Should you give your little one ibuprofen? Then know these things! (Ibuprofen for Children)

As a mother or father, you have probably experienced this too. Suddenly, your little one wakes up in the middle of the night, crying in pain, or sweating profusely from a fever. It's normal to feel a little scared at that time, not knowing what medicine to give your child and how much to give. At times like these, being well-informed about the medicine called Ibuprofen and keeping a dosage list handy can help your child get relief quickly. So, let's talk about this medicine in detail.

Simply put, what is Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is a medication that is used to treat pain, swelling, and fever . You can buy it at a pharmacy without a prescription. It belongs to a group of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or (NSAIDs) , which are the main group of painkillers you'll see when you go to a pharmacy. You may have used it for headaches, for swelling when you sprain your ankle, or for the common cold.

However, unlike adults, giving ibuprofen to young children is a bit more complicated. Because they often have to be given it as a liquid medicine. Therefore, it is very important to give the correct dosage based on the child's age, weight, and medical condition .

If you are unsure whether this medicine is right for your child, talk to your doctor about it. Also, remember to always use only the measuring device (the medicine dropper or cup) that comes with the medicine bottle.

What conditions can be treated with ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen can quickly reduce a child's fever and various aches and pains. If your little one is suffering from the following conditions, you can give him the right dose to help him feel better.

• Fever: Ibuprofen can reduce swelling and fever. If your child has a high fever and is having trouble sleeping, has a poor appetite, or is feeling unwell, ibuprofen can help reduce the fever and provide relief.

• Aches and Pains: Ibuprofen can help relieve body aches caused by illnesses like the common cold, or when a child has a sore muscle after playing.

• Toothaches: Ibuprofen can provide relief from toothaches. Doctors also recommend ibuprofen for teething pain in babies over 6 months of age .

• Swelling:When young children start walking, they fall and get injured while playing. Ibuprofen can help reduce the swelling and bruising that occurs during these times until they heal.

Are Infant Ibuprofen and Children's Ibuprofen the same thing?

Yes, they are different. The Ibuprofen (Infant Ibuprofen) that is usually given to infants is more concentrated. This means that it contains more medicine per milliliter (ml) of liquid. Simply put, it is more concentrated .

Often, these two bottles look the same, so it's easy to confuse the two. So you have to be very careful.

One of the questions parents often ask is whether it is okay to give children's medicine to babies or vice versa. In fact, if you measure the dose accurately, you can switch between the two liquids. However, because children's medicine is less concentrated, the dose given is larger than that given with infant medicine.

Think about it this way. If you give a baby 1.25 milliliters of Infant Ibuprofen, if you give a baby Children's Ibuprofen instead, you have to give 2.5 milliliters .

Is it dangerous if the dosage is wrong?

Yes. Giving too much ibuprofen to a child can be dangerous. It is best to give ibuprofen to a baby, especially under the supervision of a doctor. If you suspect that your child has been given too much medication, watch out for the following signs.

How do you calculate the dosage? By age or weight?

For your child to recover quickly, it is essential to give the correct dosage. Read the instructions on the medicine package or bottle carefully, and also consider the following points.

Babies under 6 months old

Your doctor may tell you not to give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old . Please don't ignore that safety advice.

Babies and young children over 6 months old

If your baby is over 6 months old, the dosage you give will depend on both age and weight . However, determining the dosage based on weight is the most accurate method here.

Imagine that your child is heavier or lighter than other children his age. So, instead of the age-related dosage, ask your doctor about the weight-related dosage. For example, an 8-month-old baby who is heavier than average may need a higher dosage than a 12-month-old baby who is lighter than average.

There are different ways to give ibuprofen to older children.

• If you are giving medicine to a young child by mouth, you can continue to use the dropper. But make sure you measure the dose accurately.
• Older children can be given medication using the small measuring cup that comes in the medicine box.
• Sometimes there are chewable tablets.

Is it okay to use kitchen teaspoons to measure medicine?

The simplest answer to this is, "Not at all." The teaspoons and tablespoons in your kitchen come in all shapes and sizes. They are not designed to measure medicine. So, to ensure that your child gets the correct dose every time, only use the measuring device (dropper or dosing cup) that came with the medicine bottle.