The pharmacy-trained guide to correct paracetamol and ibuprofen dosing for babies and children — why the box gets it wrong for most children and how to calculate the right dose every time.
A mum gave her 6-month-old baby a tablespoon of Calpol. She thought she was helping. Two hours later they were in A&E. The tablespoon held 15ml. The correct dose for a 6-month-old is 5ml. Nobody had ever told her the spoon in her kitchen drawer was not a medical measuring tool.
Kitchen spoons are not standardised. A teaspoon from your drawer can hold anywhere from 3ml to 7ml. A dessertspoon holds around 10ml. A tablespoon holds 15ml. None of these are the same as the 5ml clinical teaspoon the dose instructions are written for.
Paracetamol overdose damages the liver. In severe cases it is fatal. This is not a minor dosing error — it is a medical emergency.
The NHS and the BNFc state clearly: dose by your child's current weight, not their age. Weigh your child before dosing if you are unsure.
For Calpol 120mg/5ml: 2.5ml for babies 3–6 months (5–8kg) · 5ml for babies 6 months to 2 years (8–13kg) · 7.5ml for children 2–4 years · 10ml for children 4–8 years. Never exceed 4 doses in 24 hours. Leave at least 4 hours between doses.
Ibuprofen is not suitable for babies under 3 months or under 5kg. Do not give to dehydrated babies or children with chickenpox. Must be given with or after food. Maximum 3 doses in 24 hours.
Do not alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen unless specifically advised by your GP or pharmacist. The evidence for this approach is limited and it increases the risk of dosing errors.
Never crush adult paracetamol tablets for a child. Adult tablets contain 500mg — the maximum dose for a baby under 1 year is around 60–120mg. Never give aspirin to anyone under 16 — risk of Reye's syndrome. Never double dose because you think the first dose was not working.
NHS Medicines for children · BNFc paediatric dosing · MHRA medicine safety · Reviewed April 2026.