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Normal Vital Signs — Preschool (3–6 years)

By preschool age the numbers are drifting toward school-age values, and most children can cooperate with a blood-pressure cuff and a thermometer under the tongue toward the end of this band. Readings taken with a correctly sized cuff, while sitting quietly, are the ones worth comparing with this chart.

Vital signNormal range — preschool (3–6 years)
Heart rate (awake, resting)80–140 beats/min
Breathing rate18–30 breaths/min
Blood pressure — systolic95–110 mmHg
Blood pressure — diastolic55–75 mmHg
Oxygen saturation (SpO2, room air)95% or higher
Body temperature97.5–99.5 °F (36.4–37.5 °C)

◆ Good to know

Let your child sit quietly for a few minutes before measuring — a child who has just been running around will read high on heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure.

Measuring at this age

  • Let your child practise with the cuff or thermometer first — a relaxed child gives a truer reading.
  • Count breathing for a full minute while they sit quietly; talking changes the rate.
  • Many children in this band can manage an oral temperature if they can keep their lips closed around the thermometer.

Fever at this age

A temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher is a fever. Thresholds, measuring methods and warning signs by age are covered in the fever guide — and any fever in a baby under 3 months old needs medical care the same day.

The full eight-band chart is on the vital signs by age hub, and as a printable wall chart.

← Younger: Toddler (1–3 years)All ages chartOlder: School-age (6–12 years) →
Please note: This page is patient education, not medical advice. Normal ranges are guides for a person who is awake, resting and measured correctly — a single reading outside the range is not a diagnosis. Abnormal readings in someone who is unwell, breathing with difficulty, unusually drowsy or simply worrying you warrant medical care — seek it promptly rather than re-checking at home.