Paracetamol and ibuprofen syrup dose calculator for children
Dose in mg and mL by weight for common syrup strengths.
What this calculator is for
It converts a child's weight into a dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen in mg and in mL of the syrup strength you choose. Dosing errors with children's syrups are common, mostly from wrong strength, wrong spoon or double-dosing.
The doses used
- Paracetamol: 15 mg/kg per dose every 4–6 hours, no more than 4 doses (60 mg/kg) in 24 hours, maximum 1 g per dose.
- Ibuprofen: 10 mg/kg per dose every 6–8 hours, maximum 30 mg/kg/day, for children over 3 months and over 5 kg.
- mL to give = dose (mg) × 5 ÷ strength (mg per 5 mL).
Worked example
A 12 kg child: paracetamol 180 mg = 7.5 mL of 120 mg/5 mL syrup (or 3.6 mL of 250 mg/5 mL). Ibuprofen 120 mg = 6 mL of 100 mg/5 mL syrup.
How to use it safely
- Use the child's measured weight. If you must estimate, use the weight estimate calculator and remember that many Pakistani children are lighter than the formula.
- Read the strength on the bottle every time. Confusing 120 mg/5 mL with 250 mg/5 mL, or syrup with concentrated drops (often 100 mg/mL), causes serious overdoses.
- Give parents an oral syringe; household spoons vary widely.
- Check for paracetamol in cough and cold mixtures to avoid double-dosing.
When not to give ibuprofen
- Possible dengue, or any fever in dengue season until it is excluded, because of bleeding risk.
- Chickenpox, dehydration, kidney disease, and asthma known to worsen with NSAIDs.
Fever, not the thermometer
NICE advises using antipyretics to relieve distress, not just to lower the temperature. Give one drug; switch to the other only if the child is still distressed before the next dose is due. Antipyretics do not prevent febrile seizures. Under 3 months, any fever needs medical assessment and paracetamol doses differ in neonates.
See paracetamol, ibuprofen, fever in a well-looking child, the febrile child and dengue fever.
Frequently asked questions
How much paracetamol syrup for a 10 kg child?
150 mg per dose, which is 6.25 mL of the 120 mg/5 mL syrup or 3 mL of the 250 mg/5 mL syrup, up to 4 times in 24 hours.
Can I give paracetamol and ibuprofen together?
Give one. Switch to the other only if the child is still distressed before the next dose is due. Do not give both at the same time routinely.
Why avoid ibuprofen in dengue?
Dengue lowers platelets and can cause bleeding. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen add to the bleeding risk, so paracetamol is the antipyretic of choice.
How much ibuprofen syrup for a 15 kg child?
150 mg per dose, which is 7.5 mL of 100 mg/5 mL syrup, every 6–8 hours, no more than 450 mg in 24 hours.
A calculator supports, but does not replace, clinical judgement. Check results before acting on them.