Your child's heart rate (also called pulse) can vary throughout the day. Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats each minute. Daily activities can change how fast or slow the heart beats – from a slow, steady beat while resting or sleeping to a higher rate during exercise.
"There's a wide variation in what a normal heart rate can be depending on the age of the child as well as the biological makeup of that individual child," says Colin Kane, M.D., Pediatric Cardiologist and Cardiology Service Line Director at Children's Health℠ and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern. "Even kids who are the same age can have different resting heart rates."
What is a healthy heart rate for a child?
When your child is sitting quietly, their heart rate is considered a resting heart rate. A healthy resting heart rate for a child can vary by age, with normal rates for infants being as high as 190 beats per minute and normal rates for 10-year-olds' being as low as 60 beats per minute. The chart below highlights normal kids’ heart rates by age:
Even if your child's pulse feels very fast, it's likely that their heart rate will be within these healthy ranges.
What is a target heart rate?
Target heart rate is a metric that many athletes and coaches use to measure how hard the heart is working during exercise. They may monitor your child's heart rate during a workout and try to exercise with their heart rate in a certain range to help train for an event or improve their overall health.
What can change a child's normal heart rate?
Just as in adults, a child's heart rate will vary depending on their activity level, whether asleep or awake, and whether your child is healthy or sick, calm or stressed.
"Your child's heart rate is typically not linked to a heart problem," says Dr. Kane. "Their heart rate can go up with anything that makes them excited or uncomfortable. When this happens, it's just a natural response to stress."
A child might have a fast heart rate if they are:
- Playing or exercising vigorously
- Experiencing pain
- Feeling anxious or stressed
- Experiencing a fever or illness
- Drinking a lot of caffeine or energy drinks
- Dehydrated
If your child is experiencing any of the above, a fast heart rate is typically not a cause for concern. But it is important to keep in mind that drinking a lot of caffeine can cause problems in some children. It’s also important to know that your child's heart naturally beats faster than an adult heart. This means that a child's heart rate can get much faster during exercise than an adult heart rate.
How can I check my child's heart rate?
There are several places on the body where you can do a pulse check on children, including the wrist, inside the elbow or the side of the neck. The wrist is often the easiest place. To check your child's heart rate, place two fingers on their wrist, below their thumb. Apply gentle pressure until you can feel a slight beat against your fingertips. Count how many beats you feel in 15 seconds. Then multiply that number by 4 to determine your child's beats per minute.
For example, if you feel 20 beats in 15 seconds, your child's heart rate is 80 beats per minute, a kid's normal heart rate.
If your child has a heart condition requiring heart rate monitoring, your doctor can teach you how to find their pulse and their heart rate. Some wearable devices and smartphones can also accurately measure a child's heart rate.
How can I check the heart rate of newborns and infants?
While the process is the same, it's not always easy to find a pulse in infants or younger children who have smaller blood vessels. The best place to try to feel an infant's pulse is in the upper arm. You can find this pulse by laying your baby on their back and bending one of their arms at a right angle, so their hand is by their ear. Then, use two fingers to gently press on their inner arm between the shoulder and elbow and feel for your infant's pulse.
"If you're not familiar with taking a pulse, it may take a few tries until you become more comfortable and confident," says Dr. Kane. "The best thing to do if you are concerned and not able to find your child's pulse is to have a person with medical training check it for you."
When to call the doctor about your child's heart rate
Depending on the situation, a rapid heartbeat is typically not a cause for concern. But there are a few signs that your child may need to be evaluated by a medical professional.
It's time to take your child to see a doctor if:
- Your child has a fast heart rate along with chest pain and trouble breathing.
- Your child's heart is beating too fast for you to count the beats.
- Your child's heart rate is slow in the middle of the day and they seem extremely tired or faint.
It's time to call your child's doctor if:
- You're concerned that your child's heartbeat is too fast.
- Your child's resting heart rate is below the normal range for their age (see our “Normal heart rate by age” chart above).
If your child's heart is beating too fast for you to count the beats, it’s time to call their doctor. Learn how to check pulse and what a healthy heart rate is via @Childrens.
Find a pediatrician
If you are concerned about your child's heart rate, call your child's pediatrician. Children's Health Primary Care offers comprehensive health care for children from birth through young adulthood. Our pediatricians combine quality care with evidence-based practice to meet your child's medical needs. Learn more and find a pediatrician.
Thank you!
You are now subscribed to the Children's Health Family Newsletter.
Children's Health will not sell, share or rent your information to third parties. Please read our privacy policy.