What is the normal pulse rate range for an infant?

• A. 60 to 100 beats per minute
• B. 80 to 120 beats per minute
• C. 100 to 140 beats per minute
• D. 140 to 160 beats per minute

Answer: (D)

Infants have a higher resting heart rate than older children and adults because their bodies have greater metabolic needs and a smaller stroke volume. A healthy infant’s pulse commonly sits around 140 to 160 beats per minute, with some variation: it can be lower during sleep and higher with crying or activity. The ranges of 60–100 or 80–120 are too slow for an infant, while 100–140, though possible, doesn’t reflect the typical upper end seen in many healthy infants. So 140–160 best represents a common normal range for an infant.