A 7-year-old child is newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The nurse is preparing the family for the treatment plan. Which of the following nursing interventions is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of care for this child during the induction phase of chemotherapy?

A. Teaching the family about long-term management of asthma is incorrect because asthma management is not directly related to latex allergy, although children with latex allergy may have an increased risk of atopy. The focus should be on latex avoidance.

B. Avoiding using any latex product is correct. Children with spina bifida are at high risk for latex allergy due to frequent surgical procedures and exposure to latex-containing medical products. Complete avoidance of latex in medical equipment, gloves, toys, and household items is the most important preventive intervention to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis or allergic reactions.

C. Administering medication for long-term desensitization is incorrect because there is currently no safe or standard desensitization therapy for latex allergy. Management focuses on prevention and avoidance.

D. Using only nonallergenic latex products is partially misleading. There is no guarantee that “nonallergenic” latex products are completely safe; therefore, latex-free alternatives should be used instead of relying on “nonallergenic” labels.

A. "All children develop skills randomly" is incorrect because child development follows a predictable sequence, even though the exact timing may vary slightly among individuals. While each child’s pace may differ, motor skills generally progress in a set order based on neuromuscular maturation. Skills build on one another, and earlier abilities provide the foundation for later ones.

B. "Walking should have occurred first: the child is delayed" is incorrect because walking typically occurs after a child can pull to stand, cruise along furniture, and balance with support. At 12 months, it is normal for a child to be pulling up and standing independently but not yet walking unassisted. This reflects expected developmental progression rather than a delay.

C. "Development occurs only in spurts and cannot be predicted" is incorrect because while growth can occur in rapid periods or spurts, motor development follows a predictable sequence. Infants generally progress from rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, cruising along furniture, and finally taking independent steps. This sequence allows healthcare providers and parents to anticipate and support developmental needs.

D. "Development follows a predictable order: standing precedes independent walking" is correct. Motor development progresses in a cephalocaudal pattern (head to toe) and proximodistal pattern (center of the body outward). Gross motor skills develop first in the head, neck, and trunk before the legs and feet can function independently. Pulling to stand, standing with support, and cruising are essential precursors to independent walking. A 12-month-old demonstrating these skills is following normal sequential development.