Key takeaways:
NyQuil is a popular brand of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products. Not all NyQuil products are safe for children under age 12.
The recommended NyQuil dosage for kids ages 6 to 11 is 15 mL by mouth every 4 or 6 hours, depending on which product you choose. No more than 4 doses of any NyQuil product should be given in 24 hours.
Ask a pediatrician before giving NyQuil to kids between ages 4 and 5. You shouldn’t give NyQuil to children under 4 years old.
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When your child is sick with a cold or the flu, it can be a time fraught with worry. And as parents, we’d do anything to help them feel better quickly. But not all cold medicine is safe for kids. And knowing proper dosages of products that are safe is important.
What about the popular cold medication NyQuil? Can this over-the-counter (OTC) product be safely given to kids? In short, yes — but only for certain age groups. Below, you’ll find a children’s NyQuil dosage chart and detailed guide. But always ask your child’s pediatrician or pharmacist if you’re unsure how much to give.
What’s the typical NyQuil dosage for children?
The typical NyQuil children’s dosage will depend on which product you use. NyQuil is a brand name for a variety of cough and cold products. Each product includes up to four different medications that treat several symptoms at once.
Children’s NyQuil dosages are not based on body weight. They’re based on your child’s age. Adolescents ages 12 and older can follow the adult dosages of any NyQuil product. Be sure to check out our adult NyQuil dosage guide for more information.
A few NyQuil products have instructions for younger children, as we’ll detail below. But don’t give the medication if you don’t see your child’s age group on the product label. NyQuil isn’t safe to give to all children, especially those under 4 years old.
Be sure to use an appropriate dosing device when measuring out liquid medication. You can use the dosing cup provided by the manufacturer. You can also check with your pharmacist. They may have alternative devices available, such as dosing syringes. Don’t use household spoons, as they may provide inaccurate amounts of NyQuil.
Children’s NyQuil dosage chart
Under age 4 | Ages 4-5 | Ages 6-11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
NyQuil Kids Honey dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 4 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
NyQuil Kids Berry dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 6 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Fever dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 4 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Runny Nose dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 4 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
NyQuil Kids Allergy dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 4 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
NyQuil Severe Honey dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 4 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion dosage | Do not give | Ask your child’s pediatrician | 15 mL every 4 hours as needed Max dose: No more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours. |
Good to know: Taking honey can help soothe a cough. But the honey that’s included in NyQuil Kids Honey and NyQuil Severe Honey is listed as an inactive ingredient. This means that it doesn’t contribute to the products’ medicinal properties. It’s only included for flavoring purposes.
NyQuil Kids Honey dosage
NyQuil Kids Honey is one of a few NyQuil products that are labeled as a “children’s” medication. This formulation comes as an alcohol-free, honey-flavored liquid.
Each 15 mL of liquid contains:
10 mg of dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant)
6.25 mg of doxylamine (an antihistamine for runny nose and to help with sleep)
5 mg of phenylephrine (a decongestant for stuffy nose)
The typical NyQuil Kids Honey dosage is:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Kids Honey to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
Keep in mind that NyQuil Kids Honey contains phenylephrine. The FDA has stated that oral phenylephrine is ineffective for nasal congestion. While phenylephrine isn’t harmful, it may not work for your child’s congestion.
When NyQuil takes effect: NyQuil takes about 30 minutes to start working. Read more pharmacist-backed answers to common NyQuil questions, plus tips for taking it.
NyQuil for kids over 12: Adolescents ages 12 and older should follow the recommended adult NyQuil dosages. These doses are larger than what younger children take.
A dextromethorphan dilemma: Cough syrup misuse is a known problem, particularly among teens. Taking too much dextromethorphan, an ingredient in some NyQuil products, can cause serious side effects.
NyQuil Kids Berry dosage
NyQuil Kids Berry is another product in the NyQuil line that’s labeled specifically for children. It’s an alcohol-free liquid and is berry flavored. It used to be called Children’s NyQuil. So it’s possible you may have a bottle with this name at home.
Every 15 mL of liquid contains:
15 mg of dextromethorphan
2 mg of chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine for runny nose and to help with sleep)
The typical NyQuil Kids Berry dosage is:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Kids Berry to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 6 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Fever
NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Fever is an alcohol-free, grape-flavored product. This formulation includes a medication that can help reduce fever and relieve pain. So it can be a good option if your child also has these symptoms.
Every 15 mL of liquid includes:
325 mg of acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer)
10 mg of dextromethorphan
6.25 mg of doxylamine
The typical NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Fever dosage is:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Fever to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Runny Nose dosage
NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Runny Nose only has one active ingredient. Every 15 mL of liquid contains 12.5 mg of diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl). This medication is grape-flavored, sugar-free, and alcohol-free. It’s also free of artificial dyes.
The typical NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Runny Nose dosage is:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Kids Cold and Cough Plus Runny Nose to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
NyQuil Kids Allergy dosage
NyQuil Kids Allergy also has only one active ingredient. Every 15 mL of liquid contains 6.25 mg of doxylamine. Unlike most NyQuil products, this version is labeled for allergy relief (not cold symptoms). NyQuil Kids Allergy is berry flavored and alcohol-free.
The typical NyQuil Kids Allergy dosage is:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Kids Allergy to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
NyQuil Severe Honey dosage
The majority of products in NyQuil’s Severe line are for adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. But the honey-flavored, alcohol-free version can be given to younger children.
Each 15 mL of NyQuil Severe Honey contains:
325 mg of acetaminophen
10 mg of dextromethorphan
6.25 mg of doxylamine
5 mg of phenylephrine
The children’s dosage for NyQuil Severe Honey is as follows:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Severe Honey to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion dosage
This is another adult NyQuil formulation that has children’s dosage information. NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion comes as an alcohol-free, berry-flavored liquid.
Each 15 mL of liquid contains:
10 mg of dextromethorphan
6.25 mg of doxylamine
5 mg of phenylephrine
The children’s dosage for NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion is as follows:
Under 4 years old: Don’t give NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion to this age group.
Ages 4 to 5: Speak to your child’s pediatrician before giving.
Ages 6 to 11: Give 15 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 4 doses (60 mL) in 24 hours.
What happens if your child misses a dose of NyQuil?
NyQuil products are taken when you need them to feel better from a cold or the flu. You don’t need to take them on a set schedule. If you forget to take a dose, it's not a big problem. But it is important to wait for the right amount of time between doses and not take more than the instructions say.
What should you do if your child takes too much NyQuil?
If your child takes too much NyQuil, it can increase the chance of harmful effects such as liver damage. These risks vary, depending on which product you give your child. Make sure to follow the suggested children’s doses for the particular NyQuil product you have.
If you want to give NyQuil to your child along with other cold medications, it’s important to ask your pharmacist if it's safe to do so. Cold products often have similar (or even identical) ingredients. Giving multiple cold medications together can accidentally result in giving too much of one or more ingredients.
Taking too much NyQuil can lead to seizures, a high fever, or abnormal heart rhythms. If you think that your child has taken too much NyQuil, reach out to their pediatrician or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If the symptoms seem very serious or life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away.
Store all medications, including NyQuil products, out of reach of children. Children’s medications often taste good to help kids take doses when needed. But this can lead to a child accidentally consuming too much. Be sure to store medication bottles up high and out of sight. You can also use a medication lockbox for added safety.
The bottom line
Certain NyQuil products can be safely given to children ages 6 and older. Typically, you can give 15 mL of NyQuil Kids products every 4 or 6 hours (depending on the product). But remember not to give more than 4 doses per day. Children’s NyQuil dosages are based on a child’s age, not their body weight.
Keep in mind that each NyQuil product might have different ingredients that treat different symptoms. So be sure to carefully read the label when choosing a NyQuil product for your child.
Why trust our experts?
References
DailyMed. (n.d.). Search results for: NyQuil.
DailyMed. (n.d.). Search results for: NyQuil severe.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2024). Vicks NyQuil kids berry cold and cough plus runny nose- chlorpheniramine maleate, dextromethorphan hbr liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2025). Vicks NyQuil cough DM plus congestion- dextromethorphan hydrobromide, doxylamine succinate and phenylephrine hydrochloride liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2025). Vicks NyQuil kids allergy- doxylamine succinate liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2025). Vicks NyQuil kids cold and cough plus fever- acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, doxylamine succinate liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2025). Vicks NyQuil kids free of artificial dyes and sugar cold and cough plus runny nose- diphenhydramine hydrochloride liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2025). Vicks NyQuil kids honey cold cough congestion- doxylamine succinate, phenylephrine hydrochloride and dextromethorphan hydrobromide liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company. (2025). Vicks NyQuil severe honey cold and flu- acetaminophen, dextromethrophan, doxylamine succinate, phenylephrine hcl liquid [package insert]. DailyMed.
