Normal and High Blood Pressure in Babies

Since children’s normal blood pressure changes from birth to adulthood, you need to know when their blood pressure is high, low, or normal.

Children can suffer high blood pressure, referred to as hypertension, just as grownups do 2 Several causes exist, ranging from genetic disease to being obese. Hypertension in a child can result in stroke, heart problems, kidney problems and long-lasting hypertension 2. American Family Physician says child hypertension is on the increase. Pediatricians usually try non-drug techniques to decrease blood pressure before resorting to medication.

Birth to Age 2

Blood pressure fluctuates after birth due to what the baby is doing, whether sobbing, sleeping or eating. It likewise differs due to the gestational age and weight of the baby, with a blood pressure above 79/54 generally thought about elevated but not necessarily requiring treatment. By the time a child is 1 year old, high blood pressure is determined by percentiles of age and height by sex. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a child whose blood pressure is in the top 5 percent for his sex, age and height is thought about hypertensive. A 1-year-old boy of average height is thought about hypertensive when his blood pressure is 103/56. This suggests if his systolic — or top-number is 103 or greater and/or his diastolic-or bottom-number is 56 or greater, he has hypertension. For a 1-year-old girl of average height, the numbers at which hypertension begin are 104/58. All numbers in this short article remain in recommendation to a child of average height for his age. A 2-year old boy is thought about hypertensive with a blood pressure of 106/61; a 2-year-old girl is thought about hypertensive at 105/63.

Blood pressure fluctuates after birth due to what the baby is doing, whether weeping, sleeping or eating.

Table 1: Blood Pressure for Baby from birth to 12 months

Table 2: Blood Pressure for Baby from 1 year to 2

Age 3 to 5

A 3-year-old boy with a blood pressure of 109/65 or above is thought about hypertensive. For girls, a 3-year-old with a reading above 107/67 has high blood pressure. A 4-year-old boy with a reading of 111/69 is hypertensive, and a 4-year-old girl has hypertension with a reading at or above 108/70. At 5, a figure indicating hypertension is 112/72 for boys and 110/72 for girls.

Table 3: Blood Pressure for Baby from 3 to 5 yo

Age 6 to 8

A 6-year-old boy of typical height is thought about hypertensive if his blood pressure is 114/74 or above, and a 6-year-old girl is hypertensive at 111/74. For 7-year-olds, a boy has high blood pressure at 115/76 and a girl at 113/75. An 8-year-old boy is hypertensive with a blood pressure of 116/78, and a girl is hypertensive with a blood pressure of 115/76.

Table 4: Blood Pressure for Baby from 6 to 8 yo

Age 9 to 11

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute declares hypertension to be present at age 9 in an average-height boy with a blood pressure of 118/79 or greater. For 9-year-old girls, the figure is 117/77. A 10-year-old boy with a reading of 119/80 is hypertensive, as is a 10-year-old girl with a reading of 119/78. At age 11, a hypertensive measurement for a boy is 121/80 and for a girl is likewise 121/80.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute states hypertension to be present at age 9 in an average-height boy with a blood pressure of 118/79 or higher.

Table 5: Blood Pressure for Baby from 9 to 11 yo

Age 12 to 14

A 12-year-old boy is considered hypertensive with a blood pressure of 123/81 or greater; a girl has hypertension at 123/80. At age 13, a boy’s blood pressure is thought about high if his reading is 126/81. A 13-year-old girl’s pressure is elevated at 124/81. A 14-year-old boy with a reading of 128/82 has hypertension, and a 14-year-old girl has hypertension at or above 126/82.

Table 6: Blood Pressure for Baby from 12 to 14 yo

Age 15 to 17

A 15-year-old boy is thought about to have high blood pressure if his reading is 131/83. A 15-year-old girl is hypertensive at 127/83. For 16-year-olds, a boy’s pressure is elevated at 134/84 and a girl’s rises at 128/84. Finally, a 17-year-old boy is hypertensive at 136/87, and a 17-year-old girl has high blood pressure at 129/84. Hypertension in a child is typically detected after three readings handled various events.

Table 7: Blood Pressure for Baby from 15 to 17 yo

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing severe medical symptoms, seek first aid right away.