The respiratory pattern was evaluated in 32 newborn infants (21--premature infants). In 17 cases the cause of the respiratory insufficiency was the respiratory distress syndrome, in 15 pneumonias. Basing on registered spirograms the mean inspiratory time (Ti), the duration of the respiratory cycle (Ttot), time component (Ti/Ttot), respiratory frequency (f), normalized respiratory volume according to weight (Vt/kg) and Vt/Ti ratio were calculated. The authors did not find any differences in breathing pattern components between premature and at term infants nor between infants with RDS and pneumonias. In infants with RDS a shortened duration of inspiration was seen during the initial four days. Statistically significant differences were found in components of the respiratory pattern between studied and healthy infants.