A person's pulse indicates the amount of times his heart beats per minute. The average pulse rate in humans varies by age, size, activity level and genes. A child's pulse rate is normally faster than an adult's, but his pulse can also speed up or slow down relative to his resting pulse rate, or the speed of his pulse when he isn't engaging in vigorous physical activity.
Resting Heart Rate
While normal pulse rates vary by person, the National Institutes of Health has established an average pulse rate chart. The typical resting pulse rate in newborn infants is between 100 and 160 beats per minute; the resting pulse rate of children between ages 1 and 10 years is generally between 70 and 120 beats per minute; and children over age 10 as well as adults typically have a pulse rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, trained athletes may have a pulse rate of between 40 and 60 beats per minute.
Maximum Pulse Rate
A person's maximum pulse rate is the highest speed a pulse can achieve. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a child's maximum pulse rate can be estimated by subtracting her age from 220. Therefore, a 10-year-old child can have a high pulse rate of 210, but a 20-year-old's pulse rate can only reach a maximum of 200. An actual calculation of the maximum pulse rate can be assessed with an exercise test, and a child's maximum pulse rate may change with certain medications or medical conditions.
Measuring Pulse
The pulse can be measured in areas of the body where an artery passes close under the skin. It can commonly be felt at the temple, the neck, the wrist, the groin, the back of the knees, and the top or inner side of the foot. A pulse in the wrist, for example, may be felt by placing an index and middle finger over the under-portion of the wrist below the base of the thumb, then pressing firmly with the fingers. The beats should be counted for a full minute or for 30 seconds and doubled.
Normal Fluctuations
A child's pulse may fluctuate depending on the current state of her body. According to the Children's Heart Institute, fear, anxiety, exercise, a fever, anemia, and difficulty breathing (e.g. through asthma) can cause normal fluctuations in a child's pulse.
Abnormal Pulse
A resting pulse rate that is consistently high (tachycardia), low (bradycardia) or firm may indicate additional health problems. An abnormally fast pulse, for example, may indicate dehydration or an infection. Also, a pulse that fluctuates rapidly or seems to skip may indicate a medical condition.
