Fluid Maintenance Requirement Questions

Given the weight of a child or infant, calculate the necessary amount of fluid per day. Different hospitals may have different policies, but for learning how to perform these pediatric dosage calculations, the following commonly used table of fluid requirements may be used.

Weight Range	Required Daily Fluid
0-10 kg	100 mL per kg
10-20 kg	1,000 mL + 50 mL per each kg above 10 kg
20-70 kg	1,500 mL + 20 mL per each kg above 20 kg
Over 70 kg	2,500 mL (adult requirement)

Example: An infant weighs 4 kg. What is the required amount of fluid per day in mL?

0-10 kg

100 mL per kg

• 4 kg x 100 mL/kg = 400 mL

Example: An infant weighs 30.8 lb. What is the required IV flow rate in mL/hr to maintain proper fluid levels?
Convert 30.8 lb to kg.

• lb → kg    ( ÷ by 2.2 )
• 30.8 lb ÷ 2.2 = 14 kg

10-20 kg

1,000 mL + 50 mL per each kg above 10kg

• 14 kg - 10 kg = 4 kg (There are 4 kg over 10 kg).
• 1,000 mL + (50 mL/kg x 4 kg) = 1,200 mL/day

• This is now an ordinary IV Flow Rate - mL Rate Question. The required volume is 1,200 mL and the time is one day.

Volume (mL) Time (hr)

=  Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)

There are 24 hours in one day.

• 1 day x 24 = 24 hr

1,200 mL 24 hr

=  50 mL/hr

• Continue (Go to Dosage By Weight Questions)