Ibuprofen dose for children by weight
Ibuprofen for children is dosed from the weight table of the specific product: a fixed dose per weight range (about 7-10 mg/kg), every 6-8 hours, usually 3 doses a day (20-30 mg/kg a day). As a rule not under 3 months and 5 kg, but several products set their own, higher limits.
Last updated: 9 October 2026
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The rule from the leaflets
- Single dose: the fixed dose from the leaflet table for the weight range (e.g. 10-15 kg (1-3 years): 100 mg). The Ibufen dla dzieci Forte and MIG dla dzieci Forte leaflets also give 7-10 mg/kg, and the calculator never exceeds 10 mg/kg for them.
- Interval: at least 6 hours. Where the leaflet gives a range of "6 to 8 hours" with 3 doses a day (Nurofen dla dzieci Forte 200 mg/5 ml, Ibufen dla dzieci 100 mg/5 ml, Ibuprom dla dzieci Forte 40 mg/ml, Nurofen czopki 60 mg, Nurofen czopki 125 mg; in the rows with 3 doses a day), the calculator and the Android app use 8 h: when a leaflet is ambiguous we take the more cautious figure.
- Per day: 20-30 mg/kg in divided doses, max 30 mg/kg and 1,200 mg. Usually 3 doses; a 4th dose only in the rows where the leaflet table allows it: Nurofen dla dzieci Forte 7-9 kg (6-11 months) (from 6 months); Ibum 7.7-9 kg (from 6 months); Ibum above 40 kg; Ibum Forte 7.7-9 kg (from 6 months); Ibum Forte above 40 kg; Ibufen dla dzieci 7.7-9 kg (from 6 months); Ibufen dla dzieci Forte 7.7-9 kg (from 6 months); Nurofen czopki 60 mg 8-12.5 kg (from 9 months); Nurofen czopki 125 mg 17-20.5 kg.
- How long: no longer than 3 days without a doctor; in infants aged 3-5 months see a doctor if symptoms worsen or do not settle after 24 hours.
From what age: per product leaflet
General rule: from 3 months and 5 kg. Individual leaflets:
- Nurofen dla dzieci Forte: up to 40 kg; 3-5 months: see a doctor if symptoms worsen or do not settle after 24 h
- Ibum: “In babies under 6 months give the medicine only after consulting a doctor.” (leaflet, translated)
- Ibum Forte: “In babies under 6 months the medicine may be given only after consulting a doctor.” (leaflet, translated)
- Ibufen dla dzieci: up to 40 kg; “In children under 6 months the medicine may be given only after consulting a doctor and on their advice.” (leaflet, translated)
- Ibufen dla dzieci Forte: 3-5 months: see a doctor if symptoms worsen or do not settle after 24 h
- Ibuprom dla dzieci Forte: “In children under 6 months the medicine may be given only after consulting a doctor.” (leaflet, translated)
- MIG dla dzieci: from 6 months; up to 29 kg
- MIG dla dzieci Forte: from 10 kg; from 12 months
- Nurofen czopki 60 mg: from 6 kg; up to 12.5 kg; 3-5 months: see a doctor if symptoms worsen or do not settle after 24 h
- Nurofen czopki 125 mg: from 12.5 kg; up to 20.5 kg
Nurofen or Nurofen Forte? Check the strength on the bottle
Children's ibuprofen comes as 100 mg/5 ml, 200 mg/5 ml, 20 mg/ml and 40 mg/ml syrups and as suppositories. Ibum and Ibufen dla dzieci are 100 mg/5 ml; the Forte versions (Nurofen, Ibum, Ibufen, Ibuprom) are 200 mg/5 ml, twice as much in the same volume. MIG dla dzieci is 20 mg/ml (the same as 100 mg/5 ml), MIG dla dzieci Forte 40 mg/ml.
- The strength printed on the bottle counts, not the name. Check how many mg are in 5 ml or in 1 ml, on older bottles too.
- Nurofen dla dzieci Junior (formerly Nurofen dla dzieci 4 %) is 40 mg/ml, that is 200 mg/5 ml, like Forte, without the word Forte in its name.
- Junior is not in the calculator or in the app's product list. Give it from its own leaflet table (the leaflet does not recommend it under 6 years or 20 kg), never from the table of a 100 mg/5 ml or 20 mg/ml product (Ibum, Ibufen dla dzieci, MIG dla dzieci): that can mean twice as much ibuprofen.
Polish leaflets give a fixed dose per weight range, not a continuous mg/kg figure. For a 15 kg child (age unknown) the calculator gives:
| Product | Strength | Dose for 15 kg | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurofen dla dzieci Forte leaflet, register id 33567 | 200 mg/5 ml | 2.5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 8 h (leaflet: 6-8 h, the longer interval is used) |
| Ibum leaflet, register id 10939 | 100 mg/5 ml | 5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 6 h |
| Ibum Forte leaflet, register id 28004 | 200 mg/5 ml | 2.5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 6 h |
| Ibufen dla dzieci leaflet, register id 3015 | 100 mg/5 ml | 5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 8 h (leaflet: 6-8 h, the longer interval is used) |
| Ibufen dla dzieci Forte leaflet, register id 31740 | 200 mg/5 ml | 2.5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 6 h |
| Ibuprom dla dzieci Forte leaflet, register id 34192 | 40 mg/ml | 3 ml (120 mg) | 3 × / 360 mg every 8 h (leaflet: 6-8 h, the longer interval is used) |
| MIG dla dzieci leaflet, register id 26239 | 20 mg/ml | 5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 6 h |
| MIG dla dzieci Forte leaflet, register id 29812 | 40 mg/ml | 2.5 ml (100 mg) | 3 × / 300 mg every 6 h |
| Nurofen czopki 60 mg leaflet, register id 16290 | 60 mg | per its leaflet up to 12.5 kg | |
| Nurofen czopki 125 mg leaflet, register id 16198 | 125 mg | 1 pcs (125 mg) | 3 × / 375 mg every 8 h (leaflet: 6-8 h, the longer interval is used) |
A different weight from 15 kg? The full leaflet dosing tables of Nurofen, Ibum, Ibufen, Ibuprom and MIG (each weight band) are kept in one place: ibuprofen leaflet dosing tables in the child medicine dose calculator. The calculator at the top of this page works out the dose for any weight from the same tables.
When not to give ibuprofen without a doctor
- Dehydration: vomiting, diarrhoea or poor drinking. The Ibufen leaflet warns of a risk of kidney problems in dehydrated children and adolescents.
- Chickenpox: the leaflets advise against NSAIDs because of the risk of complications.
- Breathing problems or asthma after aspirin or another anti-inflammatory (NSAID), kidney or liver disease, stomach ulcers or bleeding disorders.
When is the next dose allowed?
These numbers are conversions from leaflets and guidelines. Before giving a medicine, confirm them at the source:
- NHS: paracetamol for children · NHS: ibuprofen for children
- NICE NG143: fever in under 5s · AAP HealthyChildren.org
- Polish medicines register (URPL): official leaflets of the products listed here
- Leaflets in the Polish register: Nurofen dla dzieci Forte (200 mg/5 ml) · Ibum (100 mg/5 ml) · Ibum Forte (200 mg/5 ml) · Ibufen dla dzieci (100 mg/5 ml) · Ibufen dla dzieci Forte (200 mg/5 ml) · Ibuprom dla dzieci Forte (40 mg/ml) · MIG dla dzieci (20 mg/ml) · MIG dla dzieci Forte (40 mg/ml) · Nurofen czopki 60 mg (60 mg) · Nurofen czopki 125 mg (125 mg)
- Dosing sources: every leaflet table as the calculator and the Android app encode it, the leaflet date, the register link and every added rule, with its reason
- Your own country's medicines regulator and the leaflet in the box always take precedence.
Tired of keeping track on a scrap of paper?
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Shows the time since the last dose, the doses recorded in 24 hours and the leaflet tables and sentences word for word, with a link to the official leaflet. It does not calculate or suggest doses.
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Polish Register of Medicinal Products (URPL), leaflets: Apap dla dzieci Forte, Paracetamol Hasco, Panadol dla dzieci, Pedicetamol, Nurofen dla dzieci Forte, Ibum, Ibum Forte, Ibufen dla dzieci, Ibufen dla dzieci Forte, Ibuprom dla dzieci Forte, MIG dla dzieci, MIG dla dzieci Forte, Nurofen czopki 60 mg, Nurofen czopki 125 mg; Paracetamol Hasco suppositories 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg
NHS: Ibuprofen for children
NICE NG143: Fever in under 5s
This content is for information only and does not replace your doctor or the medicine leaflet. Oh Fever and this website are not a medical device. Doses on this page come from the dosing tables in the leaflets of products registered in Poland, converted to millilitres and rounded to the syringe marks, never above the table. Check the strength on the package before giving any medicine. For high fever, any fever in an infant under 3 months, or worrying symptoms, contact a doctor.