.5 ml; 7–9 years (21–30 kg) 10 ml, at most 30 ml; 10–12 years (31–40 kg) 15 ml, at most 45 ml — three times a day; no longer than three days; not with chickenpox, kidney failure, dehydration or the "aspirin triad".

One drug at a time. The NHS (UK) says not both at once and alternation only on a health professional's advice; NICE (UK) adds: give it for the child's comfort, not to chase a number; switch to the other if the first did not help; alternate only if distress returns before the next dose is due; and never judge how serious an illness is by whether the temperature came down. If you do alternate on advice, count each drug's daily maximum separately and write the times down.

No aspirin. Under 16 in the UK (NHS); in the US the FDA label warns for children and teenagers with or recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms; in Russia the leaflet excludes children under 15 with viral infections. The reason is Reye's syndrome.

When this is not the case

These tables are for otherwise healthy children in the leaflet's ranges. A baby under three months, a child on chemotherapy or with kidney disease, a child far lighter or heavier than others their age — the dose comes from the doctor, in milligrams. And during vomiting or diarrhea, ibuprofen is out (NHS): what to give instead is on dehydration and oral rehydration. Why the two drugs differ and what applies to adults: paracetamol or ibuprofen; the map of the cabinet: the active ingredient.

Sources

Checked: September 7, 2026