Question

The parents of a 6-month-old infant say that they are worried about their baby's thumb-sucking. The reply that is most informative would be:

a. "A pacifier should be substituted for the thumb."
b. "Nonnutritive sucking may indicate unsatisfied hunger."
c. "Sucking should be interrupted by diverting the baby's attention."
d. "Nonnutritive sucking during infancy is normal."

Answer 1

The most informative response is that nonnutritive sucking during infancy, such as thumb-sucking, is a normal developmental behavior that helps infants to self-soothe.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most informative reply to parents concerned about their 6-month-old infant's thumb-sucking is that "Nonnutritive sucking during infancy is normal."

Babies have a built-in sucking reflex that is vital for feeding and survival from birth. It's a natural behavior for an infant to comfort themselves through thumb-sucking, and it typically isn't a cause for worry.

The tendency for nonnutritive sucking helps to soothe infants and is generally considered a standard part of development, often persisting until they are between two and four years old. By that age, it usually diminishes or stops as the child matures and finds other ways to self-soothe.