How to treat your child's fever

How to treat your child's fever

To get an accurate temperature reading for newborns to one-year-olds, use only a rectal thermometer. Follow package instructions.

Your health care provider recommends treating a fever in a child younger than one year old only if they have a fever higher than 102 F by rectum. You should not give any form of fever-reducing or pain medicine to a child younger than one year old if you do not know their rectal temperature.

Important: Follow your health care provider's instructions or the instructions on the package label. Keep all medicines out of reach of children.

Acetaminophen

Brand names of acetaminophen include Liquiprin®, Tempra®, Little Fevers® and Children's Tylenol® Oral Suspension®.

  • Always follow your health care provider's instructions.
  • One dose of acetaminophen should last for four hours. Do not give another dose during those four hours.
  • Do not give your child more than five doses of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
  • Do not give your child more medicine than the amount recommended by your health care provider or listed on the package label.
  • Keep this and all medicines out of reach of children.
  • Do not save droppers from old bottles. Only give the dosage with the syringe or dosing tool that comes with the medicine.

Acetaminophen dosage chart

For the chart below: Find your child's weight. Follow the column that matches your child's weight to liquid or chewable tablets.

Weight (pounds) 6 to 11 12 to 17 18 to 23 24 to 35 36 to 47
Age

newborn to 2 years

2 to 3 years  4 to 5 years 
Dose (milligrams)

40 mg

80 mg

120 mg

160 mg

240 mg

Infant suspension (160 mg/5 mL)

1.25 mL
(1/4 teaspoon)

2.5 mL
(1/2 teaspoon)

3.75 mL
(3/4 teaspoon)

5 mL
(1 teaspoon)

7.5 mL
(1 and 1/2 teaspoon)

Liquid (160 mg/5 mL)

1.25 mL (1/4 teaspoon)

2.5 mL (1/2 teaspoon)

3.75 mL (3/4 teaspoon)

5 mL (1 teaspoon)

7.5 mL (1 and 1/2 teaspoon)

Chewable tablets (80 mg each)

--

--

--

2 tablets

3 tablets

Children's chewable tablets (160 mg each)

--

--

--

1 tablet

1 1/2 tablets

Ibuprofen

Brand names of ibuprofen include Advil®, Motrin® and Nuprin®. Ibuprofen is also known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

  • Always follow your health care provider's instructions.
  • Do not give ibuprofen to a child younger than six months old. It is neither recommended nor approved.
  • One dose of ibuprofen should last six to eight hours. Do not give another dose during those six to eight hours.
  • Do not give your child more than four doses of ibuprofen in 24 hours.
  • Do not give your child more medicine than the amount recommended by your health care provider or listed on the package label.
  • Keep this and all medicines out of reach of children.
  • Do not save droppers from old bottles. Only give the dosage with the syringe or dosing tool that comes with the medicine.

Ibuprofen dosage chart

For the chart below: Find your child's weight. Follow the column that matches your child's weight to drops, liquid or chewable tablets.

Weight (pounds) 12 to 17 18 to 23 24 to 35 36 to 47
Age

6 to 23 months

2 to 3 years

4 to 5 years 
Dose (milligrams)

50 mg

75 mg

100 mg

150 mg

Drops (50 mg/1.25 mL)

1.25 mL (2/3 dropper)

1.875 mL (1 dropper)

2.5 mL (1 and 1/3 dropper)

3.75 mL (2 droppers)

Liquid or suspension (100 mg/5 mL)

--

--

5 mL (1 teaspoon)

7.5 mL (1 and 1/2 teaspoon)

Chewable tablets (100 mg each)

--

--

1 tablet

1 and 1/2 tablets

Aspirin

Do not give your child aspirin or medicines that contain salicylate to treat a viral illness, unless your health care provider gives you instructions. These medicines put your child at risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening brain and liver disorder.

When To Call Your Health Care Provider

Call your health care provider if:

  • your child is younger than two months old and has a temperature of at least 100.4 F by rectum
  • your child is two to three months old and has a temperature of more than 101 F by rectum and has signs of illness
  • your child has a temperature higher than 104 F by rectum
  • your child's fever does not go down within 24 hours
  • you gave your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen but the fever and signs of illness last for three days
  • your child breaks out in a rash
  • your child vomits

Non-medicine treatments

  • Give your child lots of liquids. Do not force them to drink.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing. If your child has chills, offer your child a blanket. Take off the blanket when your child feels warmer.

What a febrile (fever) seizure means

Important

Call 911 if your child has trouble breathing, or if the seizure lasts more than 15 minutes.

A febrile (fever) seizure is usually harmless. About 6 percent of children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years have a seizure with a rapidly rising fever.

A seizure usually lasts for less than 1 minute but it can last up to 15 minutes or longer.

Your child is possibly having a seizure if:

  • their eyes roll upward
  • their arms are flexed and legs are straight or if there is a rhythmic jerking of arms and legs

What to do if your child has a seizure

  • Turn on the lights.
  • Move your child to a soft surface. Roll your child to their side so any saliva or vomit can drain from their mouth.
    • Do not hold your child. They will thrash around. Make sure there are no objects around your child that could injure them.
    • Do not put anything in your child's mouth.
  • Check a clock to time the seizure.
  • Watch for arm, let or eye movements. Check your child's breathing.
  • When the seizure is done, sweep away any saliva or vomit with a napkin or washcloth. Your child may appear to be drowsy after the seizure.
  • Call your health care provider.
  • Call 911 if your child has trouble breathing, or if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.

Source: Allina Health's Patient Education, Guide for the Care of Children: Ages Birth to 5, sixth edition, ped-ah-91554
First Published: 02/01/2010
Last Reviewed: 11/16/2022