What is 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.

Vital signs for children ages 12 years and older include the following:

Heart rate

This is measured in beats per minute (bpm).

• 60–110 bpm

Respiration (breaths)

This is measured in breaths per minute.

• 12–22

Blood pressure (systolic/diastolic)

Systolic blood pressure is the upper number of a blood pressure reading. Diastolic is the lower number. They are measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

For children who are age 12, what is normal and what is high blood pressure depends on your child's age, sex, and height.

For children who are 13 and older, normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower.

Temperature

This is measured in degrees Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C).

98.6 F (37 C). The normal range is 97.4 F–99.6 F (36.3 C–37.6 C).