Trusted Dosing References for Parents

If you are worried in the moment — a temperature you can't bring down, a dose you think may have been too high, an unusual reaction — call the people who do this for a living. These lines are free, open 24/7, and exist for exactly these calls. They are the right call, not a last resort.

• United States — Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222 (run by the American Association of Poison Control Centers). Free, confidential, 24/7. Call for any medication concern, not just suspected poisoning. poisonhelp.org
• United Kingdom — NHS 111: dial 111 (or use 111.nhs.uk). Free, 24/7 medical advice line for non-emergency questions.
• Australia — Poisons Information Centre: dial 13 11 26 (single national number, free, 24/7). Or call 1800 022 222 for healthdirect (24/7 nurse-led health advice).
• New Zealand — National Poisons Centre: dial 0800 764 766 (0800 POISON, free, 24/7). Or call 0800 611 116 for Healthline (24/7 free nurse-led advice).
• Canada — Poison Control: dial 1-844-764-7669 (1-844-POISON-X, free, 24/7) or look up your provincial center at infopoison.ca. Most provinces also offer 811 for general non-emergency health advice.
• Emergencies: dial 911 (US / CA), 999 (UK / IE), 000 (AU), or 111 (NZ) if your child is unresponsive, having trouble breathing, having a seizure, or showing signs of a severe allergic reaction.

• HealthyChildren.org — Medication Safety — the American Academy of Pediatrics' parent-facing site, with specific dosing guidance for acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antibiotics, and cold medicines.
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — the professional body whose guidance most US pediatricians follow.
• CDC Immunization Schedule (Parents) — the official US childhood vaccination schedule, plain-language version.
• MedlinePlus Drug Information — drug monographs from the US National Library of Medicine. Searchable by drug name.
• FDA — Cough and Cold Products for Kids — the US Food and Drug Administration's guidance on over-the-counter products for young children.
• MotherToBaby — non-profit (OTIS-affiliated) with free fact sheets and a counselor line for medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• NHS Medicines A–Z — plain-language NHS drug information with dosing notes for children.
• NHS Routine Vaccination Schedule — the official UK childhood immunization timetable.
• British National Formulary for Children (BNFc) — the reference UK pharmacists and prescribers use for pediatric dosing. Free to use.
• Your local pharmacy — UK pharmacists answer dosing questions for free, often without an appointment. They are the fastest expert in most communities.

• Royal Children's Hospital — Kids Health Info fact sheets — plain-language fact sheets from one of Australia's leading pediatric hospitals, including dosing notes for common children's medications.
• healthdirect — Medicines — Australian Government's consumer-facing medicines hub. Pair with the healthdirect Symptom Checker.
• NPS MedicineWise (consumer) — independent, government-funded medicines information for parents and the public.
• TGA Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) — official Therapeutic Goods Administration leaflets that match the dosing on Australian product packaging.
• Australian Immunisation Handbook — the reference Australian GPs and nurses use for childhood vaccinations.
• Your local pharmacy — Australian pharmacists answer dosing questions for free, often without an appointment.

• KidsHealth NZ — endorsed by the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, with plain-language guidance on common childhood medications and illnesses.
• Healthify (Health Navigator NZ) — independent NZ health information including a medicines A–Z written for the public.
• Health New Zealand — Immunisation — the official NZ childhood immunisation schedule and information for parents.
• National Poisons Centre — TOXINZ — the NZ Poisons Centre's parent-facing site, plus the 24/7 phoneline at 0800 POISON.
• Your local pharmacy — NZ pharmacists give free medicine advice during opening hours; many large pharmacies have extended evening hours.

• Caring for Kids (Canadian Paediatric Society) — the CPS's parent-facing site with dosing guidance for fever, pain, and common childhood medicines.
• AboutKidsHealth (SickKids) — patient education from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, including detailed medication monographs.
• Health Canada — Drug Product Database — the official Canadian drug registry; pair with the consumer information leaflet that came with the product.
• Canadian Immunization Guide — the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's reference for childhood vaccines.
• Dial 811 (most provinces) — free 24/7 health advice from a nurse. Provincial line names vary (HealthLink BC, Telehealth Ontario, Info-Santé in Quebec, etc.).
• Your local pharmacy — Canadian pharmacists answer dosing questions for free; many provinces also let pharmacists prescribe for minor ailments.

Each of these links points to the source we use for the dose-interval reminder you see when logging a dose. Confirm with your pediatrician or pharmacist; products vary by country and by formulation strength.

• Acetaminophen / Paracetamol — Most infant paracetamol products recommend 4–6 hours between doses and no more than 4 doses in 24 hours. Source
• Ibuprofen (6 months +) — Most infant ibuprofen products recommend 6–8 hours between doses and no more than 4 doses in 24 hours. Not for babies under 6 months. Source
• Vitamin D — Daily supplement — most families give it once a day. Source
• Probiotics — Daily supplement. Source
• Gripe water — Follow the product label. Most gripe waters allow a few doses spaced 2+ hours apart. Source
• Saline nasal drops — Saline is not a medicine — use as often as needed for congestion relief. Source
• Simethicone (gas drops) — Most infant simethicone products allow a dose with each feeding and at bedtime, typically 4–6 hours apart. Source
• Amoxicillin — Amoxicillin is usually prescribed every 8 or 12 hours — check the pharmacy label. If a dose is missed, most guidance is to take it when remembered unless the next dose is close, then skip. Never double. Source
• Azithromycin — Azithromycin is usually given once a day. Follow the pharmacy label. Source
• Cetirizine — Cetirizine is usually given once a day. Not typically used under 6 months without a pediatrician's guidance. Source
• Diphenhydramine — Most infant diphenhydramine products recommend 6 hours between doses. Always check with a pediatrician before giving to children under 2. Source

Happyly logs the vaccines your child received and shows the routine schedule your provider follows. We do not advise for or against any vaccine — that is a conversation for your pediatrician.

• United States: CDC childhood schedule.
• United Kingdom: NHS routine schedule.
• Australia: National Immunisation Program schedule.
• New Zealand: Health NZ immunisation schedule.
• Canada: Provincial & territorial schedules.