What is the normal infant respiratory rate?

• A. 12 to 20 breaths per minute
• B. 15 to 30 breaths per minute
• C. 25 to 50 breaths per minute
• D. 40 to 60 breaths per minute

Answer: (C)

Infants breathe faster than older children and adults because their metabolism is high and their respiratory control is still maturing. A healthy infant at rest typically has a respiratory rate of about 25 to 50 breaths per minute. Within this range, small fluctuations are normal—rates rise with crying, fever, or activity, and occasional brief pauses can occur in healthy babies (periodic breathing). Rates outside this window more often indicate distress or a different age group: adult ranges like 12–20 are too slow for an infant, 15–30 is more typical of older children, and 40–60 can occur in newborns or during marked tachypnea but is not the standard resting range for a typical infant.