Ibuprofen for Kids: Everything You Need to Know
Key takeaways:
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a reliable over-the-counter medication that can reduce fever and pain in children older than 6 months.
Ibuprofen for children and infants comes in liquid, chewable, and pill form. The strength varies, so make sure to check dosage information on the packaging.
It’s safe for children to take ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol) together. But it’s best not to give them the medications at the same time. Instead, alternate doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen every 3 hours.
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Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It’s available over the counter (OTC) and can temporarily reduce fever and pain. Ibuprofen helps relieve inflammation, too. Some people take ibuprofen to manage pain and symptoms from medical conditions. When used correctly, ibuprofen is safe for children older than 6 months.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to safely use ibuprofen to treat your child’s symptoms.
Can kids take ibuprofen?
Yes, most children can safely take ibuprofen.
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But there’s a couple of exceptions. Children should not take ibuprofen if they:
Are younger than 6 months
Have an allergy to ibuprofen or other NSAIDs
Have a medical condition that affects their kidneys, heart, or liver
Are at risk for bleeding from a medical condition or from taking medication
Children’s ibuprofen is available over the counter as a generic. It’s also sold under several brand names, including Advil and Motrin. Generic and brand-name ibuprofen work equally well, so it’s OK to choose a less expensive generic option.
Generic and brand-name ibuprofen for children come in different forms including liquid suspensions, chewable tablets, and pills.
Liquid suspensions are the most popular forms because they’re easy to swallow for children of all ages. But as kids get bigger, they need to drink more and more ibuprofen to get an appropriate dose. This is typically when it makes sense to switch to chewable tablets.
Keep in mind that liquid suspensions come in different concentrations. For example, infants’ ibuprofen contains 50 mg of ibuprofen in 1.25 mL. Children’s ibuprofen contains 100 mg of ibuprofen in 5 mL. Always make sure to read the package label and instructions. This will contain information about concentration and dosages.
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Can kids take adult ibuprofen?
Yes. Children 12 years and older can take adult ibuprofen as long as they can safely swallow whole pills or capsules.
Stick with liquid forms of ibuprofen or chewable tablets if your child can’t swallow pills. Some children aren’t ready to swallow pills until they’re well into their teen years or early adulthood. It’s best to be safe and give your child time to develop pill-swallowing skills. Rushing them can increase the risk of accidental choking.
Stick with children’s ibuprofen if your child is younger than 12 years, even if they can swallow pills. Adult ibuprofen comes in only one dose — 200 mg per pill or capsule. So you may not be able to give your child the right dose for their weight using adult ibuprofen. Liquid forms allow you to give a more accurate dose for your child’s weight.
How long does children’s ibuprofen last?
In general, a dose of children’s ibuprofen should last up to 6 hours.
Some children may metabolize ibuprofen more slowly than others. Experts recommend giving children’s ibuprofen as needed for fever or pain control every 6 to 8 hours. You shouldn’t give your child more than four doses of ibuprofen over the course of 24 hours.
How long does it take children’s ibuprofen to work?
Ibuprofen tends to work relatively quickly in children. Most children experience pain or fever relief within 30 minutes.
It’s a good idea to give your child ibuprofen with food. This lowers the risk of stomach upset and irritation. But studies suggest that ibuprofen can take longer to kick in if you give it with food or take it with a full stomach. Still, most experts still recommend avoiding ibuprofen on an empty stomach since that can increase the risk of stomach inflammation. It’s also a good idea to make sure your child drinks a few ounces of fluids after taking ibuprofen. This washes all the medication out of the esophagus and into the stomach, which helps lower the risk of esophagitis.
What is the recommended ibuprofen dosage for kids?
The “right” dose of ibuprofen depends on your child’s weight. Ibuprofen packaging includes a dosage table based on weight. Follow your brand’s recommended doses or use the table below for quick reference:
Child’s weight | (50 mg /1.25 mL) | Children’s ibuprofen suspension (100mg/ 5mL) | (100 mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
12-17 pounds | 1.25 mL | 2.5 mL | |
18-23 pounds | 1.875 mL | 4 mL | |
24-35 pounds | 2.5 mL | 5 mL | 1 tablet |
36-47 pounds | 3.75 mL | 7.5 mL | 1.5 tablets |
48-59 pounds | 5 mL | 10 mL | 2 tablets |
60-71 pounds | 12.5 mL | 2.5 tablets | |
72-95 pounds | 15 mL | 3 tablets | |
96 pounds or more | 20 mL | 4 tablets |
Make sure to use a medication syringe or dosing cup to measure out your child’s ibuprofen dose. These items come with the ibuprofen bottle. You can also get new ones from your local pharmacy. The pharmacy staff will often give you a few at no cost.
Don’t use regular spoons to measure out medication. You might accidentally give too much or too little medication using a regular spoon.
What should I do if my child takes double the recommended dosage of ibuprofen?
Don’t panic. A one-time double dose shouldn’t cause lasting harm.
Your child may experience some side effects like upset stomach, nausea, and symptoms of heartburn. These symptoms should go away within an hour or two. Keep your child well hydrated and skip their next ibuprofen dose.
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if your child continues to have symptoms or has severe symptoms like:
Vomiting
Severe stomach ache
Ringing in the ears
Dizziness
Vision changes
You should also call Poison Control right away if:
Your child accidentally takes a very large dose of ibuprofen.
You realize you’ve been giving the incorrect dose more than once.
Can kids take ibuprofen and Tylenol together?
Yes. But, it’s a good idea to give ibuprofen and Tylenol (acetaminophen) at different times. Giving both medications at the same time can lead to stomach upset.
You’d want to alternate doses so your child gets the maximum fever or pain relieving benefits from both medications.
When alternating the medications, it’s important to give only one medication at a time. For example, if you give your child ibuprofen first, then you should wait at least 3 hours before you give your child Tylenol.
You can continue alternating doses but make sure to not exceed the maximum amount of doses in a 24-hour period. Writing down which medication and what time you gave it to your child will help ensure that you don’t give too much of either medication.
The bottom line
Ibuprofen can treat fever and pain in children older than 6 months. Children’s ibuprofen is available over the counter as liquid suspensions and chewable tablets. The right ibuprofen dose depends on your child’s weight. Follow dosing instructions on the packaging or call your child’s primary care provider to find the right dose for their weight. Use a medication syringe or dosing cup to measure out the medication.
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References
HealthyChildren.org. (2023). Ibuprofen dosing table for fever and pain.
Moore, R., A., et al. (2015). Effects of food on pharmacokinetics of immediate release oral formulations of aspirin, dipyrone, paracetamol and NSAIDs – A systematic review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2024). PubChem compound summary for CID 3672, ibuprofen.
Strides Pharma Science Limited. (2022). Ibuprofen- ibuprofen suspension [package insert].
U.K. National Health Service. (2022). Who can and cannot take ibuprofen for children.
Walgreens. (2023). Children's ibuprofen 100 dye free- ibuprofen tablet, chewable [package insert].
Walgreens. (2023). Children's ibuprofen 100- ibuprofen tablet, chewable [package insert].
Walgreens. (2023). Infant’s ibuprofen- ibuprofen suspension [package insert].
