A first-time mother calls the pediatrician’s office to ask the nurse about her baby’s tooth eruption. The baby is 8 months old and still does not have any teeth. What information can the nurse share with this mother that would correctly respond to her anxiety about her baby’s dentition?

Choice A reason: Walking then running is a gross motor sequence, not proximodistal, which progresses from central to peripheral control. Arm waving to foot grasping shows this pattern, making this incorrect, as it does not illustrate the infant’s proximodistal development in the instructor’s class.

Choice B reason: Rolling over precedes eye tracking, but proximodistal development involves motor control from trunk to extremities. Arm waving to foot grasping better illustrates this, making this incorrect, as it does not reflect the central-to-peripheral progression of infant motor development in the lesson.

Choice C reason: Imitating sounds to speaking is linguistic, not proximodistal, which focuses on motor control from core to limbs. Arm waving to foot grasping demonstrates this pattern, making this incorrect, as it does not represent the physical developmental sequence taught in the infant development class.

Choice D reason: Kicking and arm waving involve trunk and proximal muscles, while grasping the foot uses distal control, illustrating proximodistal development. Students choosing this show understanding, aligning with infant motor development principles, making it the correct example for a successful class on infant development.

Choice A reason: Imitating adult behavior to be nice does not explain the child’s withdrawal and concern when the father is away. Fear of loss better accounts for these anxiety-driven behaviors post-accident, making this less fitting and incorrect for the child’s emotional response to the traumatic event.

Choice B reason: The child’s withdrawal and concern when the father is away suggest fear of losing him after the accident, a common reaction in young children. This aligns with pediatric psychology evidence on trauma response, making it the correct factor explaining the child’s behavior in this context.

Choice C reason: Fear of personal injury is less likely than fear of losing the father, given the child’s focus on the father’s absence. Withdrawal reflects attachment anxiety, not self-protection, making this less accurate and incorrect compared to the loss-related emotional response observed in the child.

Choice D reason: Believing he caused the accident is possible but less supported without evidence of guilt statements. Fear of loss better explains the child’s withdrawal and concern for the father’s absence, making this speculative and incorrect for the primary behavioral factor affecting the 5-year-old.