As a dosage guideline, use Clark's Rule. This formula states that the child's weight in pounds should be divided by 150 to obtain the correct herbal dosage. For example, a 50-pound child would receive one third of the adult dosage. Another guide is to divide the child's weight in half to determine the amount of tincture drops or tablespoons of tea. Some herbs are potent and potentially toxic to children, and in these cases neither formula applies, as these should be avoided altogether.
Children can spike high fevers, especially during the night hours.
Herbs can be tremendous allies in treating pediatric fever, since they work with the body's natural immune process, whereas pharmaceuticals do not. A fever is a normal part of a healthy immune response. Most bacteria and viruses cannot thrive above 100'F, and so a fever acts as a primal defense by literally burning up infection. Herbs can assist this process and help maintain a fever within comfortable, controllable bounds. Elder flower seems to work directly on the part of the brain responsible for temperature control.