When your child's fever requires treatment with a fever reducer, it is best to choose one type of medication instead of alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen. In some cases, however, your child's pediatrician may instruct you to alternate medications to control the fever more closely. In these cases, follow your pediatrician's instructions. Do not give aspirin to children, alone or in combination with other medications, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal condition linked to aspirin use in kids.
Step 1
Read the labels on both medications carefully to determine proper dosing and timing. If you have any questions, consult your pediatrician or pharmacist.
Step 2
Create a medication log to ensure you do not overmedicate your child. List the name of each medication, the time given and the dose. Check this list before every dose of medication.
Step 3
Give your child the correct dose of acetaminophen every four hours, or as directed by your pediatrician. Do not double up on this medication if you miss a dose. Administering too much acetaminophen to your child can cause liver failure and death.
Step 4
Wait two hours and then administer the correct dose of ibuprofen to your child. The recommended dosing schedule for ibuprofen is every six to eight hours. This means some doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen may be closer together than other doses. Ask your pediatrician for special instructions on how to handle this.
Step 5
Use the dosing droppers or cups included with each medication. Do not use the cup packaged with the ibuprofen to administer the acetaminophen, for example. Also, do not use cups or droppers left over from other medications. Doing so increases the risk of improper dosing.
Step 6
Avoid giving your child too many doses of each medication per day. Unless otherwise instructed by your pediatrician, limit doses of acetaminophen to no more than five per day, and keep ibuprofen doses to four or less per day.
Tips and Warnings
- An example schedule for alternating fever reducers in children would be to administer acetaminophen at 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and give ibuprofen doses at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the same time period.
Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter children's acetaminophen
- Over-the-counter children's ibuprofen
