Pediatric Care

Take-home message

In many respects, children aren’t “little adults.” This is true when it comes to vital signs. Vital signs, or vitals for short, are a measurement of:

• blood pressure

• heart rate (pulse)

• respiratory rate

• temperature

This important information can tell a medical provider a lot about a child’s overall health.

Normal values for vital signs exist for adults, but are often different for children, depending on their age. When you take your little one to the doctor’s office, you may notice that some vital signs are lower than an adult’s, while others are higher. Here’s what to expect when it comes to vital signs and your child.

Infant vital signs

Infants have a much higher heart and respiratory (breathing) rate than adults do. An infant’s muscles aren’t highly developed yet. This is true for the heart muscle and the muscles that assist breathing.

Think of the heart muscles like a rubber band. The further you stretch a rubber band, the harder and more forcefully it “snaps” back into place. If an infant’s heart cannot stretch very much due to immature muscle fibers, it has to pump at a faster rate to maintain blood flow through the body. As a result, an infant’s heart rate is often faster. It can also be irregular.

When an infant gets older, the heart muscle can stretch and contract more effectively. This means the heart doesn’t have to beat as fast to move blood through the body.

If an infant’s heart rate is lower than normal, it’s often cause for concern. Potential causes of slow heart rate, also known as bradycardia, in infants include:

• not enough oxygen

• low body temperature

• medication effects

• a congenital heart problem

While there can be variations, given a child’s overall condition, the average vital signs for an infant are:

• heart rate (newborn to 1 month): 85 to 190 when awake

• heart rate (1 month to 1 year): 90 to 180 when awake

• respiratory rate: 30 to 60 times per minute

• temperature: 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

Forblood pressure:

• neonate (96 hours old to 1 month): 67 to 84 systolic blood pressure (top number) over 31 to 45 diastolic (bottom number)

• infant (1 to 12 months): 72 to 104 systolic over 37 to 56 diastolic

Toddler vital signs

After a child turns 1, their vital signs progress more toward adult values. From age 1 to 2, they should be:

• heart rate: 98 to 140 beats per minute

• respiratory rate: 22 to 37 breaths per minute

• blood pressure: systolic 86 to 106, diastolic 42 to 63

• temperature: 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

Preschool vital signs

When a child is 3 to 5 years old, their average vital signs are:

• heart rate: 80 to 120 beats per minute

• respiratory rate: 20 to 28 breaths per minutes

• blood pressure: systolic 89 to 112, diastolic 46 to 72

• temperature: 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

School-age (6 to 11 years old)

The average vital signs of a child who is 6 to 11 years old are:

• heart rate: 75 to 118 beats per minute

• respiratory rate: 18 to 25 breaths per minute

• blood pressure: systolic 97 to 120, diastolic 57 to 80

• temperature: 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

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Adolescents (12 years old and up)

Adolescent vital signs are essentially the same as those of an adult. By this time, heart and breathing muscles have developed to near-adult levels:

• heart rate: 60 to 100 beats per minute

• respiratory rate: 12 to 20 breaths per minutes

• blood pressure: systolic 110 to 131, diastolic 64 to 83

• temperature: 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

Do kids need vitamin supplements?

In general, kids who eat a healthy, balanced diet don’t need vitamin supplements.

However, infants have different nutrient needs than children and may require certain supplements, such as vitamin D for breastfed babies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans don’t recommend supplements over and above the Recommended Dietary Allowances for healthy children older than 1 year who eat a balanced diet.

Instead, they suggest that kids eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and protein foods to obtain adequate nutrition.

These foods contain all the necessary nutrients for proper growth and development in children.

Overall, kids who eat a balanced diet that includes all food groups don’t usually need vitamin or mineral supplements. However, the next section covers some exceptions.

What vitamins should I give my child?

The type of vitamin supplements your child needs will depend on their age and specific concerns. Consult with your pediatrician to see if your child needs or would benefit from taking vitamins.

If a pediatrician recommends that your child take vitamins, look for quality brands that have been tested by a third party and are formulated with the appropriate doses of nutrients for kids (to avoid toxicity).

View our available products of Pediatric-care below.

The Take-home message

There are a lot of decisions to be made and factors to consider when you’re raising a child. They can range from ensuring proper nutrition and encouraging physical activity to promoting good mental health.

It’s normal to feel as if you always need to make the perfect choice regarding your child’s health, but this can add a lot of pressure or unnecessary stress to parenting.

Instead, try to reframe it so you’re aiming to make the best possible choice for your child in a given situation.

Don’t forget that you have help and support along the way as well.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s health, don’t hesitate to reach out to their pediatrician.

The bottom line

Kids who eat a healthy, balanced diet typically fulfill their nutrient needs through food.

Still, vitamin supplements may be necessary for picky eaters, children who have a health condition that affects nutrient absorption or increases nutrient needs, or those following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

When providing vitamins to children, be sure to choose high quality brands that contain appropriate doses for kids and stick to the recommended dosage.

It’s also best to be cautious of giving your child supplements without documented evidence of a deficiency.

To ensure your child is getting enough nutrients, try to offer them a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods and limits sweets and refined foods.