Pediatric Drug Dose Calculator

Calculating pediatric medication doses is fundamentally different from adult dosing. Children’s doses are weight-based (mg per kg), and the maximum adult dose must never be exceeded even when the weight-based calculation produces a higher number. Medication errors are a leading cause of adverse events in pediatric medicine. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) reports that weight-based dosing errors account for a significant portion of pediatric adverse drug events. Always double-check calculations and confirm with a pharmacist or physician.

Common Pediatric Medication Doses

Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 10–15 mg/kg/dose, every 4–6 hours. Max: 75 mg/kg/day (not to exceed 4,000 mg/day)
Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil): 5–10 mg/kg/dose, every 6–8 hours. Max: 40 mg/kg/day. Not for infants under 6 months
Amoxicillin: 20–40 mg/kg/day in 2–3 divided doses. Max: 2,000 mg/day for high-dose
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl): 1.25 mg/kg/dose, every 6 hours. Max: 300 mg/day. Not recommended under 2 years without physician guidance

Safety Warning

⚠️ This calculator provides reference doses for common medications only. It does NOT replace clinical judgment. Always verify the dose with your pediatrician or pharmacist before administering any medication. Never give aspirin to children under 16 due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.