What is the typical newborn respiratory rate range?

• A. 60-90 breaths per minute
• B. 12-20 breaths per minute
• C. 24-30 breaths per minute
• D. 30-60 breaths per minute

Answer: (D)

Newborns breathe faster because their bodies have high metabolic needs and their lungs and airways are small, so breathing is rapid and often irregular but usually effortless at rest. A normal resting rate for a healthy newborn is about thirty to sixty breaths per minute. It's common to see brief pauses or periodic breathing, but sustained rates above sixty can indicate tachypnea and potential distress, while rates well below thirty may suggest shallow breathing or hypoventilation. When assessing, count for a full minute and note both the rate and the effort of breathing, along with any signs of labored breathing such as grunting, flaring, or use of accessory muscles.