The nurse is assessing a 1-year-old infant in the pediatric office.
What finding should the nurse report to the physician immediately?

Choice A rationale:
While it's important to provide appropriate food quantities for children, advising that food quantities must be carefully measured to avoid overfeeding may be overly restrictive. Children's appetites can vary, and strict measurements may not be necessary. Instead, it's essential to offer a balanced diet with a variety of foods and let the child's hunger cues guide their intake. Overemphasis on precise measurements may lead to unnecessary stress for both parents and children.
Choice B rationale:
Using 1 tablespoon of each food for each year of age as a guideline is a practical and straightforward approach to portion control for toddlers. It provides a general guideline that can help parents ensure that their child is receiving an appropriate amount of food for their age and developmental stage. This approach is flexible and easy for parents to follow. It also encourages a balanced diet, as it implies that a child should receive a variety of foods in appropriate quantities.
Choice C rationale:
Stating that a toddler should eat three balanced meals and snacks are not necessary oversimplifies the feeding recommendations. While balanced meals are important, toddlers have varying energy needs, and some may require snacks to maintain their energy levels. Snacks can be an essential part of a toddler's diet, especially if there is a long gap between meals. Therefore, it's important to consider individual needs and not dismiss snacks outright.
Choice D rationale:
Serving sizes should not exceed 1 teaspoon of each type of food is overly restrictive and may not provide toddlers with the necessary nutrition. While it's crucial to introduce foods in appropriate portions, limiting serving sizes to just one teaspoon may not meet the nutritional needs of a growing child. This approach may lead to underfeeding and nutrient deficiencies, which is not advisable for healthy development. A more balanced and flexible guideline, such as the one provided in choice B, is a better recommendation.

Choice A rationale:

The statement, "The baby really likes little pieces of chocolate," is not an indication of correct understanding of infant feeding. Introducing chocolate to an infant's diet is not recommended, as it can pose a choking hazard and is not a suitable first food.

Choice B rationale:

The statement, "Give the baby new foods before he takes his bottle," does not indicate a correct understanding of infant feeding. It's generally recommended to introduce solid foods to infants after they have started with breast milk or formula, not before.

Choice C rationale:

The statement, "I've been mixing rice cereal and formula in the baby's bottle," indicates a correct understanding of infant feeding. This practice is often recommended as a way to transition infants to solid foods gradually, and it can help with feeding and digestion.

Choice D rationale:

The statement, "I switched the baby to low-fat milk at 9 months," is not a correct understanding of infant feeding. Infants should not be given low-fat milk until after the age of 1, as they need the higher fat content in whole milk for proper growth and development.