Blood pressure: Taking your child's blood pressure at home

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure (BP) is a measurement of how hard the heart is working to push blood through the blood vessels.

There are two numbers in a blood pressure reading. An example of a blood pressure reading is 120/80 (say: 120 over 80).

• The top number (in this example, 120) is the systolic pressure. It indicates the pressure of the blood flowing through the blood vessels when the heart is contracting and forcing the blood out.
• The bottom number (in this example, 80) is the diastolic pressure. It tells you the pressure of the blood flowing through the blood vessels when the heart is at rest.

Taking your child's blood pressure at home

Taking your child's blood pressure

Points to remember:

• Take your child's BP when your child is relaxed and rested.
• If your child is on blood pressure medications, take your child's BP just before giving the medication.
• Too much activity, excitement or nervous tension can cause a temporary rise in BP.
• If your child has symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and blurred vision, this may mean that your child's BP is too high or too low.
• About every six months, you should bring your BP cuff and stethoscope with you when you come to the clinic so that it can be checked for accuracy.

Equipment

You will need to buy a stethoscope and a BP cuff with a dial or an electronic BP cuff. Some BP machines are more reliable than others in children. Your child’s health-care provider can help you choose the right size and advise you where to shop for these items. Using a BP cuff that is the wrong size or a machine that is not reliable in children will produce unreliable BP measurements.

How to take your child's blood pressure: Manual BP monitors

1. Have your child sit on a chair beside a table or lie down so that the child can rest their arm at heart level.
2. Turn the screw beside the rubber bulb to the left to open it. Squeeze the air out of the cuff.
3. Unless advised otherwise by your child’s health-care team, always measure the BP in the right arm.
4. Place the cuff on your child's upper arm above the elbow, with the Velcro edges facing out. Make sure the dial is face up so that you can see it easily. Wrap the cuff firmly around your child's arm. Fasten the Velcro edges and padded parts together.
5. Place your first and second fingers on the inner part of your child's elbow and feel for a pulse. Place the flat part of the stethoscope on the spot where you feel the pulse, then put the earpieces in your ears.
6. Turn the screw beside the rubber bulb to the right until it is firmly closed.
7. Watch the dial and pump the bulb of the cuff with one hand until you can no longer hear the pulse.
8. Slowly open the screw until you hear the first pulse sound. Remember the number the needle is pointing to on the dial when you hear the first pulse sound. That number is the systolic pressure, the top number on a blood pressure reading (for example, 120/ ).
9. Keep watching the dial and slowly continue to release the screw until you hear the pulse sound change from a loud thumping to a soft sound or until the sound disappears. Note the number on the dial when you hear the soft sound or no sound. That number is the diastolic blood pressure, the lower number in a blood pressure reading (for example, /80).
10. Record the measurement.

How to take your child's blood pressure: Electronic BP monitors

1. Have your child sit on a chair beside a table or lie down so that the child can rest their arm at heart level.
2. Ensure the cuff is deflated.
3. Unless advised otherwise by your child’s health-care team, always measure the BP in the right arm.
4. Place the cuff on your child's upper arm above the elbow, with the Velcro edges facing out. Make sure the dial is face up so that you can see it easily. Wrap the cuff firmly around your child's arm. Fasten the Velcro edges and padded parts together.
5. Turn on the device and press start.
6. Encourage your child to remain still.
7. Record the measurement displayed.

Keeping records

Always record your child's BP reading and bring all of your child's blood pressure records with you when you have an appointment with your child's health-care team.

What to do if your child's blood pressure is too high

Your child's health-care team will let you know how often to measure their blood pressure and what is a good blood pressure range for your child and what to do if the measurements are too low or too high.

Blood pressure medication, even when given regularly, may not be enough to keep the BP within the normal range.

When your child's BP reading is too high:

1. Make sure that your child is calm and rested.
2. Check your child's BP again after 20 to 30 minutes.
3. If your child is well/does not have symptoms, but the BP is still too high consistently over several readings, contact a member of your child’s health-care team for further guidance.

What to do if your child's blood pressure is too low

Your child's health-care team will let you know how often to measure their blood pressure and what is a good blood pressure range for your child and what to do if the measurements are too low or too high.

1. Have your child lie down and rest.
2. If your child is on blood pressure medications and it is time to give your child a dose of BP medication, do not give it.
3. If the blood pressure remains too low and your child looks or feels unwell, seek immediate medical attention.