In children younger than how many years is blood pressure typically not assessed?

Blood pressure measurement in children is typically not routinely assessed until they reach 3 years of age. This is based on the understanding that younger children, especially infants and toddlers, have a wide range of normal blood pressure readings due to their smaller size and the variability in their physiological responses. Additionally, obtaining an accurate blood pressure reading in very young children can be challenging due to factors such as movement, anxiety, or the difficulty in properly fitting a cuff.

For children younger than 3 years, healthcare providers generally rely on other indicators of circulatory status, such as heart rate, respiratory effort, and capillary refill time, rather than blood pressure. Assessing blood pressure in this age group may lead to unnecessary stress for both the child and the caregiver, and the readings may not provide clinically meaningful information. Therefore, focusing on blood pressure assessment begins at 3 years of age, providing a more standardized and reliable approach for evaluating cardiovascular health in pediatric patients.