A nurse is assessing a 3-month-old infant. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Inability to pick up an object with her fingers: At 3 months, infants typically do not have the fine motor skills to grasp objects deliberately with fingers. This milestone usually develops around 4 to 6 months, so this finding is not concerning at this age. B. Inability to bring an object to her mouth: This milestone generally emerges around 4 to 6 months as infants gain better hand-eye coordination and voluntary control. Lack of this skill at 3 months is expected and not necessarily a delay. C. Inability to raise head when in prone position: By 3 months, infants usually can lift and briefly hold their head up while lying on their stomach, demonstrating neck muscle strength. If the infant cannot do this, it may indicate a developmental concern. D. Inability to sit without support: Sitting independently without support is a major gross motor milestone that typically develops much later in infancy, usually between 6 to 8 months of age. A 3-month-old infant is not expected to be able to sit without support, so this is a normal finding and not a concern.