Giving ibuprofen to babies and children/tamariki – important safety tips
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Note: the information on this page is for ibuprofen in children. For information about ibuprofen in adults, see ibuprofen.
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Giving ibuprofen to babies and children/tamariki – important safety tips
|
Note: the information on this page is for ibuprofen in children. For information about ibuprofen in adults, see ibuprofen.
Ibuprofen belongs to a group of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen is used to treat pain from swelling and iinjury. Ibuprofen should start to work within 20 to 30 minutes after taking it. Ibuprofen is also used to treat fever (see below).
Read more about fever in children.
Ibuprofen isn't suitable for some children. To make sure it's safe for your child, check with a pharmacist or doctor before giving ibuprofen, especially if your tamariki/child:
Babies younger than 3 months old must see the doctor first.
Do not give ibuprofen for chickenpox unless it has been recommended by a doctor. It can cause a serious skin reaction.
It's OK to give paracetamol and ibuprofen, but be very careful not to give too much of either medicine.
Write down when you give each dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen so you don't give your child too much.
Read more about giving paracetamol safely to children.
Ibuprofen comes as liquid, chewable capsules, tablets and capsules. These come in different strengths and you can get some from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Always check the dose is safe for your child's age and weight.
To check the strength of the liquid, always read the label and do NOT rely on the colour, smell, or flavour. If you don't know what dose to give, check with your doctor or pharmacist. For example, the picture below shows Nurofen® liquid has 2 different strengths that are both orange flavoured.
If you are giving ibuprofen to your child and you're not sure how much to give them, always check with your pharmacist.
You can also use the Ibuprofen Dose Calculator as a guide. Weigh your child and use the calculator to work out their correct dose.
If your child needs it, you can give ibuprofen 3 or 4 times a day. Your pharmacist or doctor will tell you how often to give it. It's important to space the doses evenly through the day.
Ibuprofen can cause side effects, although not all children will get them. Tell your child's healthcare provider if your child has any of these side effects and they don't go away or they bother your child:
Other side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's healthcare provider right away or take your child to the emergency department if your child has any of these side effects:
Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.
The following links have more information about ibuprofen.
Ibuprofen(external link) New Zealand Formulary Patient Information
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
Ibuprofen paediatric dose calculator
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist, Healthify He Puna Waiora. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed:
Page last updated: