Your toddler's heart rate is the rhythmic beating of the heart pumping blood through the body. The heart is a muscle responsible for pushing blood through the whole body. When the blood rushes out of the heart and through the veins, the beating or throbbing that is felt can be counted to determine heart rate.
Heart Anatomy
The heart is a muscle with four chambers, or sections. Two of the chambers, the ventricles, push the blood out of the heart and into the body. The other two chambers, the atrium, collect the blood when it returns to the heart. Heart rate is the number of times the ventricles contract in a minute.
Measuring Heart Rate
You can measure your toddler's heart rate on your own at home. The best time to measure resting heart rate is shortly after he has woken from sleep. To measure his heart rate, place two fingers on the underside of his wrist, beneath the fat pad at the base of the thumb. Count the beats for 10 seconds, then multiply that number by 6. This number is the heart rate, or number of beats per minute.
Normal Toddler Heart Rate
Heart rate is normally high during infancy, and slowly decreases as she grows and develops until around age 12, according to the Nemours Project. The normal heart rate for a toddler is 70 to 80 beats per minute, according to The Children's Heart Institute. The Nemours Project states that the normal resting heart rate is 70 to 110 for a child between the ages of 1 and 3. If her heart rate is higher than normal, it is called tachycardia. When the heart rate is slower than normal, it is called bradycardia.
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
A number of factors can influence your child's heart rate. Fever, anemia, exercise, difficulty breathing and emotions, such as fear or anxiety, can all cause the heart to beat faster, resulting in a higher heart rate. If your child is sick or nervous, expect his heart rate to be higher than normal. These are usually temporary issues that affect heart rate, and you will find your child's heart rate to return to a normal range once those factors are removed.
Considerations
If you have concerns about your child's heart rate, call your health-care provider to make an appointment. Her physician will be able to help to determine whether your toddler's heart rate is beating faster or slower than normal, and the cause for her altered heart rate. The physician will also be able to discuss any concerns you may have and possible treatment options.
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