Final answer:
Option 2). A nurse should suspect failure to thrive in a 3-month-old baby whose measurements are below the 5th percentile, indicating the baby is not growing properly. Undernutrition is a critical factor affecting children's health and can lead to wasting and stunting.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse should anticipate failure to thrive in a 3-month-old newborn if both length and body mass index are below the 5th percentile. This condition suggests that the infant is not developing at an age-appropriate rate. Environmental variables, dietary inadequacies, and underlying medical disorders can all be reasons of underdevelopment. Further research is necessary since the baby's growth may be impacted by medical or nutritional problems that require early intervention to resolve. Children who are malnourished suffer from wasting and stunting, which are marked by being too short or too thin for their age, respectively. Undernutrition has a major negative impact on children. Therefore, monitoring and ensuring adequate nutrition during a child's early development period is essential to prevent these long-term health complications.