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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

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
David Messenger, BSc, MD, FRCPC, FCCP - Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine

Current as ofNovember 20, 2017

Current as of: November 20, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & David Messenger, BSc, MD, FRCPC, FCCP - Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine