Question

A nurse instructing the mother of a young infant about how to introduce solid foods into the infant's diet should instruct the mother to:

a. introduce fruits and vegetables first.
b. mix foods to allow the infant variety.
c. introduce only one new food at a time.
d. introduce new foods at 24-hour intervals.

Answer 1

Option (c), The nurse should advise the mother to introduce one new solid food at a time to the infant's diet, allowing for the monitoring of reactions and ensuring easy digestion.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse instructing the mother of a young infant about how to introduce solid foods into the infant's diet should instruct the mother to introduce only one new food at a time. This approach allows for monitoring the infant's reaction to each new food and identifies any potential allergies or intolerances. Gradually introducing solid foods provides a way to ensure that the infant can accept and digest each new food before moving on to another.

Composition of breast milk changes over time and even during a single feeding. Initially, the milk is called colostrum, which is rich in antibodies and low in fat. This is perfect for the newborn's immature digestive system. Over the first few days, the milk transitions to mature milk, which has different levels of fats, lactose, and other nutrients, so it's important to nurse effectively to ensure the infant gets the full benefit of both the foremilk and the hindmilk.