Paracetamol or ibuprofen for a child?
Both lower fever about equally. They differ in safety in specific situations, minimum age and intervals between doses.
Last updated: 24 September 2026
| Paracetamol | Ibuprofen | |
|---|---|---|
| From | birth (under 3 months only after a doctor's advice) | 3 months and 5–6 kg |
| Dose | 10–15 mg/kg | 5–10 mg/kg |
| Interval | ≥ 4 h | ≥ 6 h |
| Max per day | 4 doses, 60 mg/kg | 3 doses, 30 mg/kg |
| Lasts | 4–6 h | 6–8 h |
| Anti-inflammatory | no | yes |
| Caution with | liver disease, other paracetamol products | dehydration, vomiting, chickenpox, asthma, ulcers |
Choose paracetamol when
- the baby is under 3 months (after a doctor's advice) or under 5 kg,
- the child is vomiting, has diarrhoea or drinks little,
- there is chickenpox,
- it is the first dose at night and you want the fewest contraindications.
Choose ibuprofen when
- pain has an inflammatory component: ear, throat, teething, injury,
- you need a longer effect (overnight),
- paracetamol is not enough and the child drinks well.
Both?
Possible when one is not enough, but not routinely and never at the same time. Each has its own interval (4 h and 6 h) and daily limit; alternating makes mistakes easy. See the guide on alternating.
Check the official source
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
- Your own country's medicines regulator and the leaflet in the box always take precedence.
Don't want to calculate and write this down every time?
Oh Fever does it from your child's profile and the product you use: it converts the leaflet dose to weight, counts down to the next dose and watches the daily limit — on iPhone and Apple Watch. Free for one child.
Read next
Sources
NHS — Paracetamol for children
NHS — Ibuprofen for children
American Academy of Pediatrics — Medications used to treat fever
NICE NG143 — Fever in under 5s
This content is for information only and does not replace your doctor or the medicine leaflet. Doses on this page are the mg/kg ranges from manufacturers' leaflets converted to body weight. 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.
NHS — Paracetamol for children
NHS — Ibuprofen for children
American Academy of Pediatrics — Medications used to treat fever
NICE NG143 — Fever in under 5s
This content is for information only and does not replace your doctor or the medicine leaflet. Doses on this page are the mg/kg ranges from manufacturers' leaflets converted to body weight. 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.