Vital Signs in Children
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.
Normal ranges for vital signsVital 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 bpm footnote 1 |
Blood pressure ( systolic/ diastolic) footnote 1 | 0 to 6 months 65 to 90/45 to 65 millimetres 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 footnote 2 | All ages |
Rectal (bum) | 36.6 C to 38 C (97.9 F to 100.4 F) |
Ear | 35.8 C to 38 C (96.4 F to 100.4 F) |
Oral (mouth) | 35.5 C to 37.5 C (95.9 F to 99.5 F) |
Axillary (armpit) | 36.5 C to 37.5 C (97.7 F to 99.5 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:
References
Citations
- Harman M, et al. (2011). Pediatric emergency and resuscitation. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed., p. 280. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
- Leduc D, et al. (2000, reaffirmed 2013). Temperature measurement in paediatrics. Canadian Paediatric Society Position Statement. Available online: http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/temperature-measurement.
Credits
Adaptation Date: 5/16/2023
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Date: 5/16/2023
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Harman M, et al. (2011). Pediatric emergency and resuscitation. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed., p. 280. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Leduc D, et al. (2000, reaffirmed 2013). Temperature measurement in paediatrics. Canadian Paediatric Society Position Statement. Available online: http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/temperature-measurement.
