Consider the following patient scenario: A mother comes in with 9-month-old girl. The infant is 68.5cm in length (25th percentile per CDC growth chart), weighs 6.75kg (5th percentile per CDC growth chart), and has a head circumference of 43cm (25th percentile per CDC growth chart). Describe the developmental markers a nurse should assess for a 9-month-old female infant. Discuss the recommendations you would give the mother. Explain why these recommendations are based on evidence-based practice.

Introduction:

In order to provide effective care for patients, healthcare professionals must have a thorough understanding of developmental milestones. This is particularly important when working with pediatric patients, as their development during early childhood sets the foundation for future growth and functioning. In this case, a nurse is presented with a 9-month-old female infant who is at the 25th percentile for length, weight, and head circumference according to the CDC growth chart. This essay will describe the developmental markers a nurse should assess for a 9-month-old female infant, discuss recommendations for the mother, and explain the evidence-based practice behind these recommendations.

Developmental Markers:

At 9 months of age, infants undergo significant cognitive, motor, and social-emotional development. The nurse should assess for the following developmental markers:

1. Cognitive Development: By 9 months, infants demonstrate increased object permanence, meaning they are aware that objects continue to exist even when out of sight. They are also able to engage in simple problem-solving activities, such as finding hidden objects. The nurse should assess the infant’s ability to anticipate actions, respond to familiar faces, and engage in simple games like peek-a-boo.

2. Motor Development: At 9 months, infants typically achieve major milestones in motor development. They can sit independently without support, pull themselves up to stand, crawl, and may even begin to take their first steps with assistance. The nurse should assess the infant’s ability to hold objects and transfer them from hand to hand, as well as observe their gross motor skills like crawling and cruising.

3. Speech and Language Development: By 9 months, infants exhibit more advanced speech and language skills. They begin to babble with varied intonations and begin to imitate sounds and gestures. They also respond to their name and understand simple commands. The nurse should assess the infant’s ability to make consonant-vowel sounds, respond to their name, and track objects with their eyes when spoken to.

4. Social-Emotional Development: By 9 months, infants form attachments to primary caregivers and exhibit separation anxiety. They also begin to imitate actions and expressions of others and show interest in social interactions. The nurse should assess the infant’s ability to engage in joint attention, respond to their caregiver’s expressions, and exhibit appropriate social interactions like waving or clapping.

Recommendations for the Mother:

Based on the developmental markers described above, the nurse can provide valuable recommendations to support the mother in promoting her infant’s development. These recommendations should be based on evidence-based practice, which involves integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. The following recommendations can be made:

1. Engage in Interactive Play: The mother should be encouraged to engage in interactive play with the infant. This can involve simple games like peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake, which promote cognitive and social-emotional development. Interactive play enhances the infant’s ability to anticipate actions, respond to familiar faces, and develop problem-solving skills.

2. Encourage Gross Motor Activities: The mother should provide opportunities for the infant to practice and develop her gross motor skills. This can include supervised tummy time to strengthen neck and trunk muscles, as well as encouraging crawling and cruising. These activities promote motor development and improve coordination.

3. Promote Language Development: The mother should engage in language-rich interactions with the infant. This can involve talking, singing, and reading to the infant on a daily basis. Language stimulation promotes speech and language development, helps the infant understand words and commands, and enhances cognitive and social-emotional development.

4. Foster Secure Attachments: The mother should provide a nurturing and responsive environment to foster secure attachments. This involves consistently responding to the infant’s needs, providing comfort and reassurance, and minimizing separations. Secure attachments promote social-emotional development and provide a strong foundation for the infant’s sense of security and well-being.

Evidence-Based Practice:

The recommendations provided above are based on evidence-based practice, which is essential in providing high-quality care. Evidence-based practice integrates research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to guide decision-making. The recommendations for interactive play, gross motor activities, language development, and fostering secure attachments are supported by research studies demonstrating the positive impact of these interventions on infant development. For example, research has shown that interactive play promotes cognitive and social-emotional development (Mendelsohn et al., 2013), gross motor activities enhance motor development (Riley et al., 2019), language stimulation facilitates speech and language development (Golinkoff et al., 2015), and secure attachments contribute to positive social and emotional outcomes (Bowlby, 1988). By following evidence-based recommendations, the mother can actively support her infant’s developmental milestones. Overall, evidence-based practice ensures that healthcare interventions are grounded in the best available evidence and provide the most effective and beneficial care for patients.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, a nurse assessing a 9-month-old female infant should consider various developmental markers, including cognitive, motor, speech and language, and social-emotional development. Based on these markers, recommendations can be made to the mother that promote interactive play, encourage gross motor activities, foster language development, and support secure attachments. These recommendations are based on evidence-based practice, integrating research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences. By implementing these recommendations, the mother can actively support her infant’s development and provide the best possible care.