Chapter_031.pdf

Perry: Maternal Child Nursing Care, 7th Edition Chapter 31: The Infant and Family Key Points Biologic development of the child encompasses the following: proportional changes; maturation of biologic systems, and fine and gross motor development. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development (birth to...

Perry: Maternal Child Nursing Care, 7th Edition Chapter 31: The Infant and Family Key Points Biologic development of the child encompasses the following: proportional changes; maturation of biologic systems, and fine and gross motor development. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development (birth to 1 year) is concerned with acquiring a sense of trust while overcoming a sense of mistrust. Piaget’s theory of cognitive (the ability to know) development, as it applies to the infant, focuses on the sensorimotor phase, which includes the use of reflexes, primary circular reactions, secondary circular reactions, and coordination of secondary schemata and their application to new situations. Development of body image parallels sensorimotor development. Social development of the infant is guided by attachment, language development, and participation in play. An infant’s temperament or behavioral style influences the type of interaction that occurs between the child and parents, especially the mother, and other family members. Parents are faced with many concerns related to normal growth and development, including selecting appropriate child care arrangements, limit setting and discipline, thumb- sucking and pacifier use, and teething. Breast milk provides optimal nutrition for the infant during the first 6 months, followed by gradual introduction of solid food during the second 6 months. Commercial iron-fortified infant formula is a safe alternative to human milk. Whole milk is not recommended until after 12 months. Cleaning the teeth regularly in early childhood and appropriate dietary intake promote good dental health. Recommended routine immunizations in childhood include those for HBV, HAV, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcus, meningococcus, chickenpox, Hib, and influenza. Because injuries are a major cause of death during infancy, parents should be vigilant and aware to aspiration of foreign objects, suffocation, motor vehicle injuries, drowning, falls, poisoning, burns, and bodily damage, as well as preventive actions needed to make the home environment safe for infants. Treatment of colic may involve change in feeding practices, correction of a Copyright © 2023, Elsevier, Inc. All Rights Reserved. stressful environment, behavior modification, and support of the parent. FTT may occur in children who have a chronic illness, or it may occur in a family environment wherein healthy infant feeding practices are poorly managed or understood. The etiology of FTT is often multifactorial, involving a combination of infant organic disease, dysfunctional parenting behaviors, subtle neurologic or behavioral problems, and disturbed parentchild interactions. The primary etiology of FTT is inadequate caloric intake regardless of cause. Positional plagiocephaly should begin shortly after birth by placing the infant to sleep supine and alternating the infant’s head position nightly, avoiding prolonged placement in car safety seats and swings, and using prone positioning or “tummy time” for short periods during awake time. SIDS is the third leading cause of infant death in the United States. Factors that place the infant at high risk for SIDS include maternal prenatal smoking, prone sleeping position, soft bedding, co-sleeping with an adult or older child, and prolonged Q-T interval or other cardiac arrhythmias. The primary nursing responsibility in care associated with sudden infant death is educating the family of newborns about the risks for SIDS, modeling appropriate behaviors in the hospital such as placing the infant in a supine sleep position, and providing emotional support of the family that has experienced a SIDS loss. Infants with an ALTE are carefully evaluated for clues to the underlying cause in order to determine the best treatment options. Copyright © 2023, Elsevier, Inc. All Rights Reserved.