A child’s respiratory rate, or the number of breaths they take each minute, is an indicator of their health. Changes in the speed or ease of breathing can signal an underlying issue. Monitoring this rate is one way caregivers can observe a child’s health, as deviations from the normal range can be the first sign of a problem.
Normal Respiratory Rates in Children
A child’s normal breathing rate changes as they grow and develop, naturally slowing down over time. These rates are measured when the child is at rest, not when they are active or upset. For newborns up to three months old, a normal resting respiratory rate is between 30 and 60 breaths per minute.
Infants from three to twelve months of age have a rate of 25 to 60 breaths per minute. Toddlers between one and three years old have a range of 24 to 40 breaths per minute. For preschoolers aged three to five, the rate is between 22 and 34 breaths per minute. School-aged children, from six to twelve years, have a resting rate between 18 and 30 breaths per minute. These ranges are guidelines and a healthy child’s rate can fluctuate.
How to Measure a Child’s Breathing
To accurately measure a child’s respiratory rate, it is best to do so when they are calm or asleep to reflect their resting state. Watch the rise and fall of the child’s chest or abdomen; one complete rise and fall counts as a single breath. Count the number of breaths for a full 60 seconds.
Counting for a full minute is recommended because a child’s breathing pattern can be irregular, so shorter counts may not be accurate. Observing them while they are unaware you are counting can also help, as children might alter their breathing if they know they are being watched.
Factors That Affect Breathing Rate
A child’s respiratory rate is not static and can be influenced by several normal activities. Physical exertion is a primary reason for a temporary increase in breathing speed. When a child runs or plays, their body requires more oxygen, leading to faster breaths to meet this demand.
Emotional states also play a role in altering breathing patterns. Crying, excitement, or anxiety can cause a child’s respiratory rate to quicken. A fever is another common factor; as a child’s body temperature rises to fight infection, their breathing rate increases. These fluctuations are temporary and the rate should return to its normal resting range once the child is calm or the fever subsides.
Signs of Breathing Difficulties
Beyond the numbers, it is important to observe for physical signs that a child is having trouble breathing. These signs indicate that the child is working harder than normal to get air into their lungs. The presence of any of these signs suggests the child is struggling to breathe and requires immediate medical evaluation.
- Nasal flaring, where the nostrils widen with each breath.
- Retractions, which appear as the skin pulling in between the ribs, below the ribcage, or at the neck with each inhalation.
- Audible sounds like grunting with each exhalation or a high-pitched whistling sound known as wheezing.
- A change in skin color, particularly a bluish tint around the lips, inside the mouth, or on the nail beds, which signals a lack of sufficient oxygen.