This is Part 1 of 5 of the Pediatrics Fundamentals
Comprehensive Test Bank by the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
TABLE OF CONTENTS — PART 1 of 5
Chapter 1: Growth and Development — Questions 1–20
Chapter 2: Pediatric Assessment and Vital Signs — Questions 21–40
Chapter 3: Newborn and Infant Care — Questions 41–60
Chapter 4: Immunizations and Preventive Care — Questions 61–80
Chapter 5: Nutrition and Feeding — Questions 81–100
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Q1. A pediatric nurse is reviewing growth and development milestones with a student. At what age
does an infant typically begin to hold their head up steadily without support?
A. 1 month
B. 2 months
C. 4 months
D. 6 months
Correct Answer: 4 months
Rationale: An infant typically begins to hold their head up steadily without support at around
4 months of age as neck muscles strengthen and head control improves. At 1 month, the infant has
minimal head control and needs full support. At 2 months, the infant may briefly lift the head when
prone but cannot hold it steadily. By 6 months, head control is well established and the infant is
typically rolling over. Recognizing these milestones helps clinicians identify developmental delays
early and provide appropriate anticipatory guidance to parents.
Q2. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Rolling from back to stomach
B. Sitting without support
,C. Walking independently
D. Climbing stairs
Correct Answer: Sitting without support
Rationale: Sitting without support is a gross motor milestone typically achieved between 6 and
8 months of age, so a 9-month-old infant should be able to sit independently. Rolling from back to
stomach usually occurs around 4 to 6 months. Walking independently typically occurs between 12
and 15 months. Climbing stairs usually occurs around 18 to 24 months. Understanding gross motor
milestones helps pediatric clinicians screen for developmental delays and provide timely referrals to
early intervention services.
Q3. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 15-month-old toddler. Which language milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Cooing
B. Babbling
C. Saying two to three words with meaning
D. Speaking in full sentences
Correct Answer: Saying two to three words with meaning
Rationale: A 15-month-old toddler typically says two to three words with meaning, in addition
to babbling and using gestures. Cooing usually occurs around 2 months, babbling around 6 months,
and speaking in full sentences around 2 to 3 years. Recognizing language milestones helps clinicians
identify speech and language delays early, enabling timely referral to speech therapy and early
intervention programs that improve long-term outcomes.
Q4. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which social-emotional milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Parallel play
B. Cooperative play
C. Stranger anxiety
D. Separation anxiety
Correct Answer: Parallel play
Rationale: A 2-year-old child typically engages in parallel play, playing alongside other children
without interacting extensively. Cooperative play usually develops around 4 to 5 years. Stranger
anxiety typically appears around 6 to 9 months, and separation anxiety peaks around 10 to 18
months. Recognizing social-emotional milestones helps clinicians assess social development, identify
concerns, and provide guidance to parents on supporting healthy social-emotional growth.
,Q5. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which cognitive milestone is most consistent
with this age?
A. Object permanence
B. Magical thinking
C. Conservation
D. Abstract reasoning
Correct Answer: Magical thinking
Rationale: A 4-year-old child is in Piaget's preoperational stage and typically engages in
magical thinking, in which imagination and fantasy blend with reality. Object permanence develops
in infancy. Conservation develops in the concrete operational stage around 7 years. Abstract
reasoning develops in the formal operational stage around 11 years. Recognizing cognitive
milestones helps clinicians understand how children perceive the world and communicate with them
effectively during assessments.
Q6. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which fine motor milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Palmar grasp
B. Pincer grasp
C. Transferring objects between hands
D. Scribbling with a crayon
Correct Answer: Palmar grasp
Rationale: A 6-month-old infant typically uses a palmar grasp, holding objects in the palm with
all fingers. The pincer grasp develops around 9 to 12 months. Transferring objects between hands
develops around 7 to 9 months. Scribbling with a crayon develops around 12 to 18 months.
Recognizing fine motor milestones helps clinicians identify delays in fine motor development and
provide appropriate referrals for occupational therapy.
Q7. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which fine motor milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Palmar grasp
B. Pincer grasp
C. Building a tower of two blocks
D. Drawing a circle
, Correct Answer: Pincer grasp
Rationale: A 12-month-old infant typically has a pincer grasp, using the thumb and forefinger
to pick up small objects. Palmar grasp is present around 6 months. Building a tower of two blocks
typically develops around 15 to 18 months. Drawing a circle typically develops around 3 years.
Recognizing fine motor milestones helps clinicians assess fine motor development, identify delays,
and provide timely referrals.
Q8. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which gross motor milestone is most consistent
with this age?
A. Walking independently
B. Running
C. Pedaling a tricycle
D. Hopping on one foot
Correct Answer: Pedaling a tricycle
Rationale: A 3-year-old child typically can pedal a tricycle, which requires coordination of leg
movements and balance. Walking independently occurs around 12 to 15 months. Running occurs
around 18 to 24 months. Hopping on one foot typically develops around 4 years. Recognizing gross
motor milestones helps clinicians assess motor development, identify delays, and provide
appropriate guidance to parents.
Q9. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which language milestone is most consistent
with this age?
A. Speaking in two-word phrases
B. Speaking in three-word sentences
C. Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end
D. Using complex sentences with correct grammar
Correct Answer: Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end
Rationale: A 5-year-old child typically can tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end,
demonstrating narrative skills and language development. Two-word phrases develop around 18 to
24 months. Three-word sentences develop around 2 to 3 years. Complex sentences with correct
grammar develop around 5 to 6 years. Recognizing language milestones helps clinicians identify
speech and language delays and refer for evaluation.
Q10. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which social-emotional milestone is most
consistent with this age?
Comprehensive Test Bank by the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
TABLE OF CONTENTS — PART 1 of 5
Chapter 1: Growth and Development — Questions 1–20
Chapter 2: Pediatric Assessment and Vital Signs — Questions 21–40
Chapter 3: Newborn and Infant Care — Questions 41–60
Chapter 4: Immunizations and Preventive Care — Questions 61–80
Chapter 5: Nutrition and Feeding — Questions 81–100
---
Q1. A pediatric nurse is reviewing growth and development milestones with a student. At what age
does an infant typically begin to hold their head up steadily without support?
A. 1 month
B. 2 months
C. 4 months
D. 6 months
Correct Answer: 4 months
Rationale: An infant typically begins to hold their head up steadily without support at around
4 months of age as neck muscles strengthen and head control improves. At 1 month, the infant has
minimal head control and needs full support. At 2 months, the infant may briefly lift the head when
prone but cannot hold it steadily. By 6 months, head control is well established and the infant is
typically rolling over. Recognizing these milestones helps clinicians identify developmental delays
early and provide appropriate anticipatory guidance to parents.
Q2. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Rolling from back to stomach
B. Sitting without support
,C. Walking independently
D. Climbing stairs
Correct Answer: Sitting without support
Rationale: Sitting without support is a gross motor milestone typically achieved between 6 and
8 months of age, so a 9-month-old infant should be able to sit independently. Rolling from back to
stomach usually occurs around 4 to 6 months. Walking independently typically occurs between 12
and 15 months. Climbing stairs usually occurs around 18 to 24 months. Understanding gross motor
milestones helps pediatric clinicians screen for developmental delays and provide timely referrals to
early intervention services.
Q3. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 15-month-old toddler. Which language milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Cooing
B. Babbling
C. Saying two to three words with meaning
D. Speaking in full sentences
Correct Answer: Saying two to three words with meaning
Rationale: A 15-month-old toddler typically says two to three words with meaning, in addition
to babbling and using gestures. Cooing usually occurs around 2 months, babbling around 6 months,
and speaking in full sentences around 2 to 3 years. Recognizing language milestones helps clinicians
identify speech and language delays early, enabling timely referral to speech therapy and early
intervention programs that improve long-term outcomes.
Q4. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which social-emotional milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Parallel play
B. Cooperative play
C. Stranger anxiety
D. Separation anxiety
Correct Answer: Parallel play
Rationale: A 2-year-old child typically engages in parallel play, playing alongside other children
without interacting extensively. Cooperative play usually develops around 4 to 5 years. Stranger
anxiety typically appears around 6 to 9 months, and separation anxiety peaks around 10 to 18
months. Recognizing social-emotional milestones helps clinicians assess social development, identify
concerns, and provide guidance to parents on supporting healthy social-emotional growth.
,Q5. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which cognitive milestone is most consistent
with this age?
A. Object permanence
B. Magical thinking
C. Conservation
D. Abstract reasoning
Correct Answer: Magical thinking
Rationale: A 4-year-old child is in Piaget's preoperational stage and typically engages in
magical thinking, in which imagination and fantasy blend with reality. Object permanence develops
in infancy. Conservation develops in the concrete operational stage around 7 years. Abstract
reasoning develops in the formal operational stage around 11 years. Recognizing cognitive
milestones helps clinicians understand how children perceive the world and communicate with them
effectively during assessments.
Q6. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which fine motor milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Palmar grasp
B. Pincer grasp
C. Transferring objects between hands
D. Scribbling with a crayon
Correct Answer: Palmar grasp
Rationale: A 6-month-old infant typically uses a palmar grasp, holding objects in the palm with
all fingers. The pincer grasp develops around 9 to 12 months. Transferring objects between hands
develops around 7 to 9 months. Scribbling with a crayon develops around 12 to 18 months.
Recognizing fine motor milestones helps clinicians identify delays in fine motor development and
provide appropriate referrals for occupational therapy.
Q7. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which fine motor milestone is most
consistent with this age?
A. Palmar grasp
B. Pincer grasp
C. Building a tower of two blocks
D. Drawing a circle
, Correct Answer: Pincer grasp
Rationale: A 12-month-old infant typically has a pincer grasp, using the thumb and forefinger
to pick up small objects. Palmar grasp is present around 6 months. Building a tower of two blocks
typically develops around 15 to 18 months. Drawing a circle typically develops around 3 years.
Recognizing fine motor milestones helps clinicians assess fine motor development, identify delays,
and provide timely referrals.
Q8. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which gross motor milestone is most consistent
with this age?
A. Walking independently
B. Running
C. Pedaling a tricycle
D. Hopping on one foot
Correct Answer: Pedaling a tricycle
Rationale: A 3-year-old child typically can pedal a tricycle, which requires coordination of leg
movements and balance. Walking independently occurs around 12 to 15 months. Running occurs
around 18 to 24 months. Hopping on one foot typically develops around 4 years. Recognizing gross
motor milestones helps clinicians assess motor development, identify delays, and provide
appropriate guidance to parents.
Q9. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which language milestone is most consistent
with this age?
A. Speaking in two-word phrases
B. Speaking in three-word sentences
C. Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end
D. Using complex sentences with correct grammar
Correct Answer: Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end
Rationale: A 5-year-old child typically can tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end,
demonstrating narrative skills and language development. Two-word phrases develop around 18 to
24 months. Three-word sentences develop around 2 to 3 years. Complex sentences with correct
grammar develop around 5 to 6 years. Recognizing language milestones helps clinicians identify
speech and language delays and refer for evaluation.
Q10. A pediatric nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which social-emotional milestone is most
consistent with this age?
