Health Navigator NZ video (2018).
The funded brands of paracetamol have changed.
Paracetamol 250 mg in 5 mL
From 1 November 2022, Paracare paracetamol liquid 250 mg in 5 mL has been replaced by a new brand called Pamol.
Find out more about the brand change (from Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga leaflets):
Paracetamol 120 mg in 5mL
From January 2023, a new brand of paracetamol liquid 120 mg in 5 mL has been available. Ethics paracetamol has replaced the Paracare and Avallon paracetamol liquid brands.
Find out more about the brand change (from Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga leaflets):
Always read the label and give your child the right dose based on your child's weight and the strength of paracetamol.
Always measure doses exactly. Ask your pharmacist or nurse for an oral syringe - to give your child medicine by mouth.
You can use paracetamol for children and babies over 3 months old - younger babies must see the doctor.
If your child is having the MenB (Bexsero) vaccine, they are more likely to get a fever or a high fever afterwards. For this reason, it's a good idea to give paracetamol to help lower any fever and make your child more comfortable.
Check the advice about paracetamol for fever after MenB immunisation [13]
Apart from when having the MenB vaccine, you don't need to give babies and children paracetamol before immunisation. If your child is miserable or distressed with a fever after immunisation, you can give a dose of paracetamol.
Using paracetamol around the time of immunisation reduces the immune system response to immunisation when measured in a laboratory. But, there is no evidence that the reduced response decreases protection in children against the diseases they were immunised against.
It varies between individuals but paracetamol seems to have the maximum effect between 1 ½ and 3 hours after you give the dose. Pain levels and temperature may start to come down before this.
Wait at least 4 hours between doses - give no more than 4 times in 24 hours.
It's important your child does not take more than the daily recommended dose. If you child takes too much - all at once or over a period of days - paracetamol can damage their liver.
Check the table below or use the dose calculator on the Health Navigator website [14].
Your child's weight | 120mg in 5mL | 250mg in 5mL |
5kg or less | Ask your doctor | Ask your doctor |
6 to 7 kg | 3.5 mL | 1.5 mL |
8 to 9 kg | 5 mL | 2 mL |
10 to 12 kg | 6 mL | 3 mL |
13 to 14 kg | 8 mL | 4 mL |
15 to 16 kg | 9.5 mL | 4.5 mL |
17 to 18 kg | 10.5 mL | 5 mL |
19 to 20 kg | 12 mL | 5.5 mL |
21 to 22 kg | 13 mL | 6.5 mL |
23 to 25 kg | 14.5 mL | 7 mL |
26 to 28 kg | 16.5 mL | 8 mL |
29 to 32 kg | 18 mL | 8.5 mL |
33 to 36 kg | 20.5 mL | 10 mL |
37 to 41 kg | 23 mL | 11 mL |
42 to 60 kg | 26 mL | 12.5 mL |
Greater than 60 kg | 30 to 40 mL | 15 to 20 mL |
If your child won't take liquid paracetamol, and is old enough to safely swallow a tablet, you can give them a paracetamol tablet instead - make sure to give them the right dose:
Keep a record of the paracetamol doses you've given your child.
Date and time | Child's weight |
Strength |
Dose (mL) |
Check out some tips on preventing mistakes with your child's medicines [15]
See the Waitemata District Health Board website for paracetamol information in Chinese (PDF, 836KB) [16] and Korean (PDF, 768KB) [17].
Medsafe New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. Paracetamol toxicity in children - let's reduce the risk [18]. June 2011.
Minutes of the 145th Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee (MARC) Meeting 10 March 2011. Hepatic failure with paracetamol [19].
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. UK public assessment report. November 2011. Liquid paracetamol for children: revised UK dosing instructions have been introduced [20].
SafeRx (Quality initiative by the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Team). Waitemata District Health Board. 2009. Review 2011. Paracetamol – safe prescribing – mind that child! (PDF, 274KB) [21].
Waitemata District Health Board. Giving paracetamol safely to babies and children (PDF, 570KB) [22].
Health Navigator. Paracetamol for children [23].
This page last reviewed 09 February 2023.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-250-mg-in-5-ml-supply-issue-english-factsheet_0.pdf
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-250-mg-in-5-ml-supply-issue-te-reo-maori-factsheet.pdf
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-250-mg-in-5-ml-supply-issue-samoan-factsheet.pdf
[4] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-250-mg-in-5-ml-supply-issue-tongan-factsheet.pdf
[5] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-250-mg-in-5-ml-supply-issue-chinese-simplified-factsheet.pdf
[6] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-250-mg-in-5-ml-supply-issue-cookislandsmaori-factsheet.pdf
[7] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-120-mg-in-5ml-supply-issue-english-factsheet_0.pdf
[8] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-120-mg-in-5ml-supply-issue-te-reo-maori-factsheet_0.pdf
[9] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-120-mg-in-5ml-supply-issue-samoan-factsheet_0.pdf
[10] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-120-mg-in-5ml-supply-issue-tongan-factsheet_0.pdf
[11] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-120-mg-in-5ml-supply-issue-chinese-simplified-factsheet_0.pdf
[12] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/sites/kidshealth/files/pdfs/paracetamol-liquid-120-mg-in-5ml-supply-issue-cook-islands-maori-factsheet_0.pdf
[13] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/meningococcal-b-disease-immunisation#Advice
[14] https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/tools/p/paracetamol-dose-calculator/
[15] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/medicine-safety-tips-parents
[16] http://saferx.co.nz/paracetamol-for-children-leaflet-chinese.pdf
[17] http://www.saferx.co.nz/paracetamol-for-children-leaflet-korean.pdf
[18] https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/puarticles/paracetamoljune2011.htm
[19] https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/adverse/Minutes145.htm#2.1.2
[20] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/852396/Liquid_paracetamol_for_children_revised_UK_dosing_instructions_introduced.pdf
[21] http://www.saferx.co.nz/assets/Documents/full/e05ade3359/paracetamol-for-children.pdf
[22] http://www.saferx.co.nz/assets/Documents/2cd5f854df/paracetamol-for-children_leaflet.pdf
[23] https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/medicines/p/paracetamol-children/
[24] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1209