* During sleep: A respiratory rate of 18–20 breaths/min is normal. When children enter deeper stages of sleep, their metabolic rate decreases, so breathing naturally becomes slower and more regular.
* Awake and calm: A respiratory rate of 25–29 breaths/min also falls within the expected range for a preschool-aged child. Awake children breathe slightly faster than when asleep because of higher activity and metabolic demand.
Next Steps
Not based on these numbers alone. Evaluation would be appropriate if there are symptoms such as:
* Persistent respiratory rate below 15/min during sleep or significantly lower than usual, especially if difficult to wake.
* Snoring with pauses in breathing (sleep apnea).
* Fast breathing even at rest while awake.
* Chest retractions, noisy breathing, cyanosis, poor weight gain, or recurrent chest infections.