Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve are common pain relievers on drugstore shelves. While all three medications can help alleviate a child's discomfort, the active ingredient in each drug is different. In Tylenol, it's acetaminophen; in Advil and Motrin, it's ibuprofen; and in Aleve, it is naproxen.
However, researchers have found little to no evidence that one type of pain reliever is riskier than another. While recommendations related to the management of COVID-19 are rapidly changing, most doctors still prefer acetaminophen over ibuprofen.
