Maternity Nursing Q 143
The mother of a 2-month-old is concerned that she may be spoiling her baby by picking her up when she cries. Which of the following would be the nurse’s best response?
A. “ Let her cry for a while before picking her up, so you don’t spoil her.”
B. “Babies need to be held and cuddled; you won’t spoil her this way.”
C. “Crying at this age means the baby is hungry; give her a bottle.”
D. “If you leave her alone she will learn how to cry herself to sleep.”
Correct Answer: B. “Babies need to be held and cuddled; you won’t spoil her this way.”
Infants need to have their security needs met by being held and cuddled. At 2 months of age, they are unable to make the connection between crying and attention. This association does not occur until late infancy or early toddlerhood.
Option A: Letting the infant cry for a time before picking up the infant or leaving the infant alone to cry herself to sleep interferes with meeting the infant’s need for security at this very young age.
Option C: Infants cry for many reasons. Assuming that the child Is hungry may cause overfeeding problems such as obesity.
Option D: If the care the infant receives is consistent, predictable, and reliable, they will develop a sense of trust which will carry with them to other relationships, and they will be able to feel secure even when threatened.