Children less than 6 months old
Prepared for you by Branson Clinic, LLC
(Revised
January 4, 2006)
If your child is less than 3 months old, he or she should be seen by the physician prior to any over the counter treatment. Any child less than 3 months old with a fever greater than 100.4 should be seen by a physician immediately.
Sometimes when babies are sick the breast milk or formula will be to thick and they will have difficulty drinking. Giving them less milk and supplementing with pedialyte can help them stay hydrated. Pedialyte should not substitute for milk more than 2 days in a row without your child being seen by the physician.
Brand names: Little Noses, Ocean Nasal Spray, Ayr Baby
These drops contain soothing saline solution and can be very beneficial in helping your baby feel better. To use this, fill one side of the nose with the saline drops. After 1 minute use the suction bulb to suck out the loosened mucus. You will need to block one nostril while suctioning the other. You can repeat this procedure as often as needed to clear the congestion. Do this procedure at least 4 times daily. A cool mist vaporizer will also help to keep the mucus membranes moist, cutting down on congestion.
Brand names: Little Noses decongestant drops
These drops have a decongestant medicine in them and they need to be limited, unlike the nasal saline drops above. Only use these drops when okayed by the doctor. To use these drops, you will place 2 drops in each nostril 2-3 times daily. It is important that you do not exceed the recommended dose of this medicine.
Brand names: acetometaphin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil
Acetaminophen Dosage Information
Dosages may be repeated every six to eight hours, but should not be given more than four times in twenty-four hours.
|
Age* |
Weight** |
Drops |
Elixir |
|
0 to 3 months |
6 to 11 lbs. |
0.4 ml (1/2 dropper) |
-- |
|
4 to 11 months |
12 to 17 lbs. |
0.8 ml (1 dropper) |
1/2 tsp. |
|
12 to 23 months |
18 to 23 lbs. |
1.2 ml (1 1/2 dropper) |
3/4 tsp. (3.75 ml) |
|
2 to 3 years |
24 to 35 lbs. |
1.6 ml (2 droppers) |
1 tsp. (5 ml) |
(Note: Milliliter is abbreviated as ml; 5 ml equals 1 teaspoon [tsp]. Don't use household teaspoons, which can vary in size.)
*Remember that your child's weight, not his age, determines how much medicine your child should get. If your baby weighs more than the weight range for his age group, check with your doctor before giving him the next highest dose.
Dosages may be repeated every six to eight hours, but should not be given more than four times in twenty-four hours.
Important note for Ibuprofen infant and pediatric drops dosage:Note: as of February 2003, Motrin changed their dropper to a syringe that is identical to the Advil syringe. The old dropper was like the Pediacare Fever Drops - if you have the old dropper, just follow the instructions for the Pediacare drops, below. Different dropper sizes: Pediacare Fever Drops come with a 1.25ml (¼ tsp) dropper, whereas Motrin and Advil Infant's Drops come with a 1.875ml syringe for dosing. The amount you are giving is the same, you are just giving it in a different sized dropper.
Don't let the dropper/syringe difference confuse you. The milligram amount you are giving is the same, you are just giving it in a different sized syringe. If you're in doubt about how much to give, you can use the milligram dosage column on the left to double-check yourself. |
|
Weight: |
Milligram Dosage |
Pediacare drops
50mg/1.25ml |
Advil/Motrin
Drops 50mg/1.25ml |
Children's
liquid 100mg/5ml |
|
9-10 lbs >3 months |
25mg |
½ dropper (0.625) |
1/3 syringe (0.625ml) |
N/A |
|
11-16 lbs |
50mg |
1 dropper (1.25ml) |
2/3 syringe (1.25ml) |
½ tsp (2.5ml) |
|
17-21 lbs |
75mg |
1 ½ dropper (1.25ml + 0.625ml) |
1 syringe (1.875ml) |
¾ tsp (3.75ml) |
|
22-26 lbs |
100mg |
2 droppers (2 x 1.25ml) |
1 1/3 syringe (1.875ml + 0.625ml) |
1 tsp (5ml) |
|
27-32 lbs |
125mg |
2 ½ droppers (2 x 1.25ml + 0.625ml) |
1 2/3 syringe (1.875ml + 01.25ml) |
1 ¼ tsp (6.25ml) |
|
33-37 lbs |
150mg |
3 droppers (3 x 1.25ml) |
2 syringes (2 x 1.875ml) |
1 ½ tsp (7.5ml) |
Askdrsears.com