From the Research
Normal Heart Rate in Children
The normal heart rate (HR) for a six-year-old can be determined from various studies.
- A study published in 2011 1 created centile charts for heart rate in relation to age, showing a decline in heart rate from birth to early adolescence.
- The median heart rate at birth was 127 beats per min, increasing to a maximum of 145 beats per min at about 1 month, before decreasing to 113 beats per min by 2 years of age.
- Another study from 1988 2 reported a mean heart rate of 87 +/- 10 beats/min in healthy children aged 6-11 years, with a range of 72-104 beats/min.
- A 2014 study 3 measured heart rate variability parameters in children aged 6-8 years and found no significant differences in heart rate between genders.
- The study from 2023 4 developed Z scores for heart rate based on weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area, providing a standardized method for determining normal heart rate limits in children.
Heart Rate Ranges
- The 2011 study 1 reported the following heart rate ranges for children:
- 1 month: 145 beats per min
- 1 year: 124 beats per min
- 2 years: 113 beats per min
- The 1988 study 2 reported the following heart rate ranges for children aged 6-11 years:
- Daytime: 71-148 beats/min
- Nighttime: 54-98 beats/min
- The 2014 study 3 reported the following heart rate ranges for children aged 6-8 years:
- 5th percentile: 64 beats/min
- 50th percentile: 78 beats/min
- 95th percentile: 100 beats/min
Determining Normal Heart Rate
- The 2023 study 4 suggests using body surface area (BSA) to estimate heart rate, as it is the most accurate method.
- The 2011 study 1 provides centile charts for heart rate in relation to age, which can be used to determine normal heart rate ranges for children.
- The 1988 study 2 reports on the normal ranges of heart rate in children aged 6-11 years, which can be used as a reference.