Question

Difficulty: MediumDevelopmental Stages and Transitions

A caregiver brings their 9-month-old infant to a primary care clinic for a scheduled evaluation. While in the examination room, which actions by the infant should the practical nurse recognize as expected developmental achievements for this specific age? Select all that apply.

  1. Sitting upright on the examination table without physical supportAnswer
  2. Striking two plastic toys together to make a soundAnswer
  3. C
    Stacking three small blocks to build a tower
  4. Crying loudly when an unfamiliar staff member enters the roomAnswer
  5. E
    Combining words into short, two-word phrases
  6. F
    Walking across the room without holding onto furniture

Answer

The correct findings for a 9-month-old infant include sitting without support, striking toys together, and displaying stranger anxiety.
By 9 months of age, infants are expected to achieve specific gross motor, fine motor, and psychosocial milestones. Sitting upright without support is typically achieved by 8 months. Banging two objects together is a fine motor skill expected around 9 months. Additionally, psychosocial development at this age is characterized by stranger anxiety, which peaks at 9 months and causes distress when unfamiliar individuals approach.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the client's developmental age.
The client is a 9-month-old infant.
Developmental milestones are evaluated based on chronological age in months during the first year of life.
2
Evaluate the gross and fine motor options against 9-month milestones.
Sitting unsupported and banging toys together are expected behaviors. Stacking blocks and independent walking occur later (12-18 months).
Normal physical maturation follows a predictable head-to-toe and center-to-periphery sequence.
3
Evaluate the psychosocial and language options.
Crying around strangers is expected due to stranger anxiety. Two-word phrases develop much later (24 months).
Understanding normal emotional and language development helps differentiate expected behaviors from possible delays or advanced skills.

Key Concept

Normal developmental milestones for a 9-month-old infant include sitting unsupported, banging toys together, and demonstrating stranger anxiety.
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