Every parent certainly wants their child to grow up healthy and normal. To measure the health condition of your little one, one aspect that requires extra attention from moms is the vital signs (TTV) of the child. By understanding the normal TTV numbers in children, moms can gain important insights into their child’s health. If the child’s condition is outside the normal TTV range, it could indicate a health issue.
What are vital signs?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vital signs are measurements that indicate how well the vital organs of a person’s body are functioning. The vital organs monitored include body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and the rate or frequency of breathing.
How do you measure these vital signs? During routine check-ups, doctors typically measure vital signs to assess the health condition of your little one. However, moms can also do this at home when the child is unwell, and it’s very easy to do with simple medical tools, such as a thermometer.
However, the normal vital signs for children are certainly different from those of adults. In fact, the vital signs for infants and toddlers also differ and will continue to change as they grow. Therefore, moms need to understand the TTV of children based on their age group. How do you calculate this? M&B has a complete explanation below.
Normal Vital Signs for Toddlers
Ages 1-2 Years
The TTV in children aged 1-2 years has begun to develop well. Their heart rate is no longer as fast as when they were infants, and their blood pressure has also increased. Here are the normal TTV values for children aged 1-2 years:
- Heart Rate: 98-140 beats per minute while awake, 80-120 beats per minute while sleeping.
- Blood Pressure: Systolic (the highest pressure achieved when the heart muscle contracts) 86-106, diastolic (blood pressure when the heart is at rest) 42-63.
- Respiratory Rate: 24-40 breaths per minute.
- Body Temperature: 36.4 degrees Celsius.
Ages 3-5 Years (Preschool)
Unlike children aged 1-2 years, as your little one grows older, there are also changes in their vital sign numbers. Here are the normal TTV values for children aged 3-5 years:
- Heart Rate: 80-120 beats per minute while awake, 65-100 beats per minute while sleeping.
- Blood Pressure: Systolic 89-112, diastolic 46-72.
- Respiratory Rate: 22-34 breaths per minute.
- Body Temperature: 36.4 degrees Celsius.
A toddler is categorized as having a fever when their body temperature exceeds 37.5 degrees Celsius. If this condition arises, continuously monitor the normal vital signs of your little one to see if their condition remains stable or deteriorates.
Measuring Normal TTV Accurately
When conducting examinations at clinics or hospitals, doctors typically have special tools to measure vital signs, such as a sphygmomanometer for blood pressure or a stethoscope for heart rate. However, there are simple ways that moms can measure their child’s TTV at home.
Pulse Rate
The pulse can be easily measured at the wrist. Here’s how to do it:
- Use the tips of your middle and index fingers.
- Start counting the pulse when the clock’s hand is at 12.
- Count the pulse for 60 seconds.
- Focus on the pulse, avoiding constant glances at the clock.
Respiratory Rate
Checking the respiratory rate is also important because an increased respiratory rate can indicate health issues like fever. This examination is usually done when your little one is resting, by counting how many times the chest rises as they breathe in.
Blood Pressure
To check blood pressure at home, moms will need a special tool, which is a sphygmomanometer. But don’t worry, this tool can be easily purchased at pharmacies or medical supply stores.
Body Temperature
A thermometer is an essential tool to have at home, especially if moms have young children, as children tend to frequently experience fevers, for example, after vaccinations. With a thermometer, you can effectively monitor your little one’s body temperature.
When to See a Doctor?
Actually, changes in a child’s TTV are normal. Both blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature can occasionally increase when your little one is active or anxious.
Typically, TTV will return to normal once the child is relaxed or about to sleep. However, if the TTV values differ significantly from normal and the child exhibits several of the following symptoms, moms need to take them to the doctor immediately:
- Fever with body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius
- The child breathes heavily or has difficulty breathing
- Increased heart rate along with a drop in blood pressure that lasts more than 20 seconds
- Pale skin or bluish lips.
