Final answer:
The nurse should refer the parents of an 8-month-old child to a health care provider if the child is unable to sit without support for long periods of time, as this is a key developmental milestone most children reach by 7 months of age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should refer the parents of an 8-month-old child to a health care provider if the child is unable to d. Sit without support for long periods of time. According to developmental milestones, most babies are able to sit alone at 7 months old, and this ability involves both coordination and muscle strength.
It is expected that 90% of babies achieve this milestone between 5 and 9 months old. If an 8-month-old child cannot sit without support, they may be showing a developmental delay, which could be a reason for concern and warrants an evaluation by a health care provider.
By 6 months, infants typically can sit up with support and by 10 months of age, they are usually able to sit unsupported. By the end of the first year, many children can stand while holding onto furniture or someone's hand, suggesting that options a, b, and c are skills that are expected to develop later than 8 months. Without the ability to sit without support, the child is not reaching a key developmental milestone that precedes other milestones such as standing or stooping to recover objects.