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EspañolInfants’ Tylenol (active ingredient: acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter medication used to temporarily relieve pain and fever in children up to the age of 3 years. It only relieves symptoms and does not treat or cure any underlying medical condition. Infants’ Tylenol is taken by mouth as a flavored oral suspension in doses measured from 1.25 to 5 milliliters (mL), depending on the weight and/or age of the child. It can be taken with or without food.
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Infants’ Tylenol forms and strengths
Infants’ Tylenol is an oral suspension with a concentration of 160 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per 5 milliliters (mL) of liquid. It's available in grape, cherry, and dye-free cherry flavors.
Children's Tylenol dosage chart |
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|---|---|---|
| Weight | Age | Recommended dosage (liquid) |
| 36-47 lbs. | 4-5 years | 7.5 mL |
| 48-59 lbs. | 6-8 years | 10 mL |
| 60-71 lbs. | 9-10 years | 12.5 mL |
| 72-95 lbs. | 11 years | 15 mL |
Infants’ Tylenol vs. Children's Tylenol dosage
As a low dose of acetaminophen, Infants’ Tylenol may be suitable for children between the ages of 0 and 3 years; although, caregivers should always consult a doctor before giving acetaminophen to a child younger than 2 years old. Caregivers should not exceed the standard or recommended dose. Do not exceed five doses in a single 24-hour period.
Infants’ Tylenol doses are determined by weight or age, but weight-based dosing is recommended.
Infants’ Tylenol dosage by weight and age |
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|---|---|---|
| Weight | Age | Recommended dosage |
| 6-11 lbs | 0-3 months | Ask a doctor |
| 12-17 lbs | 4-11 months | Ask a doctor |
| 18-23 lbs | 12-23 months | Ask a doctor |
| 24-35 lbs | 2-3 years | 5 mL liquid |
The FDA emphasizes the importance of consulting a healthcare professional before giving acetaminophen to any child younger than 2. You should also consult with a doctor about an appropriate dose if the infant has liver disease, kidney problems, or is taking warfarin, a blood-thinning drug.
Children’s Tylenol is available in the same strength as Infants’ Tylenol (160 mg/5 mL). The difference is that Infants’ Tylenol is packaged with an oral syringe (for administration to infants) and is available in one- to two-ounce bottles and Children’s Tylenol is packaged with a dosing cup and is available in a four-ounce bottle. Infants’ Tylenol can be given to children who are 2 to 3 years old while Children’s Tylenol can be given to children who are 2 to 11 years old. Therefore, there is some overlap between products but they’re not exactly interchangeable. Tylenol dosage depends on the child’s weight and age.
Infants’ Tylenol dosage adjustments
Use Infants’ Tylenol for the temporary relief of fever, chills, and minor aches and pain due to flu, cold, headache, sore throat, or toothache. It's also indicated for fever. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that caregivers always talk to a pediatrician when an infant’s rectal temperature exceeds 101 degrees F.
Pediatric patients: Dose depends on weight. A single dose is taken every four hours up to a maximum of five doses (25 mL in children aged 2 to 3) in 24 hours.
Renally impaired patients—dose frequency adjustment:
Creatinine clearance of 10-50 mL/min: Give usual recommended dose every six to eight hours.
Creatinine clearance less than 10 mL/min: Give usual recommended dose every eight hours.
Dialysis patients: Give the usual recommended dose every eight hours with no supplement after dialysis.
Hepatically impaired patients—dosage decrease adjustment: Consult a pediatrician for the appropriately reduced dose.
Dosing information above from Epocrates.
How to give Infants’ Tylenol to children
Infants’ Tylenol is administered to a child using a metered oral syringe dropper that is included with the medication. Marks on the oral syringe indicate four standard measurements: 1.25 mL, 2.5 mL, 3.75 mL, and 5 mL. While Infants’ Tylenol can be administered to children who weigh more than 35 pounds, these children will require larger doses than those marked on the Infants’ Tylenol dosing device. Children’s Tylenol comes with a dosing cup appropriate for older children.
Dosing by weight is preferred, but if you don’t know the weight, dose by age.
Shake the bottle well before use.
Push all the air out of the oral syringe by fully depressing the plunger.
Remove the child-resistant cap from the bottle.
Insert the oral syringe tip into the bottle opening.
With the oral syringe tip in the bottle opening, flip the bottle upside down.
Pull the plunger to fill the oral syringe to the correct dosage.
Remove the oral syringe and place the tip in the child’s mouth.
Dispense the liquid slowly toward the child’s inner cheek.
Replace the child-resistant cap tightly.
Repeat the dose every four hours if symptoms persist.
Do not give more than five doses in a single 24-hour period.
When administering Infants’ Tylenol, you may want to consider the following safety and effectiveness tips:
Always check the expiration date on the bottle. If the medicine has passed its expiration date, dispose of it safely and purchase a new bottle.
Always shake the bottle vigorously before drawing out a dose. If not, the last doses will have a higher concentration of acetaminophen and could result in an overdose.
Determine the dose by the child’s weight rather than age. If you need to, weigh your child before dispensing Infants’ Tylenol.
Always use the oral syringe to accurately measure the dose. Do not use household/kitchen measuring spoons, measuring cups, or other devices—they are not accurate to measure medication. If you lose the oral syringe, your pharmacy will usually provide a dosing syringe at no cost.
If possible, have another adult check the dosing chart and the measured dose before giving the medicine to the child.
For each dose, record the time in a calendar or schedule to ensure that the next dose is not given too early.
If the infant tends to spit out medicine, try gently squeezing the infant’s cheeks together when giving a dose to facilitate swallowing.
If the infant is fussy about the flavor, add it to a tastier drink. Colder drinks especially will numb the tongue a bit and blunt flavors the infant does not prefer.
Infants’ Tylenol dosage FAQs
How long does it take Infants’ Tylenol to work?
Infants’ Tylenol takes about 30 to 45 minutes to start working. The maximum effect will be achieved in about one hour.
How long does Infants’ Tylenol stay in your system?
At the recommended dosage, the effects of Infants’ Tylenol should last four to six hours. However, an infant’s ability to clear acetaminophen from their body depends on their age and could vary widely in children of the same age.
Healthcare professionals measure how long a drug stays in the body by its half-life, that is, the amount of time it takes for the body to eliminate half the amount of a drug in the body. It generally takes about five to six half-lives to clear a drug from the body. The half-life of acetaminophen is two to four hours, but can vary by age or other factors (such as liver problems). Because of this variation, be on the lookout for signs of infant acetaminophen poisoning such as sleepiness, lethargy, vomiting, and lowered responsiveness.
What happens if my child misses a dose of Infants’ Tylenol?
You can administer a missed dose any time after it was scheduled to be taken. Missing a dose will reset the dosing schedule, so the next dose should be taken four, six, or eight hours after the missed dose is administered. Contact your child’s healthcare provider if you have questions or need clarification.
Talk to a healthcare provider about what to do if an infant spits up or vomits a dose of Infants’ Tylenol. The manufacturer suggests that no additional medicine be given and to wait until the next scheduled dose. The American Academy of Pediatrics counsels that caregivers should consult a pediatrician about what to do if a child spits out or vomits up a medicine. A doctor may suggest switching to infants’ acetaminophen suppositories such as FeverAll Infants’ Suppositories if spitting out or vomiting medicine is a problem.
How does my child stop taking Infants’ Tylenol?
If taken at recommended doses for a short period, acetaminophen can be discontinued without any problems.
Discontinue use of Infants’ Tylenol if pain or fever worsens or persists for longer than two days. Also, stop the use of Infants’ Tylenol and seek immediate medical care at any sign of an allergic skin reaction such as redness, swelling, rash, or blisters.
What can be used instead of Infants’ Tylenol?
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Motrin Infant Drops (infants' ibuprofen) can be used in place of Infants’ Tylenol in children 6 months or older. Note: Aspirin should never be given to a child with a viral infection, as it could cause Reye’s syndrome. Consult your healthcare provider for a recommendation if you need guidance.
What is the maximum dosage for Infants’ Tylenol?
Refer to the packaging or consult your child’s pediatrician for more information about Tylenol dosages. Do not give more than five doses in a single 24-hour period. Patients with liver problems or kidney problems will require a lower dose and/or a modified dosing schedule.
What interacts with Infants’ Tylenol?
Acetaminophen can damage the liver, so be extra careful to avoid other drugs containing acetaminophen when giving infants Tylenol. Many over-the-counter cold, flu, and other combination drugs contain acetaminophen. The use of multiple over-the-counter medicines is a common cause of unintentional acetaminophen poisoning in infants and children. According to the FDA, cough and cold medications should not be used in children younger than 2 years old, so consult your child's pediatrician regarding appropriate and safe product selection
In children younger than 1 year, do not use topical lidocaine or benzocaine products. The combination with Infants’ Tylenol can cause a serious blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. If the child is older than 1 year old, consult the child’s healthcare provider before using Infants’ Tylenol along with a topical numbing product.
Some prescription drugs interact with acetaminophen, creating a toxic metabolite and raising the risk of liver damage—for example, phenobarbital or carbamazepine. If your infant takes any prescription medications, consult your healthcare provider to ensure there are no drug interactions.
Foods do not generally affect the absorption of liquid acetaminophen. However, cruciferous vegetables—cabbage, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and similar foods—may speed up the body’s breakdown of acetaminophen, reducing its effectiveness.
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