When assessing the heart rate of a 6-month-old infant, you should palpate the brachial pulse or ________ pulse.

In the assessment of a 6-month-old infant, palpating the brachial pulse is commonly recommended, but the femoral pulse is also a recognized site for checking heart rate. The femoral pulse can be found in the groin area and is adequately accessible in infants, providing a reliable measure of the heart rate especially when other pulses may not be palpated effectively.

It is crucial to monitor heart rate in infants due to their different physiological characteristics compared to older children and adults, where bradycardia or tachycardia could indicate underlying medical issues. The femoral pulse is often favored when assessing circulation and can help determine the overall cardiovascular status of the infant.

Other pulse sites such as the carotid, radial, or dorsalis pedis may be less practical or effective in this age group. The carotid pulse in infants can be difficult to access without proper positioning, the radial pulse may be too faint or challenging to palpate in smaller arms, and the dorsalis pedis pulse is more commonly assessed in older children or adults. Thus, using the femoral pulse, in addition to the brachial pulse, allows for a thorough and effective assessment in this special population.