Pediatric drug labels contain important information—such as medication dosages for children, active ingredients, and warnings—but they’re not always easy for parents to understand. Reading a medication label can feel like decoding a foreign language!

Knowing how to read a label is important because understanding how to give your child’s medicine correctly helps prevent mistakes, avoid duplicate or unnecessary medications, and ensure your child receives safe and effective treatment.

Understanding Pediatric Medication Dosing

Safe dosing is fundamental to all pediatric medication use. Many medications for adults are standardized, meaning that all adults receive the same dose (or a range of doses, depending on the drug).

In children, it’s often different. Children are not small adults. They experience rapid periods of growth and development. Their body size and composition, organ function, and metabolism fluctuate throughout infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Because of this, medication dosing in children differs significantly from that in adults. Pediatric doses are tailored to each drug and/or condition being treated (it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach!), but many factors influence how a pediatric dose is determined.

The bottom line for parents? Only use OTC medication that's approved for your child’s age and always follow the label directions. For prescription medication, always follow your pediatrician’s guidance and the instructions on the prescription label.

When considering pediatric doses, keep the following in mind:

• Weight-based dosing is typically the best choice. If an OTC label specifies both age and weight, follow the weight-based recommendation because it’s more accurate.
• Make sure your doctor’s office and your pharmacy have your child’s age and weight on file. This helps with accurate prescribing and screening for any dosing errors.
• Your child’s medical history is essential to share with all healthcare providers. Kids with liver, kidney, heart, or chronic health issues may require special adjustments for certain medications.
• Share your child’s complete medication list, including supplements and OTC medications, as well as drug allergies, with your medical office and your pharmacy. At home or school, consistently provide caregivers and school nurses with clear instructions, along with the precise dosing device.

Key Elements on a Pediatric Drug Label

Active ingredients

This section explains what is doing the “work” in medicine. The active ingredient is the drug that produces the intended effect. It’s important to check this box because:

• Brand names can be misleading (two cough medicines might contain different ingredients).
• Knowing the ingredients helps prevent giving two medicines that contain the same drug (such as acetaminophen, which is often hidden in both a fever reducer and a cold remedy).
• For more information on reading OTC labels, refer to our OTC Medication Label Guide.

For prescription medication, the active ingredient is the drug name. The placement of the drug name on the label varies by pharmacy, but it is usually in a larger or bolded font, typically centered on the label.  To read more about Pediatric Medication Dosing, Children's Medication Dosing Chart, Pediatric Drug Label Reading, Kids' Medicine Dosage Guide Duplicate Medication Warnings for Children so click here.