Children get fevers more frequently than many adults, both in response to illness and as part of the body's response to immunizations. It's normal to worry if your child has a fever, and because fevers can make your child uncomfortable, you may want to give him medication to help reduce his body temperature. While it's not safe to give a feverish child aspirin, both ibuprofen and Tylenol -- which is a brand of acetaminophen -- are safe. You can even use them in a cyclic fashion.
Step 1
Discuss your plan with your pediatrician before you attempt to cycle fever reducing -- medications. Recommendations by your child's pediatrician about dosing should take precedence over generalized instructions. Though fevers aren't fun for either you or your child, they're rarely dangerous, and there's a risk associated with using any medication, even one available over the counter. In a 2003 study published by Sheri Carson in "Pediatric Nursing," she notes that unwarranted fear of fever in children leads to unnecessary administration of medication; your pediatrician can help you determine whether you should be medicating your child, and if so, how.
Step 2
Give your child a dose of either ibuprofen or Tylenol. If you want, you can use generic acetaminophen instead of the Tylenol brand. In a 2006 study published in the "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine," Dr. Michael Sarrell and colleagues report the use of a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen to treat fever in children. The authors suggest using 12.5 mg of acetaminophen -- Tylenol -- per kilogram of body weight, which correlates to approximately 5.7 milligram per pound. If you're using ibuprofen first, give 5 milligram per kilogram of body weight, or about 2.3 milligrams per pound. Do not give ibuprofen and Tylenol at the same time.
Step 3
Wait four hours, then give your child a dose of whichever medication you didn't use the first time, following the same dosage guidelines. Continue alternating medications every four hours as needed. The study by Sarrell and colleagues reported using medications in a cyclic fashion for up to three days, but you'll want to discuss the appropriate duration with your child's doctor, and there's no need to continue giving medications if your child's fever improves in the meantime.
Things You'll Need
- Ibuprofen
- Tylenol or generic acetaminophen
References
- "Pediatric Nursing"; Alternating Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen in the Febrile Child: Examination of the Evidence Regarding Efficacy and Safety; Sheri Carson; 2003
- "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine"; Antipyretic Treatment in Young Children With Fever; Michael Sarrell et al.; 2006
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