Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Dosing for a 44-Pound Child
For a 44-pound (20 kg) child, the recommended dose of acetaminophen is 200-300 mg every 4-6 hours, and the recommended dose of ibuprofen is 100-200 mg every 6-8 hours. 1, 2
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Dosing
- Acetaminophen should be dosed at 10-15 mg/kg per dose 1, 3
- For a 44-pound (20 kg) child, this equals 200-300 mg per dose
- Maximum of 4 doses in 24 hours (every 4-6 hours) 2
- Available in liquid suspensions/elixirs, chewable tablets, and regular tablets 1
- Use appropriate measuring devices for liquid formulations to ensure accurate dosing 1
- Children weighing more than 40 kg should be dosed as adults 1
Ibuprofen (Motrin) Dosing
- Ibuprofen should be dosed at 5-10 mg/kg per dose 2, 4
- For a 44-pound (20 kg) child, this equals 100-200 mg per dose
- Maximum of 3 doses in 24 hours (every 6-8 hours) 2
- Ibuprofen has a longer duration of action than acetaminophen 2
Important Considerations
- Weight-based dosing is more accurate than age-based dosing for both medications 5, 4
- Parents who use weight-based dosing are less likely to give inaccurate doses of medication 4
- Studies show that up to 51% of parents give inaccurate doses of these medications, with acetaminophen more frequently misdosed (62%) than ibuprofen (26%) 4
- Carefully record all dose times to avoid accidentally exceeding the maximum recommended dose 2
If Using Both Medications
- When treating fever, ibuprofen may be used first due to its longer duration of action 2
- If using both medications, consider the relative risks (potentially exceeding maximum recommended doses) versus benefits (additional fever-free time) 2
- Always record dose times carefully to avoid accidental overdosing 2
Dosing Accuracy
- Use appropriate measuring devices for liquid formulations 1
- Avoid using household spoons which can lead to significant dosing errors 5, 4
- For acetaminophen, inadequate dosing may result in insufficient fever control, while excessive dosing can lead to hepatotoxicity 6, 5
- For ibuprofen, accurate dosing is essential to balance effectiveness with minimizing side effects 2, 4