While teaching the parents of a newborn about infant care and feeding, the nurse instructs the parents to:

Question

1. Delay supplemental foods until the infant is 4–6 months old.

2. Delay supplemental foods until the infant reaches 15 pounds or greater.

3. Begin diluted fruit juice at 2 months of age, but wait 3–5 days before trying a new food.

4. Add rice cereal to the nighttime feeding if the infant is having difficulty sleeping after 2 months of age.

Answer 1

1

Rationale:

1. Age 4–6 months is the optimal age to begin supplemental feedings. Earlier feeding of nonformula foods is not needed by the infant, and does not promote sleep.
2. Earlier feeding of nonformula foods, regardless of the infant's weight, is more likely to cause the development of food allergies.
3. Fruit juice and rice cereal are not well tolerated by infants at 2 months of age, as they lack the digestive enzymes to take in and metabolize many food products.
4. Fruit juice and rice cereal are not well tolerated by infants at 2 months of age, as they lack the digestive enzymes to take in and metabolize many food products.