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PEDIATRIC VITAL SIGNS
Vital Sign Normal Range How To Take It Abnormal Findings
Systolic Blood
Pressure
Respirations
Heart Rate
Preterm:
50-70 mmHg
Newborn - 3 mo.:
60-70 mmHg
1 year:
70-80 mmHg
3 year:
76-90 mmHg
6 year:
80-100 mmHg
8 year:
80-110 mmHg
10+ year:
90-120 mmHg
Preterm - 1 year:
120-160 bpm
3 year:
90-140 bpm
6 - 8 years:
80-120 bpm
10+ year:
60-100 bpm
It can be difficult to obtain a blood
pressure on a child because having
a cuff around their arm that is
squeezing it is scary and very few
children will sit still for it. If a child
does sit still for it, that may be a
clue that they are truly very sick.
You measure the blood pressure
cuff by wrapping it around the
child’s arm and making sure it
wraps within the range given on
the cuff.
(https://youtu.be/Zmdy7W7GSAc)
.
Refer to the Adult Vital Signs
Cheatsheet for technique
instructions.
Children can have their heart rate
taken apically by placing the
stethoscope apically over the
heart. This is approximately the 5th
intercostal space, midclavicular
line. Count the beats for one full
minute.
Alternatively you can palpate a
brachial pulse in a younger child or
a radial pulse in an older child by
counting for 30 seconds and
multiplying by two.
Hypertension in
children younger than
10 years is generally
from a medical cause
in nature such as
hormonal disorders
(adrenals, thyroid, etc.),
kidney disorders, heart
defects, etc. In older
children it can be from
the same ailments as
an adult (fear, pain,
obesity, etc.).
Hypotension in
children can be (most
commonly) caused by
hypovolemia,
hypothyroidism,
tachycardia, etc.
Preterm - 1 year:
30-60 bpm
3 year:
25-40 bpm
6 year:
22-34 bpm
8 year:
16-24 bpm
10 year:
16-20 bpm
12 year:
14-20 bpm
14+ years:
12-20 bpm
The younger children tend to be
belly breathers and you can count
their respirations by watching their
belly, other children will have their
respirations counted by watching
the chest rise and fall. No matter the
age you need to count the
respirations for a full minute.
Acute Tachypnea can be
caused by fear, pain,
asthma, throat swelling,
pneumonia, fever, brain
stem injury, etc.
Bradypnea can be caused
by brain stem injury,
neurologic injury, etc.
Acute tachycardia can
be (most commonly)
caused by fear, pain,
cardiac arrhythmia,
hypovolemia, fever,
activity/exertion, etc.
Acute bradycardia can
be (most commonly)
caused by cardiac
arrhythmia, infection,
electrolyte imbalance,
etc.
