Children's Panadol & Nurofen dosage in Australia
We don't publish paediatric medicine dosages on this site. Drug doses for children are weight-based and depend on the specific product strength, your child's health history, other medicines they're taking, and current best-practice guidance — getting it wrong can be dangerous. Use the authoritative Australian sources below.
if you've given too much
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately — it's free, 24/7, anywhere in Australia. If your child is having difficulty breathing or is unresponsive, call 000.
where to get correct dosage information
the box your medicine came in
every Children's Panadol and Nurofen product sold in Australia includes a Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet with weight- and age-based dosing. this is your first port of call. the dosing differs by formulation strength — Children's Panadol 1-5 years (24 mg/mL) is not the same as Children's Panadol 5-12 years (48 mg/mL).
your pharmacist
Australian pharmacists are trained to advise on paediatric dosing for free. take the box, your child's weight, and a list of any other medicines. most pharmacies are open extended hours — many 7 days a week.
your GP or after-hours doctor
for sick or feverish children, particularly under 12 months, see your GP or call an after-hours service. they can rule out anything serious and give weight-based advice.
healthdirect
call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 — free, 24/7, staffed by registered nurses. they'll triage and advise based on your child's symptoms and weight.
Poisons Information Centre — 13 11 26
for accidental overdose, double-dose, or any concern that you've given too much. free, 24/7, all of Australia.
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne — Clinical Practice Guidelines
rch.org.au — the public-facing AU paediatric formulary used by hospitals. for clinicians and confident parents who want to see the underlying guidance.
open the resourcegeneral principles (not dosing advice)
- •weigh your child before dosing — children's medicines are dosed by weight, and same-aged kids can vary 30%+ in weight.
- •use only the measuring device that came with the medicine. household teaspoons are not accurate.
- •different formulations have different strengths — read the box every time, even if you've used the brand before.
- •paracetamol (Panadol) is not the same as ibuprofen (Nurofen). they have different dosing schedules and different cautions.
- •Children's Nurofen is not recommended for babies under 3 months.
- •if your child is unwell for more than 48 hours, see your GP.
this page is not medical advice
mini mode publishes general parenting information. nothing on this site is medical advice and we don't publish paediatric drug dosages. for any decision about a medicine, see your pharmacist, GP, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (free, 24/7). in an emergency, call 000.