Final answer:
The normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 30 to 60 breaths per minute, which is the correct option from the multiple choices provided in the original question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 30 to 60 breaths per minute. This rate is higher in newborns and gradually decreases as they grow into childhood and adolescence. For a child under 1 year of age, the typical respiratory rate range is 30-60 breaths per minute. By the age of about 10 years, this slows to 18-30 breaths per minute, and by adolescence, it further reduces to mirror adult rates of 12-18 breaths per minute. An older child or adolescent's respiratory rate will be closer to that of an adult, which is commonly 12-15 breaths per minute under non-exertion conditions. This rate plays a critical role in alveolar ventilation, to prevent carbon dioxide buildup in the alveoli. Understanding the respiratory rate is also relevant when considering the Apgar score, which includes respiration as a critical criterion for assessing a newborn's health immediately after birth.