The nurse asks the parents of a child about the family health history. The father asks the nurse why she needs this information. The nurse would explain that the family health history is gathered for what reason?

Choice A reason: Eating with family may encourage variety but does not address the normalcy of food jags in 6-year-olds. Reassuring about their transient nature reduces caregiver stress, making this less direct and incorrect compared to normalizing the child’s selective eating behavior for the concerned caregiver.

Choice B reason: Insisting on variety at every meal may escalate mealtime stress, as food jags are normal and temporary in 6-year-olds. Acknowledging their common occurrence is more supportive, making this pressuring and incorrect for addressing the caregiver’s nutritional concern about the child’s eating habits.

Choice C reason: Food jags, where a child fixates on one food, are common at age 6 and typically resolve naturally. Reassuring the caregiver reduces anxiety and aligns with pediatric nutrition guidance, making this the prioritized response to address concerns about the child’s nutrition and eating patterns.

Choice D reason: Discouraging food preferences risks mealtime conflicts, as food jags are developmentally normal. Normalizing their temporary nature supports the caregiver without forcing the child, making this unhelpful and incorrect compared to reassuring about the common, transient behavior in 6-year-olds.

Choice A reason: Asking about family size is irrelevant, as growth norms are based on population standards, not family stature. The toddler’s 6-pound gain and 2.5-inch growth are normal for a 2-year-old, making this unhelpful and incorrect compared to reassuring based on standard growth parameters for toddlers.

Choice B reason: The child’s growth (6 pounds, 2.5 inches) is within normal limits for a 2-year-old, so stating it is less than expected is inaccurate. Gathering nutritional history is unnecessary without growth concerns, making this incorrect compared to reassuring the mother about normal development in her child.

Choice C reason: Requiring a follow-up in 3 months is unnecessary, as the toddler’s growth is normal (6 pounds, 2.5 inches in a year). Reassuring the mother addresses her concerns directly, avoiding unwarranted visits, making this incorrect for responding to a toddler with standard growth patterns.

Choice D reason: A 6-pound (2.7 kg) weight gain and 2.5-inch (6.4 cm) height increase are within normal limits for a 2-year-old, per pediatric growth charts. Reassuring the mother alleviates anxiety and aligns with evidence-based growth standards, making this the correct response to her concerns about growth.