Ibuprofen Dosing for 7-Month-Old, 10 kg Infant
For a 7-month-old infant weighing 10 kg, administer ibuprofen 10 mg/kg per dose (100 mg), given every 6-8 hours as needed, with a maximum of 3-4 doses per day (total daily maximum 30-40 mg/kg or 300-400 mg). 1
Age and Weight Appropriateness
Ibuprofen is generally not recommended for infants under 6 months of age, but at 7 months and 10 kg body weight, this infant meets both the age (>6 months) and weight (>5-6 kg) criteria for safe ibuprofen use. 1, 2
Short-term use of ibuprofen is considered safe in infants older than 3 months with body weight above 5-6 kg when special attention is given to hydration. 2
Specific Dosing Instructions
Calculate the dose based on weight: 10 mg/kg × 10 kg = 100 mg per dose. 1
Dosing interval: Administer every 6-8 hours (not more frequently than every 6 hours). 1, 2
Maximum daily doses: 3-4 doses in 24 hours, resulting in a maximum total daily dose of 30-40 mg/kg (300-400 mg for this 10 kg infant). 2
The effective dose range is 5-10 mg/kg, with clinical trials showing 7.5-10 mg/kg to be most effective; the 10 mg/kg dose provides optimal antipyretic and analgesic effect. 3
Route of Administration
Use oral formulation (syrup/suspension) rather than rectal suppositories. 1
The rectal route has been shown to be less reliable because of erratic absorption, especially in young infants. 2
Timing and Efficacy
Maximum temperature reduction occurs 3-4 hours after administration. 3
Ibuprofen has been shown to be equally as effective as or more effective than acetaminophen (paracetamol) as an antipyretic and to have a longer duration of action. 3
Critical Safety Considerations
Ensure adequate hydration before and during ibuprofen administration—this is the most important safety consideration for infants receiving ibuprofen. 2
Carefully record all dose times to avoid accidentally exceeding the maximum recommended dose, particularly if alternating with acetaminophen. 4
Parents commonly misdose antipyretics, with infants <1 year old at highest risk for inaccurate dosing; weight-based dosing reduces this risk. 5
When to Consider Acetaminophen Instead
For infants under 6 months, acetaminophen (15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours, maximum 60 mg/kg/day) is the only recommended analgesic. 1
If the infant is dehydrated or unable to maintain adequate fluid intake, acetaminophen may be safer than ibuprofen. 1, 2
Alternating with Acetaminophen (if needed)
If both medications are required for persistent fever, give acetaminophen every 4-6 hours and ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, staggering the timing so medications are given every 3-4 hours. 1
Using both medicines together provides an additional 2.5 hours without fever over 24 hours compared to ibuprofen alone, though this benefit must be weighed against the risk of dosing errors. 4
Ibuprofen should be the first-line agent, with consideration of adding acetaminophen only if fever control is inadequate with ibuprofen alone. 4