Ingredient Safety

• The active ingredient in Tylenol products is acetaminophen, an over-the-counter medication effective for relieving pain and reducing fevers. One problem is that many parents make the mistake of thinking that because acetaminophen is available without a prescription, it's very safe and they don't have to be cautious about how much to administer to their children. It's crucial that you read the dosage instructions on the Tylenol package and never give greater amounts than directed or administer more doses than recommended. If the medicine doesn't appear to be working, do not take this as a sign that it's OK to give your child more than the directed amount.
  
  

Incorrect Dosage

• Another potential danger of Tylenol is that it's available in so many different formulations, meaning that it's easy to administer far too much to an infant. Infants' Tylenol drops are more concentrated than the liquid formulations made for toddlers, so parents may accidentally give a toddler too many infant drops or mistakenly give toddler Tylenol to a baby. Remember that Children's Tylenol is very different from Infants' Tylenol; Children's Tylenol is not appropriate for children under 2.
  
  

Mixing Medicines

• When your child is sick, especially if she has a cold, it's essential that you read the instructions on the medicine package before administering it. Many parents have given their child regular Tylenol to reduce a fever, then given them a Tylenol Cold product, causing their child to overdose because they did not realize that both medications contain acetaminophen. You should be extremely cautious when giving your child multiple medicines and be aware of the active ingredients in every medicine he takes. Keep in mind that Tylenol is not the only product that contains acetaminophen.
  
  

Accidental Ingestion

• Tylenol products for children come in a variety of kid-friendly flavors that make administering them much easier for parents. But when children mistake these fruity medications for candy or juice, they may try to eat or drink large amounts without you seeing or knowing what they're doing. As with any medication, keep all Tylenol products far out of the reach of children and keep any caps or lids tightly closed.
  
  

Read Instructions

• The single most important thing you can do to protect your child from the dangers of Tylenol is to read all package instructions thoroughly before administering any medicine. Don't assume that you can remember the correct dosage or age group for the medication just because you've given it to your child before. Dosage instructions usually depend on your child's weight and age, and these are two factors that change constantly.