Question

When the mother of a 3-year-old expresses concern about her daughter's slowed growth rate, the nurse's most informative response would be:

a. "Three-year-olds have finished a growth spurt and now their coordination can catch up."
b. "Children's growth is hereditary. She may be of small stature like you."
c. "The growth of a 3-year-old is associated with their nutrition. How is she eating?"
d. "Your daughter is healthy and happy. Don't worry about her growth right now."

Answer 1

The best response to address a mother's concern about her 3-year-old's slowed growth is to explain that children's growth is hereditary and size can be influenced by parents' stature, though growth monitoring is still important (b).

Step-by-step explanation:

When the mother of a 3-year-old expresses concern about her daughter's slowed growth rate, the most informative response based on the information provided would be: "Children's growth is hereditary. She may be of small stature like you." It is noted that children who are smaller than typical values for well-nourished, healthy children may not indicate any health issues, as stature is determined by genetics, as well as the environment.

Children of small parents often tend to be smaller. However, as toddlers experience decelerated growth in weight and height compared to their first year, any substantial deviation from expected growth patterns still warrants a discussion regarding nutrition and overall health, considering that 3-year-olds are still growing, albeit at a slower pace than during infancy.