The labels on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for children often have age and average weight dosage guidance. Take extra care when reading these dosage tables or charts. Your child may be small or large for their age. Check with your health professional before using for the first time, and whenever you are unsure. They can help give you advice about dose. Always use the cup, spoon or syringe that comes in the pack to measure the dose.
Paracetamol
OTC brands of paracetamol in Australia will tell you the right amount to take on the label. Make sure you buy the correct product for your child. The same brand can have different products for different ages. The amounts of paracetamol in each product may not always be the same.
Paracetamol medicines can be given to children:
- from 1 month of age, or
- with a body weight of 4 kg and over.
The normal time between doses for paracetamol is 4–6 hours. Do not give it more than 4 times a day. If your child still needs pain relief after two days speak with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Paracetamol given as an oral tablet (via the mouth), takes about 30 minutes to start working. When given as a suppository (via the bottom), it works more slowly, taking up to 90 minutes to have an effect.
In children aged 1 month to 12 years, the advised oral dose is 15 mg of paracetamol/kg of body weight. The highest dose you should give at one time is 1 g of paracetamol. A child should not have more than a total of 4 g of paracetamol in a 24-hour time-frame.
Ibuprofen
OTC brands of ibuprofen in Australia will tell you the right amount to take on the label. Make sure you buy the correct product for your child. The same brand can have different products for different ages. The amounts of ibuprofen in each product may not always be the same.
Ibuprofen medicines can be given to children:
- from 3 months of age or
- with a body weight of 6 kg and over, and
- with food or a milk drink.
The normal time between doses for ibuprofen is 6–8 hours. Do not give it more than 3 times a day. As with paracetamol, it is not recommended that you give ibuprofen to your child for more that two days in a row without seeing your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
After swallowing ibuprofen, your child will usually start to feel relief from pain and/or fever within 15 minutes.
In children aged 3 months to 12 years, the advised oral dose is 5-10 mg of ibuprofen/kg of body weight. The highest dose you should give at one time is 400 mg of ibuprofen. A child should not have more than a total of 1200 mg of ibuprofen in a 24-hour time-frame.