Carman Essentials of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Ed - Ch. 3 Growth and Development of the Newborn and
Infant Test Questions Answered Correctly Rated A+
The nurse is examining a 6-month-old girl who was born 8 weeks early. Which finding is cause for
concern?
a. The child measures 21 in (53 cm) in length
b. The child exhibits palmar grasp reflex
c. Head size has increased 5 in (12 cm) since birth
d. The child weighs 10 lb 2 oz (4.6 kg) - Answers Answer: c
The child's head size is large for his adjusted age of 4 months, which would be cause for concern. Normal
growth would be 3.6 in (9 cm). At 10 lb, 2 oz (12 cm), the child is the right weight for a 4-month-old
adjusted age. Palmar grasp reflex disappears between 4 and 6 months adjusted age, so this would not
be a concern yet. The child is of average weight for a 4-month-old adjusted age.
The nurse is caring for the family with a 2-month-old boy with colic. The mother reports feeling very
stressed by the baby's constant crying. Which intervention would provide the most help in the short
term?
a. Urging the baby's mother to take time for herself away from the child
b. Educating the parents about when colic stops
c. Assessing the parents' care and feeding skills
d. Watching how the parents respond to the child - Answers Answer: a
Urging the parents to get time away from the child would be most helpful in the short term, particularly
if the parents are stressed. Educating the parents about when colic stops would help them see an end to
the stress. Observing how the parents respond to the child helps to determine if the parent-child
relationship was altered. Assessing the parents' care and feeding skills may identify other causes for the
crying.
The mother of 1-week-old boy voices concerns about her baby's weight loss since birth. At birth the
baby weighed 7 lb (3.2 kg); the baby currently weighs 6 lb 1 oz (2.8 kg). Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
a. "All babies lose a substantial amount of weight after birth."
b. "Your baby has lost too much weight and may need to be hospitalized."
c. "Your baby's weight loss is well within the expected range."
d. "Your baby has lost a bit more than the normal amount." - Answers Answer: d
, The normal newborn may lose up to 10% of their birth weight. The baby in question has lost just below
this amount. This will likely not require hospitalization. Expressing to the mother that her baby will likely
be hospitalized is rash and will most likely not occur.
The nurse is teaching the parents of a 6-month-old boy about proper child dental care. Which action will
the nurse indicate as the most likely to cause dental caries?
a. Not cleaning a baby's gums when he is done eating
b. Putting the baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice
c. Using a cloth instead of a brush for cleaning teeth
d. Failing to clean the teeth with fluoridated toothpaste - Answers Answer: b
The nurse will warn against putting the baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice because this allows the
sugar content of these fluids to pool around the baby's teeth at night. Not cleaning a baby's gums when
he is done eating will have minimal impact on the development of dental caries, as will using a cloth
instead of a brush for cleaning teeth when they erupt. Failure to clean the teeth with fluoridated
toothpaste is not a problem if the water supply is fluoridated.
The nurse is assessing the sleeping practices of the parents of a 4-month-old girl who wakes repeatedly
during the night. Which parent comment might reveal a cause for the night waking?
a. They sing to her before she goes to sleep
b. They put her to bed when she falls asleep
c. If she is safe, they lie her down and leave
d. The child has a regular, scheduled bedtime - Answers Answer: b
If the parents are keeping the child up until she falls asleep, they are not creating a bedtime routine for
her. Infants need a transition to sleep at this age. If the parents are singing to her before she goes to
bed, if she has a regular, scheduled bedtime, and if they check on her safety when she wakes at night,
then lie her down and leave, they are using good sleep practices.
The nurse is educating the mother of a 6-month-old boy about the symptoms for teething. Which
symptom would the nurse identify?
a. Running a mild fever or vomiting
b. Choosing soft foods over hard foods
c. Increased biting and sucking
d. Frequent loose stools - Answers Answer: c
Infant Test Questions Answered Correctly Rated A+
The nurse is examining a 6-month-old girl who was born 8 weeks early. Which finding is cause for
concern?
a. The child measures 21 in (53 cm) in length
b. The child exhibits palmar grasp reflex
c. Head size has increased 5 in (12 cm) since birth
d. The child weighs 10 lb 2 oz (4.6 kg) - Answers Answer: c
The child's head size is large for his adjusted age of 4 months, which would be cause for concern. Normal
growth would be 3.6 in (9 cm). At 10 lb, 2 oz (12 cm), the child is the right weight for a 4-month-old
adjusted age. Palmar grasp reflex disappears between 4 and 6 months adjusted age, so this would not
be a concern yet. The child is of average weight for a 4-month-old adjusted age.
The nurse is caring for the family with a 2-month-old boy with colic. The mother reports feeling very
stressed by the baby's constant crying. Which intervention would provide the most help in the short
term?
a. Urging the baby's mother to take time for herself away from the child
b. Educating the parents about when colic stops
c. Assessing the parents' care and feeding skills
d. Watching how the parents respond to the child - Answers Answer: a
Urging the parents to get time away from the child would be most helpful in the short term, particularly
if the parents are stressed. Educating the parents about when colic stops would help them see an end to
the stress. Observing how the parents respond to the child helps to determine if the parent-child
relationship was altered. Assessing the parents' care and feeding skills may identify other causes for the
crying.
The mother of 1-week-old boy voices concerns about her baby's weight loss since birth. At birth the
baby weighed 7 lb (3.2 kg); the baby currently weighs 6 lb 1 oz (2.8 kg). Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
a. "All babies lose a substantial amount of weight after birth."
b. "Your baby has lost too much weight and may need to be hospitalized."
c. "Your baby's weight loss is well within the expected range."
d. "Your baby has lost a bit more than the normal amount." - Answers Answer: d
, The normal newborn may lose up to 10% of their birth weight. The baby in question has lost just below
this amount. This will likely not require hospitalization. Expressing to the mother that her baby will likely
be hospitalized is rash and will most likely not occur.
The nurse is teaching the parents of a 6-month-old boy about proper child dental care. Which action will
the nurse indicate as the most likely to cause dental caries?
a. Not cleaning a baby's gums when he is done eating
b. Putting the baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice
c. Using a cloth instead of a brush for cleaning teeth
d. Failing to clean the teeth with fluoridated toothpaste - Answers Answer: b
The nurse will warn against putting the baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice because this allows the
sugar content of these fluids to pool around the baby's teeth at night. Not cleaning a baby's gums when
he is done eating will have minimal impact on the development of dental caries, as will using a cloth
instead of a brush for cleaning teeth when they erupt. Failure to clean the teeth with fluoridated
toothpaste is not a problem if the water supply is fluoridated.
The nurse is assessing the sleeping practices of the parents of a 4-month-old girl who wakes repeatedly
during the night. Which parent comment might reveal a cause for the night waking?
a. They sing to her before she goes to sleep
b. They put her to bed when she falls asleep
c. If she is safe, they lie her down and leave
d. The child has a regular, scheduled bedtime - Answers Answer: b
If the parents are keeping the child up until she falls asleep, they are not creating a bedtime routine for
her. Infants need a transition to sleep at this age. If the parents are singing to her before she goes to
bed, if she has a regular, scheduled bedtime, and if they check on her safety when she wakes at night,
then lie her down and leave, they are using good sleep practices.
The nurse is educating the mother of a 6-month-old boy about the symptoms for teething. Which
symptom would the nurse identify?
a. Running a mild fever or vomiting
b. Choosing soft foods over hard foods
c. Increased biting and sucking
d. Frequent loose stools - Answers Answer: c
