The nurse is caring for an infant whose cleft lip was repaired. What important aspects of this infant’s postoperative care should be included?

Choice A reason:

Monitor your child’s temperature daily: Monitoring temperature is important for children with sickle cell anemia as they are prone to infections. A fever can be an early sign of infection, which can be serious for these children. Normal body temperature for children ranges from 36.5°C to 38°C. However, while monitoring temperature is important, it is not the most critical daily advice compared to ensuring adequate hydration.

Choice B Reason:

Restrict outdoor play to 1 hour per day: Limiting outdoor play is not typically necessary unless the child is experiencing extreme fatigue or pain. Physical activity is generally encouraged to maintain overall health, but it should be balanced with rest and hydration. Therefore, this advice is not as crucial as ensuring the child stays hydrated.

Choice C Reason:

Apply cold compresses when your child expresses pain: Cold compresses are not recommended for managing pain in sickle cell anemia. Instead, warm compresses or heating pads are often suggested to help relieve pain by improving blood flow. Cold can cause vasoconstriction, which may worsen pain and complications.

Choice D Reason:

Offer your child fluids frequently to meet their daily fluid goals: Staying well-hydrated is essential for children with sickle cell anemia. Adequate hydration helps prevent sickle cell crises by reducing blood viscosity and promoting better blood flow. This is the most appropriate and critical advice for daily care.

Choice A reason:

Feeding an infant with gastroesophageal reflux formula instead of breast milk is not necessary. Breast milk is often easier for infants to digest and can be beneficial for reducing reflux symptoms. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding should be continued if possible, as it has numerous health benefits for both the infant and the mother. If formula feeding is necessary, specialized formulas designed for infants with reflux can be used, but this does not mean breast milk should be avoided.

Choice B reason:

Thinning the baby’s formula with water is not recommended. This practice can dilute the essential nutrients in the formula, leading to inadequate nutrition for the infant. Instead, thickening agents such as rice cereal can be added to the formula to help reduce reflux symptoms. This approach helps the formula stay down in the stomach and reduces the likelihood of regurgitation.

Choice C reason:

Positioning the baby side-lying during sleep is not recommended for infants with gastroesophageal reflux. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that infants should be placed on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Side-lying or prone positions are not safe for sleep and do not effectively reduce reflux symptoms.

Choice D reason:

Keeping the baby in an upright position after feedings is the correct approach for managing gastroesophageal reflux. This position helps prevent the stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus, reducing the likelihood of reflux. It is recommended to hold the baby upright for at least 20-30 minutes after feeding to allow gravity to assist in keeping the stomach contents down.