Can You Give a 2 Month Old Baby Tylenol

Acetaminophen (meliorate known by the brand proper name Tylenol) is a standby you probably continue in your ain handbag or medicine cabinet to fight headaches, pain and fever, and now that yous're a parent, it may exist the beginning affair yous grab at the drugstore when baby is feeling under the weather condition. Simply giving babies, specially the tiniest ones, whatever type of medicine takes a little extra intendance and guidance. Here'southward what you need to know to safely requite Infant Tylenol to assist reduce baby'due south fever.

In this article:
Infant Tylenol dosage chart by weight
When should you give Infant Tylenol?
What age can yous give babe Babe Tylenol?
How long does Baby Tylenol take to work?
How to safely give Infant Tylenol

Showtime, the basics: Acetaminophen is ane of two main types of over-the-counter pain relief. The other is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a category that includes ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin—though aspirin should never be given to children nether 18 unless directed by a md, because it could cause a potentially life-threatening disease called Reye's syndrome.

Baby Tylenol used to exist available in two different formulations: infant drops for babies and an oral suspension for older kids. The drops had a higher concentration of medicine per milliliter, so parents would but have to give a tiny amount to their babies, only at that place were worries that it could lead to accidental overdoses, so in 2011 the drops were phased out. Now, like Children's Tylenol, Baby Tylenol comes in an oral suspension, which has a lower concentration of medicine and allows for much safer Infant Tylenol dosing. To make certain you're purchasing the new, right version of infant acetaminophen, the bottle should list the concentration as 160mg/5mL. And if you still have some of the drops in your medicine chiffonier left over from an older sibling, toss information technology out and buy a new bottle of the oral suspension.

Infant Tylenol Dosage Nautical chart by Weight

You'll observe on the bottle of Infant Tylenol that it doesn't give dosages for children under 2 years old, only instead says to call your medico. As long every bit you talk to your doctor first to get the correct Infant Tylenol dosage, there's actually no historic period that's considered too immature to administer the medicine—in fact, Infant Tylenol is sometimes fifty-fifty given to preemies.

Infant'due south pediatrician will exist able to recommend whether or not to give the medicine to infant and what the correct Infant Tylenol dosage should be based on your child'due south weight. "I recommend that parents review the correct dosage at every well-baby checkup, depending on the electric current weight of infant," says Wendy Sue Swanson, Physician, a Wisconsin-based pediatrician. "Write down the dosage on a gummy paper and attach it to the canteen." Once baby reaches 2 years erstwhile, you can become ahead and follow the guidelines on the bottle.

If yous do need to give your child Infant Tylenol, here are the current Infant Tylenol dosage guidelines your doc will likely advise for the 160mg/5ml syrup oral suspension formulation, co-ordinate to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

When Should You lot Give Infant Tylenol?

"Acetaminophen is great for when your infant is in hurting, like when they're teething, take an ear infection or have a minor injury," Swanson says. When infant has a viral infection or cold, she prefers Infant Tylenol over ibuprofen, since ibuprofen may cause side effects similar an upset stomach (although information technology'due south not common).

If baby is nether three months one-time and has a fever, e'er call your medico immediately earlier giving your child any medication. "We always like to see the baby before dosing with medicine," Swanson says. "First of all, nosotros want to know why the infant is crying and feverish—infection tin spread more apace in an babe than in an older child. Secondly, we need to know exactly how much the baby weighs then y'all can requite the correct dose." She adds that for babies over 6 months old, a day or two of fever isn't completely dangerous. "We utilize medicine to decrease whatsoever discomfort your babe feels, not to alter the number on the thermometer." If, still, any child'due south fever is over 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 Celcius) or symptoms don't improve later on three days, you should always call your doctor.

One time you don't want to requite Infant Tylenol? Before baby goes for shots. In the past, doctors would recommend giving infant Infant Tylenol before a vaccination to assistance prevent pain and a possible fever from developing, but that's inverse. "At that place is new data showing that if y'all give the child a dose of acetaminophen before the shot, information technology may brand the immunization less effective," Swanson says. And as for that low fever baby may run after being vaccinated, well that's just a sign the body'south allowed organisation is kicking in properly, and it usually doesn't need to be treated. If baby seems fussy and uncomfortable afterwards she's gotten her shots, though, you can go ahead and requite her Infant Tylenol, Swanson says.

How Often Can You lot Give Infant Tylenol?

You lot may give infant the right Infant Tylenol dosage every four hours, but no more five times in one 24-hour period, says Alexis Phillips, DO, a pediatrician in the Houston, Texas, expanse. "Exercise not exceed 48 hours at maximum dose," she cautions. "Besides, Tylenol should non be taken more than than vii days in a row without discussing information technology with your pediatrician."

How Long Does Baby Tylenol Have to Work?

Infant Tylenol takes 30 minutes to start working, Phillips says, and will reach maximum result after one hour. If baby's fever goes away for more than 24 hours and then comes back, or if baby has a fever for more than 72 hours, call your pediatrician.

How to Safely Requite Infant Acetaminophen

Ready to help baby experience improve? Follow these tips to brand sure you medicate babe safely.

• Brand sure you have baby's right weight To ensure y'all're giving baby the correct Infant Tylenol dosage, you lot need to know how much your child weighs. "If you oasis't been to the doctor in a while, place your child on the scale at abode," Phillips says. (You lot tin can as well stand on a scale holding baby and subtract your ain weight from the total.)

• Carefully read the instructions on the bottle
That means turning the bath light on, even if it's in the centre of the nighttime (also important for measuring the correct dose). Then milkshake well to evenly distribute the active ingredients.

• Use the right measuring device
Once y'all've figured out the correct Babe Tylenol dosage (based on your doctor's instructions or the chart above), be sure to just use the measuring device that comes with the bottle—it's a good idea to always store them together after washing. For infants, it'south usually a syringe. For children 2 and over, it'due south nigh probable a small-scale measuring cup. Since some medications are measured in teaspoons, some in milliliters and some in ounces, never mix and match measuring devices. "You should likewise never use a kitchen spoon, which isn't accurate, and yous definitely don't want Grandma only eyeballing it and saying, 'That looks right,'" Swanson says.

• Keep track of doses
Information technology's easy to forget when you last gave baby a dose of infant acetaminophen, so brand sure to write information technology down every time. Tylenol even has a handy fever diary app you lot can download to your phone. It's especially important to keep track if you accept multiple caregivers treating infant—y'all don't desire anybody accidentally skipping or repeating doses.

• Help infant keep the medicine downwards
If using a syringe, manipulate the liquid slowly into infant'southward mouth—aim for the side pocket betwixt the gum and the cheek, toward the rear of the oral cavity (this is the least taste-sensitive area). If baby spits some of the medicine out, don't give whatever more. Instead, expect until it'southward time for the next dose and attempt this trick: Gently clasp babe's cheeks together when you manipulate the Infant Tylenol—it volition open baby's oral fissure, making it harder to spit.

Updated February 2020

Expert bios:

Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, FAAP, is a Wisconsin-based pediatrician. After writing the Seattle Mama Doc web log on behalf of Seattle Children'south Hospital for ten years, she at present blogs at wendysueswanson.com. She's too the author of Mama Doc Medicine: Finding Calm and Confidence in Parenting, Child Health and Work-Life Balance.

Alexis Phillips, Practise, is a pediatrician with Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics Atascocita in Atascocita, Texas. She is a graduate of Ohio University Heritage Higher of Osteopathic Medicine.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and data it contains are not intended to, and do not institute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used every bit such. You should e'er consult with a qualified physician or wellness professional nigh your specific circumstances. Plus, more from The Bump:

Can You Give a 2 Month Old Baby Tylenol

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