06/02/2026
- Pulse Rates 💓
Over the next 3 weeks we will look at how looking at “vital signs” can help you to spot when your little one is becoming unwell
Vital signs are usually checking the following: pulse, respiratory rate, temperature, blood oxygen saturation and blood pressure
Whilst at home you may be limited to how many of these you can record due to the equipment that may be needed. As a minimum you should check:
Respiratory rate 🫁
Temperature 🌡
Pulse ❤️
Todays focus will be : Pulse Rates for little people
Checking vital signs can start to give you a picture of what happens if your little one is unwell 🤢🤒
The smallest of our little people might be trickier to check - if you can’t do it, do not worry as we are always going to get professional help if we are worried ⛑️
👶Babies - lay them down on their back. Using two fingers (not your thumb) gently feel for a pulse on the inner arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Once you feel the pulse count the beats for 15 seconds
🧒Toddlers and older children - using two fingers press gently on the wrist (this is called the radial pulse) The location is slightly to the outside of the wrist. Once you have found the pulse count each beat for 15 seconds
⏱ Now multiply your answer by 4 (or count for 60 seconds in total)
When taking a pulse we are checking the rate, the strength and the rhythm
A pulse can react to different stimuli throughout the day but if you feel that your child’s vital signs are out of the normal brackets and they are unwell keep a record of your findings and talk to a medical professional
Next week we will look at breathing rates 🫁
