Pediatric Vital Signs

Definition: The basic measurements that show how a child's body is functioning: Heart Rate, Breathing Rate, Blood Pressure, and Temperature. Normal ranges for children are very different from adults, and they also change significantly with age, so what's normal for a toddler is not normal for a teenager.

Parent Tip: You don't need to memorize exact numbers, but knowing the general ranges helps you tell when something is off. Newborns can breathe 30 to 60 times per minute, while a school-age child breathes 18 to 30 times per minute. A baby's heart rate is much faster than yours around 100 to 160 beats per minute is normal for an infant, dropping to 70 to 110 for a school-age child. If your child looks pale, is breathing much faster or slower than usual, is unusually sleepy, or is hard to wake up, those are the signs that matter more than any specific number.

Why It Matters: When you call 911 or your pediatrician, knowing whether your child's breathing or heart rate is faster or slower than usual gives the dispatcher or doctor critical information. You don't need to count exactly, you just need to know:  "much faster than normal" or "much slower than normal" is enough. Trust your gut: if your child looks "off" to you, you are usually right.

Related Terms: Breathing Trouble, Dehydration, Fever, Trouble Breathing, Unconsciousness, Vital Signs

Written and reviewed by Jeremy Manke, Firefighter / Paramedic (22 years of emergency service)

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