← Ask your own question

Is ibuprofen safe for babies under 6 months? under 12 months?

Canadian and international guidelines agree: ibuprofen should not be given to babies under 6 months without checking with a doctor first. Once a baby is over 6 months old, ibuprofen is considered safe to use for fever or pain at weight-based doses.

For babies aged 6 to 12 months and older, ibuprofen is an approved over-the-counter option alongside acetaminophen, as long as dosing is based on weight and the baby is drinking fluids well.

Strength of evidence

Good

The under-6-months caution comes from consistent national guidelines (Canadian Paediatric Society, HealthLink BC, AAP). The safety of use after 6 months rests on the same guideline consensus plus a pharmacology review, though it is not a randomized trial specifically comparing age cutoffs.

What the evidence says

For babies younger than 6 months, doctors say not to give ibuprofen unless a health care provider has told you to. This is because ibuprofen has not been well studied or approved for this young age group, and their kidneys and stomachs are still developing.

Once your baby turns 6 months old, ibuprofen is considered a safe option for treating fever and pain, alongside acetaminophen. This is the guidance from the Canadian Paediatric Society and matches advice from health authorities in the US.

One thing to know: some research looking closely at babies aged 3 to 6 months found that short courses of ibuprofen appeared safe in infants who weighed more than about 5 to 6 kilograms, as long as they were well hydrated. But this is not the same as official approval, and Canadian guidelines still say to check with your doctor first if your baby is under 6 months.

When you do use ibuprofen for a baby over 6 months, always dose it based on their weight, not their age, and use the dosing tool that comes with the medicine rather than a kitchen spoon. Make sure your baby is drinking fluids well, since ibuprofen is not recommended if a child might be dehydrated.

If your baby is under 6 months and has a fever, the safest step is to call your doctor or health care provider rather than giving any medicine on your own.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 3, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

Report a problem with this answer

Related questions

Have a different question? Founded Parent searches published paediatric guidelines and peer-reviewed research, then tells you how strong the evidence actually is.

Ask a question

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so its answers may not apply to you. Never delay or disregard advice from a qualified health professional because of something you read here. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.