What You Need to Know About Infant and Childrens Vital Signs – Health Essentials

Its like a parental reflex. Your child says, I dont feel good, and your hand shoots out to feel their forehead. As a parent or caregiver, youre always on the lookout for changes in your childs health.

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Temperature is one of your childs vital signs youve probably measured at home. Pediatricians check it, too. The other vital signs are blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate.

Each of these four vital signs gives info about your childs basic body functions. Vital signs outside the normal range can point to an illness or health issue.

Pediatrician Amy Sniderman, MD, explains what these measurements mean and outlines normal pediatric vital signs for children of all ages.

The four basic vital signs are:

Healthcare providers check these during exams to get a snapshot of your childs overall health.

The normal range for pediatric vital signs can vary quite a lot depending on your childs age and other factors. For instance, the normal infant heart rate is much higher than the normal heart rate for a 12-year-old.

You can check your childs vital signs at home. But Dr. Sniderman assures you that you typically dont need to.

Generally, parents dont need to monitor their childrens vital signs. Theyre usually only a concern if your child isnt feeling well, and vital signs are also out of the healthy range.

So, what do all these vital signs mean?

A part of the brain called the hypothalamus regulates body temperature, which usually doesnt vary much unless your child is sick.

Youve probably measured your childs temperature at home with a thermometer. There are several different types of thermometers, and its important to use them correctly to get an accurate reading. Follow the instructions that came with the thermometer.

Blood pressure is one measure of heart health. It measures the force of blood pushing against the inner walls of the arteries as your heart pumps.

Blood pressure is always given as two numbers: systolic and diastolic.

You need a blood pressure cuff to measure your childs blood pressure at home. But theres usually no reason to measure your childs blood pressure beyond their pediatric appointments.

Heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. You can find your childs pulse and then count the number of beats in one minute to get their heart rate.

Similar to heart rate, respiratory rate is the number of breaths you take per minute. To find your childs respiratory rate, you can either:

A normal body temperature for a child of any age is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37 degrees Celsius). Dr. Sniderman adds that normal body temperature can vary slightly from child to child, and a temperature up to 100.4 F (38 C) is still considered normal.

If your child has a high temperature of over 100.4 F or 38 C (a fever), it could be a sign of a bacterial or viral infection. A high temperature can also be due to heatstroke, which needs medical attention right away.

When should you be concerned about a fever?

Generally, a temperature over 104 F could signal something serious. Call your childs pediatrician, Dr. Sniderman advises. Less than that, and you may be able to break their fever at home.

Low body temperature (under 95 F or 35 C) can also be a sign of serious infection, especially in infants. Sometimes, a low temperature is due to a problem with the thermometer or not taking the temperature correctly. But if a low temperature at home is accurate, its a good idea to contact your pediatrician.

Several factors can influence a childs blood pressure. Age, height and weight all cause variations in blood pressure readings. These numbers, given as systolic/diastolic in mm Hg, are general guidelines:

Your childs blood pressure may temporarily be high due to stress, anxiety or exercise. Its usually not a cause for concern.

High blood pressure as a medical condition is somewhat common in adults, but its rare in children. If your child does have high blood pressure over time not just a one-time high reading it could be caused by kidney disease. If your pediatrician is concerned about your childs blood pressure, a blood test for kidney function is often the next step.

A blood pressure measurement thats lower than the normal range is typically nothing to worry about as long as your child isnt also showing signs of infection or illness. Extreme dehydration can cause low blood pressure. If your child is showing signs of an infection, or dehydration, a serious condition, seek medical attention right away.

The normal heart rate ranges for children by age group, in beats per minute:

Heart rate in children can be higher than normal for many of the same reasons it can happen in adults, such as:

A very fast heart rate can signal heart rhythm problems. If your childs heart rate is too fast to count, thats a sign to seek medical care.

A low heart rate can be normal for active or athletic children. But it also can indicate a possible heart rhythm issue. If youre concerned or have questions, talk to your pediatrician.

Respiratory rates vary a lot by age, and its normal for a baby to breathe much faster than an older child.

The normal respiratory rates for children by age group, in breaths per minute:

Just like heart rate, respiratory rate can go up and down a bit throughout the day, depending on what your child is doing. Temporary changes outside the normal ranges are fine. And just like with adults, its also normal for children to breathe more slowly while theyre sleeping.

High respiration rate in children may be due to factors such as:

A low respiratory rate can have potentially serious causes, such as:

If you suspect any of these causes, seek care right away.

A sick child breathing slowly needs medical help, states Dr. Sniderman.

If your childs respiratory rate is low, but there arent any other signs of illness, its typically nothing to worry about.

How do you know when to call the pediatrician?

Its good to understand basic vital signs. But rest assured that unless your pediatrician has said otherwise, theres usually no need to closely monitor your childs vitals.

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What You Need to Know About Infant and Childrens Vital Signs - Health Essentials