Ibuprofen Child Dosage Chart: Weight-Based Dosing for Parents

By Kurt Hansen, MD · Emergency Physician

Ibuprofen is the active pain reliever and fever reducer behind the Children's Motrin, Children's Advil, and most store-brand generic children's ibuprofen suspensions on the shelf. Like acetaminophen, it is one of two over-the-counter medications pediatricians reach for first when a child has a fever or is uncomfortable from teething, ear pain, or a minor injury. Children can take ibuprofen once they are 6 months old; younger infants should not be given it without speaking to a clinician first.

Pediatric ibuprofen dosing is calculated from your child's current weight, not from the age band on the side of the box. The standard pediatric dose is 10 mg per kilogram of body weight, with a 400 mg single-dose ceiling, at least 6–8 hours between doses, and no more than 4 doses in any 24-hour period. This page covers the Children's ibuprofen 100 mg / 5 mL suspension — the orange-or-berry-flavored liquid that ships under the Motrin, Advil, and many store-brand labels at the same concentration, so the chart works regardless of which brand is on your counter. Give the dose with food or milk to reduce stomach upset.

Calculate your child's ibuprofen dose

How Perfect Dose calculates doses — FAQ

Looking for the brand-name equivalent? See our Motrin Child Dosage Chart.

About the Author

Kurt Hansen, MD, is an Emergency Physician and the founder of Perfect Dose App. He has counseled thousands of parents on pediatric medication dosing during more than a decade of emergency medicine practice.