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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

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David Messenger, MD
Last Revised January 10, 2012

Last Revised: January 10, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & David Messenger, MD

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