A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 4-month-old infant. Which recommendation is appropriate for promoting motor development?
A.
Place the infant in a stationary position to prevent falls.
B.
Encourage tummy time while the infant is awake and supervised.
C.
Limit opportunities for the infant to explore different textures.
D.
Introduce solid foods to enhance oral motor skills.
The appropriate recommendation for promoting motor development is:
B. Encourage tummy time while the infant is awake and supervised.
Explanation:
- A. Place the infant in a stationary position to prevent falls: Keeping the infant stationary does not support motor development. Encouraging movement is crucial for motor skill development.
- B. Encourage tummy time while the infant is awake and supervised: Tummy time is important for motor development as it helps strengthen the infant’s neck, shoulder, and back muscles. It also promotes the development of motor skills like rolling over and crawling.
- C. Limit opportunities for the infant to explore different textures: Exploring different textures is beneficial for sensory development, and limiting this can hinder overall development. Encouraging exploration supports sensory and motor skills.
- D. Introduce solid foods to enhance oral motor skills: While introducing solid foods is important for oral motor skills, it is typically recommended around 6 months of age rather than 4 months. At 4 months, the primary focus should be on motor skills such as tummy time.
Therefore, B. Encourage tummy time while the infant is awake and supervised is the best recommendation for promoting motor development in a 4-month-old infant.