Heart rate or pulse is a term that describes the number of heartbeats you experience in a single given minute. Normal rates vary substantially according to the age of the individual in question. Typically, at the age of 2, a child will have a heart rate that is significantly faster than that found in adults or older children.
Normal Heart Rate
Baseline heart rate readings are gathered during periods of inactivity or rest. This resting heart rate can be taken by measuring your child's pulse at body locations such as his neck, wrists or temples. Normal heart rates vary considerably at any age, and children between the ages of 1 and 10 have a normal resting range of 70 to 120 beats per minute. When your child is active, his heart rate may elevate temporarily above this range. During sleep, his heart rate will typically lower.
Normal Variations
Normally, your child's heart will beat at regularly spaced intervals, according to the American Heart Association. In some cases, however, your child's heart may also beat irregularly; the presence of an irregular heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. A harmless everyday form of arrhythmia, called a sinus arrhythmia, occurs when your child breathes in and out. On an inward breath, your child's heart rate will accelerate for several beats; on an outward breath, your child's heart rate will slow back down.
Dangerous Irregularities
In some cases, your child may develop more serious forms of arrhythmia. If he has a rate that consistently exceeds the normal range for his age, he may have a form of rapid heartbeat called tachycardia. If he has a heart rate the consistently falls below the normal range for his age, he may have a form of slow heartbeat called bradycardia. Your child may also develop premature or extra heartbeats that originate in his upper or lower heart, as well as a variety of problems affecting the sinus node, a small grouping of tissue in the upper heart that sends electrical signals to the lower heart and helps coordinate proper heartbeats.
Treatments
If your child has a significant heartbeat irregularity, his doctor will usually develop a treatment option that applies specifically to his circumstances, the American Heart Association reports. In many cases, treatment will involve the use of medications designed to either alter your child's heart rate or shorten the length of time during which an abnormal heartbeat occurs. If your child has a serious irregularity that requires a more permanent treatment solution, potential options include heart surgery, implantation of an artificial pacemaker and a catheter-based procedure called radiofrequency ablation. Ask your child's doctor for more information on abnormal heart rate causes and treatments.
Considerations
Newborn infants have normal resting heart rates that range from 100 to 160 beats a minute. Children older than age 10, as well as adults, have normal resting rates that range from 60 to 100 beats a minute. Potential causes for a temporary heartbeat elevation include dehydration and infections. If you suspect your child has an abnormal heart rate, consult his doctor for guidance and advice.
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