Children’s ibuprofen dosage
Every chart below is transcribed from a real FDA drug-facts label, and grouped by the strength printed on the bottle. We calculate nothing.
Check the strength on your bottle first
The same medicine is sold at more than one concentration, and a chart is only correct for the bottle it was printed on. Find the “active ingredient” line on your package and match it to the heading above a chart below. If it does not match any of them, use the chart on your own box and ask a pharmacist if it is unclear.
100 mg per 5 mL
On the bottle this reads “ACTIVE INGREDIENT (IN EACH 5 ML) Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID)”.
The same chart appears on 42 products, including CHILDRENS ADVIL, Childrens Ibuprofen, Childrens Ibuprofen 572.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (yr) | Dose (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| under 24 lb | under 2 yr | ask a doctor |
| 24-35 lb | 2-3 yr | 5 mL |
| 36-47 lb | 4-5 yr | 7.5 mL |
| 48-59 lb | 6-8 yr | 10 mL |
| 60-71 lb | 9-10 yr | 12.5 mL |
| 72-95 lb | 11 yr | 15 mL |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
50 mg per 1.25 mL
On the bottle this reads “ACTIVE INGREDIENT (in each 1.25 mL) Ibuprofen 50 mg (NSAID)”.
The same chart appears on 17 products, including Concentrated ibuprofen infants, Ibuprofen infants Drops, Infants Ibuprofen.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| WEIGHT (lb) | AGE (mos) | DOSE (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| under 6 mos | ask a doctor | |
| 12-17 lbs | 6-11 mos | 1.25 mL |
| 18-23 lbs | 12-23 years | 1.875 mL |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
100 mg per chewable tablet
On the bottle this reads “Active ingredient (in each chewable tablet) Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID)”.
The same chart appears on 15 products, including Childrens Ibuprofen, GOOD SENSE CHILDRENS IBUPROFEN, Good Sense Childrens Ibuprofen.
| Weight (lb) | Age (yr) | Tablets |
|---|---|---|
| under 24 | under 2 | ask a doctor |
| 24-35 | 2-3 | 1 |
| 36-47 | 4-5 | 1 ½ |
| 48-59 | 6-8 | 2 |
| 60-71 | 9-10 | 2 ½ |
| 72-95 | 11 | 3 |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
100 mg per tablet
On the bottle this reads “ACTIVE INGREDIENT (IN EACH TABLET) Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID)”.
From the label for JUNIOR STRENGTH ADVIL.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (yr) | Dose (tablets) |
|---|---|---|
| under 48 lb | under 6 yr | ask a doctor |
| 48-71 lb | 6-10 yr | 2 tablets |
| 72-95 lb | 11 yr | 3 tablets |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
100 mg per tablet
On the bottle this reads “ACTIVE INGREDIENT (IN EACH TABLET) Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID)”.
From the label for JUNIOR STRENGTH ADVIL.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (yr) | Dose (tablets) |
|---|---|---|
| under 24 lb | under 2 yr | ask a doctor |
| 24-35 lb | 2-3 yr | 1 tablet |
| 36-47 lb | 4-5 yr | 1 ½ tablets |
| 48-59 lb | 6-8 yr | 2 tablets |
| 60-71 lb | 9-10 yr | 2 ½ tablets |
| 72-95 lb | 11 yr | 3 tablets |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
50 mg per 1.25 mL
On the bottle this reads “Active ingredient (in each 1.25 mL) Ibuprofen 50 mg (NSAID)”.
From the label for Infants Ibuprofen.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (mos) | Dose (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| under 6 mos | ask a doctor | |
| 12 to 17 lbs | 6 to 11 mos | 1.25 mL |
| 18 to 23 lbs | 12 to 23 mos | 1.875 mL |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
100 mg per 5 mL
On the bottle this reads “Active ingredient (in each 5 mL = 1 teaspoonful) Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID)”.
From the label for Childrens Ibuprofen.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lbs) | Age (yrs) | Dose (teaspoonful or mL) |
|---|---|---|
| under 2 years | ask a doctor | |
| 24-35 lbs | 2-3 years | 1 tsp or 5 mL |
| 36-47 lbs | 4-5 years | 1 ½ tsp or 7.5 mL |
| 48-59 lbs | 6-8 years | 2 tsp or 10 mL |
| 60-71 lbs | 9-10 years | 2 ½ tsp or 12.5 mL |
| 72-95 lbs | 11 years | 3 tsp or 15 mL |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
100 mg per 5 mL
On the bottle this reads “Active ingredient (in each 5 mL cup) Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug”.
From the label for Childrens Ibuprofen.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (yr) | Dose (mL) or as directed by a doctor |
|---|---|---|
| under 24 | under 2 years | ask a doctor |
| 24-35 lbs | 2-3 years | 5 mL (1 unit dose cup) |
| 36-47 lbs | 4-5 years | 7.5 mL (1.5 unit dose cups) |
| 48-59 lbs | 6-8 years | 10 mL (2 unit dose cups) |
| 60-71 lbs | 9-10 years | 12.5 mL (2.5 unit dose cups) |
| 72-95 lbs | 11 years | 15 mL (3 unit dose cups) |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
50 mg per 1.25 mL
On the bottle this reads “Drug Facts Active ingredient (in each 1.25 mL) Ibuprofen USP 50 mg (NSAID)”.
From the label for Infants Ibuprofen.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (mos) | Dose (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| under 6 mos | ask a doctor | |
| 12 to 17 lbs | 6 to 11 mos | 1.25 mL |
| 18 to 23 lbs | 12 to 23 mos | 1.875 mL |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
100 mg per 5 mL
On the bottle this reads “Drug Facts Active ingredient (in each 5 mL)………………….………………………………..………..Purpose Ibuprofen 100 mg (NSAID)”.
From the label for CHILDRENS Ibuprofen.
Products at this strength do not all print the same chart — check the brand above against your box, and if it is not listed, use the chart printed on your own package.
| Weight (lb) | Age (yr) | Dose (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| under 24 | under 2 years | ask a doctor |
| 24 to 35 lbs | 2 to 3 years | 5 mL |
| 36 to 47 lbs | 4 to 5 years | 7.5 mL |
| 48 to 59 lbs | 6 to 8 years | 10 mL |
| 60 to 71 lbs | 9 to 10 years | 12.5 mL |
| 72 to 95 lbs | 11 years | 15 mL |
Transcribed from the FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed.
Frequently asked questions
How much ibuprofen can I give my child?
Read it off the chart for the bottle you are holding, above. There is more than one strength of children's ibuprofen on sale, and each has its own chart — that is why this page shows them separately rather than giving one number. Dose by weight where the chart offers weight; the label itself says to use weight if you know it, and age only otherwise.
Why does the chart say "ask a doctor" for babies under 2?
Because the label does. The FDA drug-facts chart stops at the youngest age the product was approved to be self-administered for, and below that the manufacturer directs you to a clinician rather than printing a dose. We reproduce that row exactly and do not fill it in — a paediatrician dosing an infant is working from weight and a clinical picture that a chart cannot carry.
Can I use a children's chart with an infants' bottle?
No, and this is the mistake that causes real harm. The same drug is sold at different concentrations: infants' ibuprofen is 50 mg per 1.25 mL, children's is 100 mg per 5 mL. Reading one chart against the other bottle gives the wrong amount of medicine. Check the "active ingredient" line on your bottle against the strength shown above each chart here.
Can I use a kitchen spoon to measure it?
No. Use the syringe or cup that came with that specific product — labels say so explicitly, and household spoons vary enough to matter at these volumes. If the dosing device is lost, ask a pharmacist for one rather than estimating.
Where do these numbers come from?
Each table is transcribed cell for cell from that product's FDA drug-facts label on DailyMed, linked under every chart. We calculate nothing and we merge nothing across products.
More on ibuprofen
These charts are reproduced from FDA drug-facts labels for reference. They are not medical advice and cannot account for your child’s other medicines or conditions. Always read the label on the product you are giving, never exceed the stated number of doses in 24 hours, and call a doctor, pharmacist or poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) if you are unsure or think too much has been given.