Stages of Growth and Development

Every question here, with the answer

1. The parent of a 5-day-old newborn is worried because the baby weighs less than at birth. What should the nurse explain?

   1. Newborns typically lose about 10 percent of their body weight in the first week and regain birth weight within ten to fourteen days.
   2. Any weight loss in the first week means the baby is not feeding well.
   3. The baby should be back to birth weight by day 3.
   4. Newborns should gain 5 to 7 ounces a day from birth.

   Answer: Newborns typically lose about 10 percent of their body weight in the first week and regain birth weight within ten to fourteen days.

   Newborns typically lose about 10 percent of body weight in the first seven days from eliminating excess fluid, then gain about 1 ounce a day and usually regain birth weight within ten to fourteen days. The other statements misstate the expected pattern and timing.

2. The parent of a 7-month-old worries that the baby cannot yet pick up small pieces of cereal with the thumb and forefinger. What is the nurse's best response?

   1. The pincer grasp usually develops around 9 months, and each child develops on their own timeline.
   2. The baby should have been using a pincer grasp since 4 months.
   3. This indicates a developmental delay that needs a referral today.
   4. Babies develop a pincer grasp at about 1 month.

   Answer: The pincer grasp usually develops around 9 months, and each child develops on their own timeline.

   The pincer grasp usually develops around 9 months of age, and each child develops on their own timeline, so a 7-month-old without it is not delayed. Grasping with the whole hand begins around 1 month.

3. A nurse observes two toddlers in a waiting room each playing with toy blocks next to each other without interacting. Which type of play is this?

   1. Cooperative play
   2. Associative play
   3. Onlooker play
   4. Parallel play

   Answer: Parallel play

   Parallel play is playing side by side, possibly with the same kind of object, without interacting, and typically occurs in the toddler stage. Associative play involves others, cooperative play has rules and leaders, and onlookers only watch.

4. A nurse is reviewing expected growth with the parent of a healthy infant. By about what age is the average infant expected to triple their birth weight?

   1. 3 years
   2. 12 months
   3. 5 months
   4. 2 years

   Answer: 12 months

   The average infant doubles birth weight by about 5 months and triples it by about 12 months. Toddlers typically quadruple their birth weight during the 1- to 3-year period.

5. A nurse is using the Denver II Developmental Screening Test (DDST-II) with a young child. Which areas does this tool assess? Select all that apply.

   1. Personal-social skills
   2. Bone density
   3. Fine motor skills
   4. Gross motor skills
   5. Language skills

   Answer: Personal-social skills, Fine motor skills, Gross motor skills, Language skills

   The PDQ-II and DDST-II assess fine motor, gross motor, personal-social, and language skills in young children. Bone density is a measure of growth, not a developmental skill area of this tool.

6. A nurse is teaching parents about gross motor milestones expected during the toddler stage (1 to 3 years). Which milestones should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

   1. Holding a rattle placed in the hand for the first time
   2. Walking independently
   3. Participating in organized team sports with set rules
   4. Standing on tiptoes
   5. Climbing stairs

   Answer: Walking independently, Standing on tiptoes, Climbing stairs

   Major toddler gross motor milestones include walking independently, climbing stairs, and standing on tiptoes. Team sports with rules are cooperative play, most common in middle childhood, and holding a rattle placed in the hand begins around 1 month.