Tylenol (Acetaminophen) for Kids Dosages: What's a Safe Dosage?

When your child isn’t feeling well, you want to do whatever you can to help them feel better. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a common medication used to relieve pain and reduce fever, and most children can take it. It’s readily available over-the-counter (OTC). But, parents are often faced with the question of how much Tylenol they should give their children.

There are many children’s Tylenol products. But it can be hard to figure out the right dose for your child. And even though OTC product labels contain dosing instructions, it can still get confusing. The children’s Tylenol dose isn’t always straightforward.

What is the correct children’s Tylenol dose by weight?

The recommended children’s Tylenol dose is based on the child’s body weight. Some dosing instructions also have an age range that you can use to determine the dose. This should be used if you’re not sure of their exact weight. But if you know your child’s weight, it’s better to use the dose suggested for their weight range.

For example, if your child is 3 years old and weighs 40 lbs, you’ll notice that they qualify for two different Tylenol doses. It’s better to give your child the recommended dose for their body weight (7.5 mL or 1.5 tablets), rather than the dose for their age (5 mL or 1 tablet).

If your child is between 2 and 11 years old, you can follow the chart below to find the right Tylenol dose. 

Tylenol dosing for babies and infants

If your child is younger than 2 years old, they’ll likely still be able to take Tylenol. But you won’t find dosing information for babies on the OTC label. You'll need to contact your child's healthcare provider to confirm the safest dose for them.

Tylenol dosing for adolescents ages 12 and older

If your child is 12 years old or older, they can take the adult Tylenol dose. You can give them 650 mg (2 regular-strength tablets) every 4 to 6 hours. You also have the option to give them 1,000 mg (2 extra-strength tablets) every 6 hours. If you’re using liquid Tylenol, the dose for kids 12 and older is 20 mL (640 mg) every 4 hours.

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The maximum daily doses for adolescents ages 12 and older vary between products. So be sure to carefully read the label of your selected product.

How often can a child take Tylenol?

For most kids, Tylenol can be given every 4 hours as needed. But the maximum daily dose for most products is usually 5 doses in 24 hours.

For fevers, you should only give your child Tylenol for up to 3 days in a row. For pain, you should only give the medication for up to 5 days in a row. Keep in mind, these are the general OTC recommendations. If your child’s healthcare provider has told you to continue using Tylenol longer, follow their instructions. And if your child’s symptoms get worse after starting Tylenol, stop giving it and contact their provider.

How to measure a child’s Tylenol dose

There are a few ways to measure your child’s liquid Tylenol dose. Common methods include a medication syringe and a medication cup. Do not use a household spoon to measure out medication. This may provide too much or too little Tylenol for your child.

Using medication syringes

Medication syringes can be helpful for giving liquid medications to very young children. To measure out your child’s Tylenol dose with a medication syringe, follow these steps:

1. Gather the bottle of Tylenol and the medication syringe.

2. Take note of the dose lines on the syringe. Find the line that corresponds to the dose you should give your child.

3. Open the bottle of Tylenol and place it on a firm surface, such as a table.

4. Place the syringe opening into the bottle until the tip of the syringe is submerged beneath the liquid. If your bottle has a narrow opening, pour some medication into a clean, small cup and then place the syringe into the liquid.

5. Some bottles have a very small opening that’s designed for only the neck of the syringe to fit it. If this is the case, place the syringe into it as far as you can. You will need to hold both the bottle and syringe upside down to complete the next step.

6. Pull the syringe’s plunger away from the syringe barrel to suck the medication into it.

7. Keep pulling the plunger until the liquid reaches the line for your child’s dose.

8. Close the Tylenol bottle to prevent spills.

9. Slowly squirt the medication into your child’s mouth, along the inside of one cheek. Don’t squirt it in the back of their throat, as this can be a choking hazard.

10. Remove the syringe from your child’s mouth and clean it with warm water and a mild soap. Allow it to air dry. Many syringes can be taken apart for cleaning and then put back together.

Tylenol products labeled for infants typically come with medication syringes. If not, ask your pharmacist if they have any they can provide you. Syringes are also available for purchase in many stores that sell OTC children’s liquid medications.

Using medication cups

Medication cups often come with liquid Tylenol that’s labeled for older children and adolescents. These devices may not be the best option if your child isn’t able to drink beverages from an open cup yet.

To measure out your child’s Tylenol dose with a medication cup, follow these steps:

1. Gather the bottle of Tylenol and the medication cup.

2. Take note of the dose lines on the cup. Find the line that corresponds to the dose you should give your child.

3. Open the bottle of Tylenol and place the cup on a firm surface, such as a table.

4. Slowly pour the Tylenol into the cup. Stop pouring the medication when it reaches the line for your child’s dose.

5. Close the Tylenol bottle to prevent spills.

6. Have your child drink the Tylenol inside the cup.

7. If there’s residue left on the cup, fill it with drinking water. Have your child drink the water from the medication cup.

8. Clean the medication cup with warm water and a mild soap. Allow it to air dry.

Can a child overdose on Tylenol?

Yes, it's possible for a child to overdose on Tylenol. The maximum daily Tylenol weight-based dose for kids is 75 mg per kg of body weight (but not more than 4,000 mg). Taking too much Tylenol can lead to serious health problems, including liver damage.

Signs of Tylenol poisoning may include symptoms like:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

It’s important to realize that many other OTC and prescription medications can contain acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). The acetaminophen in all medications taken counts toward the total daily dose of Tylenol. It can be easy to accidentally exceed the maximum dose of Tylenol in a day if your child is taking multiple medications that contain it.

If you think your child has taken too much Tylenol, it's important to act quickly. Tylenol overdose is a medical emergency. Call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. If possible, have the Tylenol bottle with you so that you can provide information on the amount of Tylenol your child took and when they took it.

What common medications contain acetaminophen?

As mentioned above, Tylenol isn’t the only medication that contains acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is also found in other OTC and prescription medications. In fact, over 200 medications contain this ingredient.

Some common combination medications the contain acetaminophen include:

• Children’s Mucinex Cold, Cough, and Sore Throat (acetaminophen/dextromethorphan/guaifenesin/phenylephrine)

• Delsym Cough Plus Sore Throat (acetaminophen/dextromethorphan)

• Dimetapp Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu (acetaminophen/diphenhydramine/phenylephrine)

• Tylenol PM (acetaminophen/diphenhydramine)

Before giving your child any medication, be sure to read the label carefully. This will help you determine if the medication contains acetaminophen and how much. If you’re not sure if a medication has acetaminophen in it, contact your child’s healthcare provider or pharmacist.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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