ch 25

A 9-month-old infant's mother is questioning why cow's milk is not recommended in the first year of life as it is much cheaper than formula. What rationale does the nurse include in her response? It is permissible to substitute cow's milk for formula at this age as he is so close to 1 year old. Cow's milk is poor in iron and does not provide the proper balance of nutrients for the infant. As long as the mother provides whole milk, rather than skim, she can start cow's milk in infancy. If the mother cannot afford the infant formula, she should dilute it to make it last longer.

The correct response is B. Although whole milk contains a sufficient quantity of fat, cow's milk is inappropriate for use in infancy as it does not provide the appropriate balance of nutrients (especially iron) and may overload the infant's renal system with inappropriate amounts of sodium, protein, and minerals. Cow's milk use should be delayed until 1 year of age. Infant formula should always be reconstituted according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

The father of a 2-month-old girl is expressing concern that his infant may be getting spoiled. The nurse's best response is: a. "She just needs love and attention. Don't worry; she's too young to spoil." b. "Consistently meeting the infant's needs helps promote a sense of trust." c. "Infants need to be fed and cleaned; if you're sure those needs are met, just let her cry." d. "Consistency in meeting needs is important, but you're right, holding her too much will spoil her."

The correct response is B. Infants need to have both their physical needs (e.g., feeding, changing, clothing) and their emotional needs (e.g., attention, holding) met consistently so that they can develop a sense of trust, which is the basis for the later development of self-esteem.

Parents of an 8-month-old girl express concern that she cries when left with the babysitter. How does the nurse best explain this behavior? a. Crying when left with the sitter may indicate difficulty with building trust. b. Stranger anxiety should not occur until toddlerhood; this concern should be investigated. c. Separation anxiety is normal at this age; the infant recognizes parents as separate beings. d. Perhaps the sitter doesn't meet the infant's needs; choose a different sitter.

The correct response is C. As the infant realizes she is separate from her parents, it may distress her when the parents leave, as she understands they are no longer with her.

The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the mother of a 6-month-old infant. What is the best instruction by the nurse in relation to the infant's oral health? "Start brushing her teeth after all the baby teeth come in." "Use a washcloth with toothpaste to clean her mouth." "Clean your baby's gums, then new teeth, with a washcloth." "Rinse your baby's mouth with water after every feeding."

The correct response is C. The infant's mouth should be cleansed with a damp washcloth as should the baby's new teeth. It is important to clean the mouth and the teeth in order to prevent dental caries. Toothpaste is unnecessary in infancy. Rinsing the infant's mouth would present a safety hazard.

The mother of a 3-month-old boy asks the nurse about starting solid foods. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse? a. "It's okay to start puréed solids at this age if fed via the bottle." b. "Infants don't require solid food until 12 months of age." c. "Solid foods should be delayed until age 6 months, when the infant can handle a spoon on his own." d. "The tongue extrusion reflex disappears at age 4 to 6 months, making it a good time to start solid foods."

The correct response is D. As the tongue extrusion reflex disappears, the infant is better able to accept the spoon and learn to take solid foods.