Systolic blood pressure was measured in 36 infants with median gestational age of 29 weeks (range 24–35 weeks) and birth weight of 1160 g (range 642–1500 g). Measurements were made at 1, 6 and 12 weeks, and subsequently at 12‐weekly intervals during the first year of life. No infant developed chronic lung disease. Systolic blood pressure increased over the first 24 weeks (p<0.001) to a mean value of 95 mmHg, but did not change significantly over the next 24 weeks. These data provide a reference range of blood pressure levels during the first year of life for infants born at an early gestationa