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Measuring children’s medicinesMeasuring children’s medicines

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Young children’s bodies are small, so even small errors in the amount of medicine given can have serious consequences. Therefore, you need to measure each dose of medicine accurately. The required dose of medicine for young children usually depends on their weight rather than their age. Keep a record of your child’s weight each time they have a health check, so you can work out the right dose when you need to give them a medicine.

Sketch of a child measuing out medicines 

If you don’t know how much your child weighs, calculate their weight by weighing yourself on a set of bathroom scales while holding the child, and then again not holding the child. The difference between the two measurements will be the child’s weight.

Do

  • Do use a proper medicine measuring device — be it a medicine spoon, cup, dropper or oral syringe — when measuring liquid medicines.
  • Do ask your pharmacist to help you choose a suitable measuring device for the age and weight of your child. For example, the medicine for a tiny baby might need a dropper that measures less than 1 mL, whereas a toddler might be better with a measuring spoon that measures up to 5 mL.
  • Do follow the instructions given if the medicine comes with its own cup or dropper.
  • Do fill measuring devices only to the required line or mark.
  • Do check that you’ve measured the dose correctly by placing the device on a flat surface, and checking the level of the medicine with your eye at the same level.

Don’t

  • Don’t use the measuring device provided with a medicine for any other medicines, because the dose markings will be relevant only for that medicine.
  • Don’t be tempted to use an ordinary kitchen teaspoon to measure a child’s medicine. A kitchen teaspoon can hold anything from 2 to 8 mL, so you could be underdosing or overdosing the child if you use it for measuring their medicine.

MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter for consumers written by consumers about using medicines wisely. Subscribe to the hard copy version using our online ordering system, or write to MedicinesTalk, National Prescribing Service Limited, PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.

Date published: 2005-12-01 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.

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