What is the typical respiratory rate range for infants?

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Multiple Choice

What is the typical respiratory rate range for infants?

Explanation:
Infants breathe faster than older kids and adults because their airways are small and their metabolic demands are high, so the respiratory system works at a higher rate to meet oxygen needs and remove carbon dioxide. For a healthy infant, the typical range is about 30 to 60 breaths per minute. When counting, you’ll often see brief, normal irregularities or short pauses called periodic breathing, which can occur in healthy babies but should be monitored if pauses lengthen or accompany other signs of distress. The other ranges don’t fit because 12–20 is more like an adult rate, 12–40 is generally lower than what healthy infants display (especially at the upper end), and 60–90 would be considered too fast for a normal infant and suggest possible distress or illness.

Infants breathe faster than older kids and adults because their airways are small and their metabolic demands are high, so the respiratory system works at a higher rate to meet oxygen needs and remove carbon dioxide. For a healthy infant, the typical range is about 30 to 60 breaths per minute. When counting, you’ll often see brief, normal irregularities or short pauses called periodic breathing, which can occur in healthy babies but should be monitored if pauses lengthen or accompany other signs of distress.

The other ranges don’t fit because 12–20 is more like an adult rate, 12–40 is generally lower than what healthy infants display (especially at the upper end), and 60–90 would be considered too fast for a normal infant and suggest possible distress or illness.

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