Vital Signs in Children
Topic Overview
What are vital signs?
Vital signs include heart rate, respiration (breathing rate), blood pressure, and temperature. Knowing the ranges for vital signs for your child can help you notice problems early or relieve concerns you may have about how your child is doing. The table below includes information that can help.
| Vital Sign | Infant | Child | Pre-Teen/Teen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 12 months | 1 to 11 years | 12 and up | |
|
Heart Rate | 100 to 160 beats per minute (bpm) |
70 to 120 bpm |
60 to 100 bpm |
|
Respiration (breaths) |
0 to 6 months 30 to 60 breaths per minute (bpm) 6 to 12 months 24 to 30 bpm |
1 to 5 years 20 to 30 (bpm) 6 to 11 years 12 to 20 bpm |
12 to 18 bpmReference 1 |
|
Blood Pressure (Reference systolic Opens New Window/Reference diastolic Opens New Window)Reference 1 |
0 to 6 months 65 to 90/45 to 65 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) 6 to 12 months 80 to 100/55 to 65 mm Hg |
90 to 110/55 to 75 mm Hg | 110 to 135/65 to 85 mm Hg |
|
Temperature |
All ages 98.6 F (normal range is 97.4 F to 99.6 F) |
All ages 98.6 F (normal range is 97.4 F to 99.6 F) |
All ages 98.6 F (normal range is 97.4 F to 99.6 F) |
Learn more
Learn more about how to take your child's temperature, take a pulse, measure blood pressure, and count breaths with these topics:
- Reference Body Temperature
- Reference Rectal, Ear, and Oral Temperature Comparison
- Reference Pulse Measurement
- Reference Counting Respiration Rates
-
Reference
Reference Checking Blood Pressure at Home
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference April 12, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Reference John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
|
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