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Normal breathing rates for children

Babies and children normally breathe faster than older children and adults. A child who has a fever or who feels anxious breathes faster than normal. The table below shows the normal rate of breathing for children.

Normal breathing rates for children
Age Breaths per minute

Newborn to 6 months

30–60

6 to 12 months

24–30

1 to 5 years

20–30

6 to 12 years

12–20
Author Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Last Updated February 25, 2008

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 25, 2008
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