Accurate dosing of pediatric medications

Dosing of pediatric medications must be accurate. Combining constants in the usual calculation for amoxicillin dosing derives the Rule of Six (6 mg/lb per dose) for dosing. This rule generalizes to most pediatric antibiotics. The Decimal Move Rule (0.1 mL/lb per dose) can be used to dose many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, bronchodilators, and iron preparations. A number of helpful hints to improve compliance and three comprehensive dosing tables are presented.