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Kids' medicine Measuring and administering a
child’s dose of medicine
Small mistakes with medicines can cause big problems
Small mistakes with medicines can cause big problems in little bodies. Knowing how to accurately measure and administer medicines to children will help to avoid accidental overdosing or underdosing.
This website contains important information for parents and carers who are giving medicines to children.
Ensuring medicines are administered to children safely and effectively
Read the medicine labels and packaging
Do this when you are buying a medicine and each time before giving a medicine to a child. The labels and packaging provide important information that will help you to prevent medicine mistakes. Read more >
Know the child's weight
Calculating the correct dose for a child usually requires their weight. Read more >
Measure liquid medicines accurately
Using an oral syringe or device that comes with the medicine ensures you're measuring the correct dose. Read more >
Keep track of the medicines given
Recording important information about the medicines given to a child can help to prevent dosing errors. Read more >
Ask questions if you're ever unsure about anything
Learn the Top 5 medicinewise questions to ask when measuring and administering medicines to children. Read more questions >
Top 5 medicinewise questions
When measuring and administering a child’s dose of medicine
- What is the active ingredient in the medicine?
- Have I calculated the right dose based on the child’s weight and strength of the medicine?
- What is the safest and most appropriate device for measuring the child’s dose?
- How do I measure and give the dose accurately?
- Have I recorded what, when and how much medicine was given?
Children’s dosing on The Morning show
NPS’s Danielle Stowasser discusses correct dosing of medicine for children with Dr. Ginni Mansberg.
©2011 NPS
Run time: 3:44m (16.1 MB)
Date published: 2011-02-27 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
