Heart rate 24 on a child - what does it mean?
24bpm
Low for all ages
A heart rate of 24 bpm is below the normal resting range for every age group under 10. In a baby or young child that needs a doctor's assessment.
Normal resting heart rate by age
| Age | Normal at rest | 24 bpm is |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0–1 month) | 70–190 bpm | below normal |
| Infant (1–11 months) | 80–160 bpm | below normal |
| Toddler (1–2 years) | 80–130 bpm | below normal |
| Preschool (3–4 years) | 80–120 bpm | below normal |
| Child (5–6 years) | 75–115 bpm | below normal |
| Child (7–9 years) | 70–110 bpm | below normal |
| 10 years and older | 60–100 bpm | below normal |
Ranges for an awake, calm child (NIH MedlinePlus). Asleep, a child's pulse can be 10–20 bpm lower; crying, play and fever push it higher — roughly 10 bpm more per 1 °C (2 °F) of fever.
When a child's heart rate needs a doctor
- Call 911 (US) or your local emergency number if a baby or young child has a heart rate below 60 and seems unwell — pale, floppy, hard to wake or breathing poorly.
- Get urgent care for a resting heart rate above 220 in a baby or above 180 in an older child, especially if it starts and stops suddenly — this pattern suggests SVT rather than a normal fast pulse.
- See your pediatrician if the resting pulse is repeatedly outside the range for the child's age, feels irregular, or comes with fainting, chest pain, poor feeding, sweating while feeding, or unusual tiredness.
More detail: Fast, Slow or Irregular Heart Rate in a Child · How to Measure a Baby's Heart Rate · Why Infants Have a Faster Heart Rate Than Adults
Check another reading
Nearby values
Measured on a teenager or adult? See heart rate 24 in an adult.
This page explains a single reading in general terms. It is not a diagnosis. Heart rate alone cannot tell whether the rhythm is regular or whether the heart is healthy — if you are worried, talk to a doctor.