OTC Calculator
Over-the-counter medications are dosed by weight or age depending on the drug, and it's easy to accidentally double up on the same active ingredient across two different products. Select a medication below for a weight- or age-appropriate dose, and see the notes below on combination products and when to call your pediatrician.
Notes on OTC dosing safety
- Check for duplicate ingredients. Many combination cold and allergy products contain acetaminophen or an antihistamine already — check the active ingredients label before adding another product on top, to avoid an accidental double dose.
- Age limits are firm, not conservative padding. Some OTC medications aren't recommended below a certain age or weight because of how children metabolize them differently from adults — don't extrapolate an adult dose downward.
- Call your pediatrician if symptoms don't improve within the timeframe noted on the package, or if your child develops new symptoms like rash, unusual drowsiness, or trouble breathing after taking a medication.
Using over-the-counter medicines safely
"Over-the-counter" doesn't mean risk-free — it means the product has a wide enough safety margin that a pharmacist doesn't need to dispense it individually, not that any amount is fine for any child. Read the active ingredients on every product before giving it, especially combination cold, cough, or allergy formulas, which often contain acetaminophen or an antihistamine you might not expect. Giving two products that share an ingredient is one of the most common ways children end up receiving more of a medicine than intended.
How to use this tool
Choose the medication you have on hand, then enter your child's weight or age, depending on how that product is dosed. The calculator returns a general dose range and the maximum dose for that medication. Always measure with the dosing device that came with the product — a kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon is not an accurate measuring tool and can lead to a significantly wrong dose in either direction.
When to call your pediatrician
Check with your child's pediatrician or a pharmacist before giving any over-the-counter medicine to an infant, or to a child who is already taking another medication, since interactions and age restrictions vary by drug. Call promptly if symptoms don't improve in the timeframe described on the label, if your child develops a new symptom such as rash or unusual drowsiness, or if you're ever unsure whether a dose was given correctly.
Sources & references
- FDA — Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen: dosing and safety information
- AAP HealthyChildren.org — Medication safety and dosing
These references informed the guidance on this page. They are provided for transparency and further reading; they are not endorsements, and this page is not a substitute for the advice of your child's own clinician.