Rapid Breathing (Tachypnea)
What rapid breathing means, how to count it correctly, and when it’s time to call your provider or go to the ER.
What is rapid breathing?
Rapid breathing — or tachypnea — means your child is breathing faster than normal for their age. It can be a sign of pneumonia, RSV, asthma, fever, or other illness. Fast breathing on its own, even without other symptoms, always warrants attention.
How to count breathing rate
Count breaths when your child is calm and at rest — not crying, feeding, or active. Watch the belly or chest rise and fall. Count for a full 60 seconds.
Above these numbers when calm = rapid breathing. Log it in MamaBear and contact your provider.
Log the exact count in MamaBear. If you count it three times and get a similar number each time, that count is reliable. Include the time you counted.
- Breathing faster than normal for their age at rest
- Fast breathing that has lasted more than a few hours
- Fast breathing with fever
- Fast breathing with decreased activity or feeding
- You’ve counted and it’s above normal — always call
- Fast breathing AND retractions (working hard to breathe)
- Fast breathing AND blue or gray color
- Breathing rate above 70 per minute at any age
- Fast breathing AND child is hard to wake
- Breathing appears to stop briefly (apnea)