Tylenol
Infants’ vs Children’s Tylenol: what’s the difference?
In the US, Infants’ and Children’s liquid Tylenol are the same medicine at the same strength: 160 mg of acetaminophen in every 5 mL. The mL dose for your child’s weight is identical whichever bottle you buy. What differs is the packaging: the infant box comes with an oral syringe, and the children’s bottle usually has a dosing cup. Motrin is different: its infant drops are twice as strong as the children’s liquid.
Strengths side by side
| Product | Strength | mg in each mL |
|---|---|---|
| Infants’ Tylenol (liquid) | 160 mg / 5 mL | 32 mg |
| Children’s Tylenol (liquid) | 160 mg / 5 mL | 32 mg |
| Old infant drops (no longer sold) | 80 mg / 0.8 mL | 100 mg |
| Old infant drops (no longer sold) | 80 mg / 1 mL | 80 mg |
| Infants’ Motrin (drops) | 50 mg / 1.25 mL | 40 mg |
| Children’s Motrin (liquid) | 100 mg / 5 mL | 20 mg |
Acetaminophen strengths: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ibuprofen strengths: St. Louis Children's Hospital. mg per mL is arithmetic.
Why there used to be a difference
Until 2011, infant acetaminophen came as concentrated drops (80 mg in 0.8 mL, or 80 mg in 1 mL), roughly two and a half to three times as strong as the children’s liquid. The FDA reports that confusion between the drops and the children’s liquid led to overdoses, including severe liver damage and deaths.
In 2011 manufacturers voluntarily moved to a single strength, 160 mg per 5 mL, and the FDA now recommends that every single-ingredient pediatric acetaminophen liquid use it, with directions and dosing devices marked only in mL.
What to check before every dose
- The strength on the front of the box should read 160 mg/5 mL. If you find an old bottle of drops at home, don’t use it.
- Use the device that came in the box, marked in mL. For babies, a syringe is easier to read than a cup.
- Dose by weight using the Tylenol dosage chart, and ask your doctor first for a baby under 2.
Common questions
Is Infants’ Tylenol the same as Children’s Tylenol?
Yes, the liquid is the same strength: 160 mg in 5 mL. The main difference is the dosing device: the infant box has a syringe, and the children’s bottle usually has a cup.
Can I use Children’s Tylenol for my baby?
The strength is the same, so the mL dose for your baby’s weight is the same. Use an oral syringe marked in mL rather than the cup for small doses, and ask your doctor before giving it to a baby under 2.
Is Infants’ Motrin the same as Children’s Motrin?
No. Infants’ Motrin drops are twice as strong as Children’s Motrin liquid, so the mL doses are different. See the Motrin chart.
Sources
- Over-the-Counter Pediatric Oral Liquid Drug Products Containing Acetaminophen: Guidance for Industry. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, August 2015. Checked 2026-09-25.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Dose Table. St. Louis Children's Hospital (Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines). Checked 2026-09-18.
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) Dose Table. St. Louis Children's Hospital (Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines). Checked 2026-09-18.