Answer for NRS 434 Describe the developmental markers a nurse should assess for a 9-month-old female infant Re: Topic 1 DQ 2

There are important milestones parents are looking forward to seeing their babies are practically able to do. Nine months is significant developmental milestones for babies. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that children be screened for general development using standardized validated tools at 9,18, and 30 months and for autism at 18 and 24 months (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021). In the scenario with the baby girl length 68.5 cm, weight 6.75 Kg, and head circumference 43 cm. According to Medical News Today, the baby presents some developmental delay and underweight. At nine months a baby must have an average length of 70.1 cm and weigh 8.2 Kg. Weight plays an important role; it is one indicator of good nutrition and physical development.

When assessing a 9-month-old baby, the nurse must focus on important physical and mental developmental markers. Physically at nine months, the baby can crawl, reach out for objects while sitting, pull self to standing position, walk while holding to couch, chairs, feed self with fingers, and throw and shake objects (Medline Plus, 2021). At nine months, cognitively/mentally, the baby can show separation anxiety where she will start crying when the mother drops her off at the daycare, able to articulate words such as “mama” or “baba”, plays “peek-a-boo”, understands “no” (Misirliyan & Huynh, 2021).

Multiple factors can affect an infant nutritional and development status. Therefore, I will assess the household socioeconomic position by asking questions to the mother relevant to her status, on how she feeds the baby, environmental factors (presence of lead, drinking water, hygiene practices (Adhikari et al, 2017). Depending on her answers, I will make recommendations. First, if there is food scarcity, I will assist her to find available resources in the community such as WIC program and others. Second, I will educate the mother on how and what to feed by allowing finger foods while still breastfeeding. Third, I will recommend the mother to utilizing healthy diet with fruit, vegetables, meat to promote healthy growth.

References:

Adhikari, D., Khatri, R.B., Paudel, Y. R., & Poudyal, A.K. (2017). Factors associated with underweight among under-five children in Eastern Nepal: Community-based cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org.10.3389/fpubh.2017.00350

Medical News Today (n.d). What is the average baby weight by month? www.medicalnewstoday.com/article/325630

Medline Plus (2021). Developmental milestones record – 9 months. US National Library of Medicine. www.medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002009.htm

Misirliyan, S.S., & Huynh, A.P. (2021). Development milestones. Stat Pearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557518/