Pediatric Nursing Reference

Vital Signs by Age

Age Group	Heart Rate	Respiratory Rate	Systolic BP
Newborn (0–1 mo)	100–160 bpm	30–60/min	60–90 mmHg
Infant (1–12 mo)	100–150 bpm	25–50/min	70–100 mmHg
Toddler (1–3 yr)	90–140 bpm	20–40/min	80–110 mmHg
Preschool (3–5 yr)	80–120 bpm	20–30/min	80–110 mmHg
School-age (6–12 yr)	70–110 bpm	18–25/min	85–120 mmHg
Adolescent (13–18 yr)	60–100 bpm	12–20/min	95–120 mmHg

Age	Gross Motor	Fine Motor	Language	Social
2 mo	Holds head up, lifts chest	Follows objects, hands to mouth	Coos, gurgles	Social smile
4 mo	Rolls front to back	Reaches for objects, grasps	Laughs, babbles	Enjoys play, responds to affection
6 mo	Sits with support, rolls both ways	Transfers object hand to hand	Babbling with vowels	Stranger anxiety begins
9 mo	Crawls, pulls to stand	Pincer grasp	Mama/dada (nonspecific)	Separation anxiety, waves bye-bye
12 mo	Stands alone, first steps	Puts in/takes out	First words (1–2)	Plays peek-a-boo
18 mo	Walks well, runs	Scribbles, stacks 2–4 blocks	10–20 words	Points to show, imitates
2 yr	Climbs, kicks ball	Turns pages, builds tower of 6	2-word phrases, 50+ words	Parallel play
3 yr	Pedals tricycle, jumps	Draws circle, uses scissors	3-word sentences, 250+ words	Shares, takes turns
4 yr	Hops on one foot	Draws person (2–4 parts)	Tells stories, counts	Cooperates, imaginative play
5 yr	Skips, somersaults	Draws person (6+ parts), prints name	Full sentences, 2000+ words	Follows rules, plays with others

Formula: Dose = Weight (kg) × mg/kg/dose

Note: Always use kg for pediatric dosing. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs.

Daily fluid requirements (4-2-1 rule for hourly):

Broselow tape: Color-coded tape measures child length to estimate weight and equipment/drug doses for resuscitation.

Pediatric defibrillation: 2 J/kg first shock, 4 J/kg for subsequent shocks.

Epinephrine (cardiac arrest): 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO (1:10,000 concentration).