Should I wake my sleeping child to give fever medicine?

What if the next label interval ends during the night?

An interval tells you how far apart doses may be given when they are needed; it does not mean every available dose must be given. The Tylenol directions refer to symptoms continuing, and Motrin says to repeat only if needed. A label’s maximum is a ceiling, not a goal.

Are daytime and bedtime directions different?

The four plain liquids covered here do not provide separate daytime and bedtime amounts. Giving medicine at bedtime does not permit an extra dose, a shorter interval or a different bottle’s directions. If a clinician has instructed scheduled treatment for a particular condition, clarify their overnight plan rather than replacing it with this general guide.

How is normal sleep different from being hard to wake?

A child who is unusually difficult to wake, is unresponsive or has serious breathing trouble needs emergency medical care. Call 911 for unresponsiveness or severe breathing difficulty. Do not interpret those signs as ordinary comfortable sleep or wait for the next medicine time.

What about a very young baby?

A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs prompt medical evaluation. Seattle Children’s advises against giving fever medicine to a baby under 3 months unless a doctor directs it. Sleeping does not remove that concern. The exact bottle’s age limits still apply to older babies too.

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