Calpol Infant vs Calpol 6+: which one when?
Walk down the medicine aisle and you'll see two pink bottles. Both say Calpol. One says "Infant" and "2 months+", the other says "6+" or "Six Plus". Same ingredient, same brand, but very different strengths. Here's how they actually differ and which to reach for.
The quick answer
- Calpol Infant: 120mg paracetamol in every 5ml. For 2 months to 6 years.
- Calpol 6+: 250mg paracetamol in every 5ml — more than double the concentration. For 6 to 12 years.
- At age 6 the dose amount doesn't change overnight; only the volume you measure does. You go from 7.5ml of Infant to roughly 5ml of 6+.
- Both are paracetamol. They are not "child" and "adult" — they're the same drug at different concentrations.
The only real difference: concentration
Both products contain paracetamol. The difference is how much paracetamol is in each 5ml spoonful:
| Product | Strength | Per ml | Licensed age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calpol Infant Suspension | 120mg / 5ml | 24mg | 2 months – 6 years |
| Calpol Six Plus | 250mg / 5ml | 50mg | 6 – 12 years |
That's it. Same active ingredient. Same brand. Same flavour profile. The 6+ version just packs more drug into less liquid — useful when your child is older and needs more milligrams, because giving 15ml of Infant to a 9-year-old is a lot of liquid for a child who'd happily swallow a tablet.
How the doses actually compare
The thing to understand: the milligrams a child needs are based on weight (and rounded to age bands). Switching from Infant to 6+ doesn't increase how much paracetamol they're getting — it just lets you measure a smaller volume.
| Age | Calpol Infant (120/5) | Calpol 6+ (250/5) |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 years | 7.5ml (180mg) | Not licensed |
| 6–8 years | 10ml (240mg) — off label | 5ml (250mg) |
| 8–10 years | Not licensed | 7.5ml (375mg) |
| 10–12 years | Not licensed | 10ml (500mg) |
You can see why both products exist. A 9-year-old needs around 375mg — that's 15.5ml of Infant liquid (a lot) or 7.5ml of 6+ (a normal spoonful). For a 6-year-old at the crossover, the choice barely matters.
"Can I just use the bottle I already have open?"
Almost always, yes. Whichever Calpol is open in your cupboard contains paracetamol; check the strength on the label, work out the right volume for your child's age, and give that. The two products aren't compatible in the sense of "one is for under-6s and is dangerous to older kids" — they're just two concentrations of the same drug.
The only practical issue with Calpol Infant in an older child is that you'd be measuring a large volume of liquid (e.g. 10ml or more), which is fiddly and uses up the bottle faster. Calpol 6+ in a younger child is the riskier direction — it's not licensed under 6 because the volume of liquid that gets you to a correct under-6 dose is so small (e.g. 3ml for a 4-year-old) that measuring errors become more likely.
What about tablets?
Calpol also makes:
- Calpol SixPlus Fastmelts — 250mg paracetamol tablets that dissolve on the tongue, 6–12 years
- Calpol Soft Chews — 250mg chewable tablets, 6+
These are the same 250mg dose as Calpol 6+ liquid, just in a different form. For most children, by age 7 or 8 a chewable or fast-melt is easier than a 5ml spoonful — especially in the middle of the night.
So what should be in your medicine drawer?
- One child under 6: a bottle of Calpol Infant is all you need.
- One child 6+: Calpol 6+ liquid, fast-melts or chewables — whichever your child takes most easily.
- Multiple children spanning the 6-year line: keep both. Label them. The bottles look similar enough that under stress you can grab the wrong one.
Whichever bottle you reach for, check the strength on the label before you pour. And if you ever do mix them up — say you give 5ml of 6+ to a 4-year-old by mistake — see our Calpol dose-by-age guide for what to do (short version: usually nothing; a single dose at 6+ strength to a 4-year-old is well under the toxic threshold, but call NHS 111 to be sure).
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Calpol Infant and Calpol 6+?
Calpol Infant is 120mg paracetamol per 5ml, licensed from 2 months. Calpol 6+ is 250mg per 5ml — more than double the concentration — and is licensed from 6 to 12 years. Same drug, different concentrations.
Can I give my 7-year-old Calpol Infant?
Yes. The active ingredient is identical. You'd just measure a larger volume (about 10ml) to get the same paracetamol dose you'd get from 5ml of Calpol 6+.
Is Calpol 6+ stronger than Calpol Infant?
Per ml, yes — 50mg vs 24mg. Per dose, it depends on volume. The point is convenience, not strength.
Can I give Calpol 6+ to a 4-year-old?
It's not licensed for under-6s. The risk is dosing error: the volume of 6+ liquid for a 4-year-old is so small (around 3.5ml) that small measuring errors can mean significant under- or over-dosing. Stick to Calpol Infant for under-6s.
Can I use one then the other in the same illness?
Yes, as long as you add up the milligrams of paracetamol — not the millilitres. Don't give Infant and 6+ within the same 4-hour window thinking they're different drugs.
What about Calpol Six Plus Sugar Free?
Same 250mg/5ml strength, just without sucrose — useful for diabetic children or those avoiding sugar. Dose the same way.
How Dosey helps
Dosey stores each child's product preference, so when you tap "Give Calpol" for your 4-year-old it suggests the Infant volume, and for your 8-year-old it suggests the 6+ volume — no maths, no second-guessing which bottle to grab. You can also switch products on the fly if you've run out of one.
This isn't medical advice. Always read the label on the actual bottle in your hand — formulations can change. If in doubt, call NHS 111 or your pharmacist.
Related posts
- Calpol dose by age — full chart
- How long does Calpol take to work?
- Calpol and ibuprofen together: how to alternate safely