The nurse in a pediatrician's office is preparing to do a developmental assessment on a 3-month-old infant who was born at 36 weeks. The nurse knows that the infant should be evaluated in what month of achievement to adjust for the preterm birth?

A. Tell me how many hours per day your baby sleeps: Asking for specific details allows the nurse to assess whether the infant’s sleep pattern is within normal limits or may indicate an underlying problem such as illness or feeding issues. This approach encourages dialogue and individualized assessment.

B. Newborns generally sleep 12 to 15 hours per day: While providing general information is helpful, it does not gather specific data about this infant’s sleep patterns, which is necessary to determine if there is a concern.

C. It is normal for newborns to sleep most of the day: This statement may reassure the parent prematurely without evaluating the infant’s actual sleep duration or any associated symptoms that might require attention.

D. You will find as the baby gets older, he sleeps less: Although true in general, this response does not address the parent’s immediate concern or assess whether the infant’s current sleep pattern is appropriate.

A. Report the discrepancy to the pediatrician immediately: While significant or excessive weight loss should be reported, mild physiologic weight loss in the first few days of life is expected. Immediate reporting is not necessary if the loss is within the normal range of 5–10% of birth weight.

B. Decrease the interval between the infant's feedings: Newborns typically lose some weight in the first 3–5 days due to fluid shifts and limited intake. Increasing the frequency of feedings helps ensure adequate caloric intake and promotes gradual weight gain, supporting healthy growth and hydration.

C. Do nothing because this is a normal occurrence: Although some weight loss is normal, the nurse should take action to support feeding and monitor ongoing weight trends rather than ignoring the loss entirely.

D. Try feeding the infant a different type of formula: Changing formula is not indicated unless the infant has feeding intolerance or a medical reason. The initial intervention should focus on optimizing feeding frequency and technique rather than switching formula.