A nurse cares for an 8-month-old infant who screams when the parent leaves the room. The parent begins to cry and says, "I don't understand why my child is so upset. I've never seen my child act this way around others before." Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

A. "This is a typical reaction for a child who is sick.” While illness may heighten distress, the behavior described—crying when the parent leaves—is more related to developmental stage than to acute illness, and should not be solely attributed to sickness. B. "This is a response to an overstimulating environment." Overstimulation can cause fussiness or irritability, but separation anxiety, not overstimulation, best explains the infant’s reaction to the parent leaving. C. "This is a normal, expected reaction for a child of this age." Separation anxiety typically emerges around 6–8 months of age as infants begin to understand object permanence. The child’s distress upon separation is a developmentally appropriate behavior. D. "This is a common reaction to an overexposure to caregivers." Overexposure does not lead to distress when a caregiver leaves. Rather, strong attachment bonds cause infants to become upset when their primary caregiver is not present.