Ibuprofen Syrup Concentration for Pediatric Dosing
For a 3-year-old child, 1 mL of ibuprofen syrup contains either 20 mg or 40 mg of ibuprofen, depending on which pediatric formulation is used—the children's concentration (100 mg/5 mL) delivers 20 mg per mL, while the infant concentration (200 mg/5 mL) delivers 40 mg per mL. 1
Standard Pediatric Ibuprofen Concentrations
Two distinct liquid formulations exist for pediatric ibuprofen:
- Children's ibuprofen: 100 mg/5 mL concentration = 20 mg per 1 mL 2
- Infants' ibuprofen: 200 mg/5 mL concentration = 40 mg per 1 mL 2
Recommended Dosing for a 3-Year-Old
The standard dose is 10 mg/kg per dose, administered every 6-8 hours, with a maximum of 3-4 doses per 24 hours. 1, 3
For practical dosing in a typical 3-year-old (approximately 14-15 kg):
- Target dose: 140-150 mg per dose 4, 5
- Using children's concentration (20 mg/mL): approximately 7-7.5 mL
- Using infant concentration (40 mg/mL): approximately 3.5-4 mL
The effective dose range is 7.5-10 mg/kg, with maximum temperature reduction occurring 3-4 hours after administration. 4
Critical Safety Consideration: Concentration Matters
Dosing errors with the infant concentration (200 mg/5 mL) are significantly more common than with the children's concentration (100 mg/5 mL)—mean absolute dosing errors were 39 mg versus 27 mg respectively (p = 0.036). 2
A concerning 31% of all ibuprofen dosing attempts resulted in greater than 50% error of the assigned dose, with infants under 1 year at highest risk for misdosing. 6, 2
Dosing Best Practices
Always dose based on weight (mg/kg), not age alone, as this reduces misdosing risk (RR 0.71, p < 0.03). 6
For children weighing more than 40 kg, use adult dosing recommendations. 1
The oral route is strongly preferred over rectal administration due to more rapid and consistent absorption. 1, 5
Maximum Daily Limits
The maximum total daily dose is 30-40 mg/kg when using 5-10 mg/kg per dose administered 3-4 times daily. 5