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.
Normal ranges for vital signs
|
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 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 (97.8 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
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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.
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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: 9/13/2021
Adapted By: HealthLink BC
Adaptation Reviewed By: HealthLink BC
