The heart rate of a healthy toddler can vary tremendously. During times of illness or stress, a 17-month-old may experience a shocking elevation in heart rate. Many otherwise-healthy toddlers simply have above-average or below-average pulse rates. In general, temporary increases in heart rate are harmless. However, when an abnormally high (or low) heart rate is sustained over a long period of time, it may indicate a medical condition or a functional abnormality in the child's body. Concerned parents should contact a pediatrician with any concerns relating to a child's pulse rate or heart rhythm.
Differences from Adults
Many parents grow concerned about toddlers' heart rates because they tend to be much faster than adults'. Parents should never assume that a normal adult heart rate is also the target range for a young child. A heart rate of 180 beats per minute, which would be alarming in an adult, is normal for a three-week-old baby. Likewise, a 17-month-old may have an apparently rapid heart rate that is actually within normal parameters. Slow heart rates (under 50 bpm) may be normal for some adults, but dangerously low for a young child.
Average Pulse Rate
The National Institutes of Health offer guidelines for doctors evaluating the vital signs of children. The average pulse rate for a child between one and two years of age is 110-115 beats per minute, but there can be significant variances. A 17-month-old''s normal heart rate can range from 80 to 150 beats per minute. Every child's body is different, and some toddlers may consistently have heart rates on the high or low end of the spectrum. Except in special circumstances, variations in a toddler's heart rate are harmless; a slightly fast or slow pulse is rarely symptomatic of a serious illness.
Influencing Factors
Many factors can temporarily elevate a 17-month-old's heart rate. Active, curious children may experience an increased heart rate during and after playtime, with a slow-down during times of rest and sleep. Stimulants, including caffeine and theobromine (found in chocolate,) can cause a temporary elevation of heart rate. Children can also experience a quicker pulse when they are anxious or upset; a 17-month-old having a tantrum will almost invariably experience a sharp increase in heart rate. Anxiety may contribute to "white coat tachycardia", which causes many patients -- both children and adults -- to have quicker heart rates during a medical exam.
Tachycardia
In toddlers, tachycardia (an abnormally fast heart rate) can be difficult to identify, since so many toddlers have a naturally rapid pulse. In general, a doctor may suspect clinical tachycardia in a 17-month-old whose pulse rate is consistently above 170-180 bpm. Even in these cases, a diagnosis of tachycardia is not necessarily grim: many toddlers with tachycardia are perfectly healthy and experience no significant health problems. After diagnosing tachycardia, a pediatrician may investigate possible underlying causes, including thyroid disease, heart abnormalities, and disorders of the central nervous system.
Bradycardia
Bradycardia (slow pulse) is much less common in toddlers. An average 17-month-old will have a heart rate of 80 beats per minute or more, but anything above 70 is still generally recognized as acceptable. A toddler whose heart rate is consistently below 50 may be diagnosed with bradycardia. Like tachycardia, bradycardia can be caused by a variety of conditions, including abnormalities of the circulatory, endocrine and central nervous system.
Tags: heart rate, beats minute, heart rates, central nervous, central nervous system, child body, elevation heart