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Paracetamol for children (Calpol) - Other brand names: Panadol

Paracetamol is a common painkiller for children that helps relieve pain and high temperature. You can buy most types from shops and pharmacies, but some types are only available with a prescription.

Information:

This information is for children aged 17 years or under. There's separate information about paracetamol for adults.

What paracetamol is for

Paracetamol can help with lots of types of pain that can affect children, such as:

  • aches and pains
  • teething pain
  • earache
  • sore throat
  • pain from a cold and flu

Paracetamol can also help if your child is distressed or uncomfortable because they have a high temperature (fever).

How to give paracetamol and how much to give (dose)

There are several types of paracetamol for children, including:

  • liquid (also called oral suspension)
  • tablets and capsules
  • suppositories (long, narrow tablets you put into your child's bottom)

How you give it and how much to give depends on the type of paracetamol, your child's age and sometimes their weight.

Always check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine. Ask a pharmacist, doctor or nurse at your GP surgery for advice if you're not sure how to use it or your child has problems taking it.

How to give common types of paracetamol for children

Infant liquid (oral suspension): 120mg/5ml

Infant liquid (oral suspension) is for children up to 5 years old. It has 120mg paracetamol in 5ml of medicine.

Shake the bottle for at least 10 seconds before using it and always use the syringe or spoon that comes with it to measure the correct amount.

If your child is:

  • 3 to 5 months old, give them 2.5ml
  • 6 to 23 months, give them 5ml
  • 2 to 3 years, give them 7.5ml
  • 4 to 5 years, give them 10ml

Children aged 3 months and over can have paracetamol up to 4 times a day if they need it. Wait at least 4 hours between each dose.

Babies aged 2 to 3 months old can also be given paracetamol if they weigh over 4kg and were born after 37 weeks of pregnancy. They should usually only be given 2.5ml up to 2 times in a day (leaving at least 4 hours between each dose).

But you can give a baby aged 2 to 3 months up to 3 doses after their first and second MenB vaccinations to help stop them getting a high temperature. Wait at least 4 hours between each dose.

Information:

Do not give your child more than the maximum number of doses, without speaking to a doctor or pharmacist.

Six plus liquid (oral suspension): 250mg/5ml

Six plus (6+) liquid (oral suspension) is for children aged 6 years and over. It has 250mg paracetamol in 5ml of medicine.

Shake the bottle for at least 10 seconds before using it and always use the syringe or spoon that comes with it to measure the correct amount.

If your child is:

  • 6 to 7 years, give them 5ml
  • 8 to 9 years, give them 7.5ml
  • 10 to 11 years, give them 10ml
  • 12 to 15 years, give them 10ml to 15ml
  • 16 years or older, give them 10ml to 20ml

You can give your child paracetamol up to 4 times a day if they need it. Wait at least 4 hours between each dose.

Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours

250mg melting tablets

Tablets containing 250mg of paracetamol can be given to children aged 6 years and over. They come as tablets that melt on your child's tongue.

If your child is:

  • 6 to 8 years, give them 1 tablet
  • 9 to 11 years, give them 2 tablets
  • 12 to 15 years, give them 2 or 3 tablets
  • 16 years or over, give them 2 to 4 tablets

You can give your child paracetamol up to 4 times a day if they need it. Wait at least 4 hours between each dose.

Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours

500mg tablets or capsules

Tablets and capsules containing 500mg of paracetamol can usually be given to children aged 10 years and over.

You can get tablets that need to be swallowed with water and tablets that are dissolved in water (sometimes called dissolvable, effervescent or soluble).

Some dissolvable tablets can only be given to children aged 12 and over. Always check the packet or leaflet to make sure it's suitable for your child.

If your child is:

  • 10 to 15 years, give them 1 tablet or capsule
  • 16 years or older, give them 1 or 2 tablets or capsules

You can give your child paracetamol up to 4 times a day if they need it. Wait at least 4 hours between each dose.

Do not give more than 4 doses in 24 hours.

Important

Do not give this medicine to your child for more than 3 days without speaking to a doctor or pharmacist.

If you give your child too much paracetamol

If your child has had an extra dose of paracetamol, it's important to get medical advice because it can sometimes be dangerous.

Urgent advice: Get help from NHS 111 if:

  • you've given your child more paracetamol than it says on the packet, leaflet or prescription

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online. Call 111 for a child under 5 years old.

Information:

If you're told to go to A&E, do not drive. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring the paracetamol packet or leaflet inside it, any remaining medicine, and any other medicines your child takes.

Video: how to give medicine to a child using an oral syringe

This video describes how to give medicine to a child using an oral syringe.

Media last reviewed: 17 July 2025
Media review due: 17 July 2028
Information:

More advice about giving medicine to children

Side effects of paracetamol

Children do not usually get any side effects after taking paracetamol.

Serious side effects

Rarely, paracetamol can cause serious side effects.

Serious side effects in children can include:

  • an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) – causing symptoms such as a swollen throat or tongue, a raised and itchy rash, and difficulty breathing
  • a problem with their liver – causing symptoms such as feeling sick (nausea) and their skin or white part of their eyes turning yellow (jaundice), but this may be harder to notice on black or brown skin
  • a problem with their blood cells – causing symptoms such as bruising easily and nosebleeds

Urgent advice: Call NHS 111 if:

  • you've given your child paracetamol and think they might be having serious side effects
Information:

More about side effects

These are not all the serious side effects of paracetamol.

For a full list, see the leaflet that comes with your medicine or search for your medicine on the electronic medicines compendium (EMC) website.

You can report any side effects your child gets on the Yellow Card website

Who can and cannot take paracetamol

Most children over 2 months old can take paracetamol.

But paracetamol is not suitable for all children. For example, it may not be suitable if your child:

  • has had an allergic reaction to paracetamol before
  • has a kidney or liver condition

Check the packet or leaflet that comes with the medicine to see if it's suitable for your child. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure they should take it.

Giving paracetamol with other medicines, herbal remedies and supplements

There are some medicines, remedies and supplements that may not mix well with paracetamol.

This includes:

Check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if it's suitable for your child. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure if they can take it.

Giving paracetamol with ibuprofen

If you've been giving your child paracetamol but it's not helping their symptoms, you can try giving them ibuprofen for children instead if it's suitable for your child.

Do not give ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time. But you can alternate between them if a health professional such as a doctor or nurse tells you to.

If a health professional advises you to do this, it can help to write down when you gave each medicine to make sure the doses are spaced evenly and to avoid giving too much.

Ibuprofen can be given 3 to 4 times in 24 hours, depending on your child's age and dose. Check the packet or leaflet that comes with the medicine.

Food and drink with paracetamol

Your child can eat and drink normally when taking paracetamol

Information:

Find out more about your medicine

To find out more about your medicine, you can:

Page last reviewed: 2 October 2025
Next review due: 2 October 2028