Pediatric Dose Calculator
Enter your child's weight and age to see a dose for the five over-the-counter medicines parents ask us about most. Dosing by weight is the most accurate way to give fever and pain medicine, and the calculator shows the amount for each common liquid and chewable form.
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides general guidance only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always follow the label on your product, and call your pediatrician before giving medicine to a child under 2 or a child with a chronic medical condition.
Medication Dosage Calculator
Important: This calculator provides general guidance only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician before administering any medication.
Need Help?
If you have questions about medication dosing or your child's symptoms, please contact our office.
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Saturday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Phone (office and after hours):
Poison Control (24/7):
Medication Safety Tips
- Always use the measuring device that comes with the medication
- Check the concentration (mg per mL) before every dose
- Store all medications up high and out of children's reach
- Check expiration dates before use
- Never refer to medicine as "candy"
- Keep a log of when medications are given
Dosage charts by medicine
Prefer a chart you can print or keep on the fridge? Each guide below has the full table by weight or age, the limits on the label, and when to call us.
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Fever and pain. Every 4 hours, up to 5 doses a day.
Under 2 years: confirm the dose with your doctor. Under 12 weeks with fever: call first.
Tylenol dosage chart by weightMotrin or Advil (ibuprofen)
Fever and pain. Every 6 to 8 hours, up to 4 doses a day.
Not for babies under 6 months unless your doctor directs.
Motrin dosage chart by weightBenadryl (diphenhydramine)
Hives and itchy allergic reactions. Causes drowsiness.
Label: do not use under 2; ages 2 to 5 only if a doctor directs. Never as a sleep aid.
Children's Benadryl dosage chartZyrtec (cetirizine)
Seasonal allergies and hives. Once a day.
Label: ask a doctor for children under 2.
Zyrtec dosage for kids by ageClaritin (loratadine)
Seasonal allergies and hives. Once a day, least drowsy.
Label: ask a doctor for children under 2.
Claritin dosage for kids by ageNot sure whether your child needs medicine or a visit? Try our kids symptom checker or read our fever guide for parents.
Dosing Questions from Parents
Should I dose children's medicine by weight or by age?
By weight whenever you know it. Weight is a more accurate guide for fever and pain medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If you do not know your child's current weight, use the age on the package. Allergy medicines such as cetirizine and loratadine are labeled by age.
Is infants' Tylenol the same strength as children's Tylenol?
Yes. In the U.S., infants' and children's liquid acetaminophen are both 160 mg per 5 mL. Ibuprofen is different: infants' drops (50 mg per 1.25 mL) are more concentrated than children's liquid (100 mg per 5 mL), so the mL amounts are not interchangeable.
What if my child is under 2 years old?
Call your pediatrician before giving any of these medicines to a child under 2. Babies under 3 months with a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher need to be seen right away, before any medicine is given. Ibuprofen is not used under 6 months unless a doctor directs.
What should I do if I gave too much medicine?
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away, even if your child seems fine. Call 911 if your child is very sleepy, hard to wake, having a seizure, or having trouble breathing.