A nurse is assessing a 3-month-old infant whose parents report starting cow's milk feedings 1 week ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale: A. Instruct the parent to give the infant water every 3 hr between feedings: Giving water to infants under 6 months can displace nutrient intake and increase the risk of hyponatremia. Breast milk or formula should remain the exclusive source of nutrition at this age. B. Recommend the parent mix the milk with rice cereal for feedings: Introducing rice cereal at 3 months is not developmentally appropriate and can increase the risk of choking. Cow’s milk lacks the proper nutrient balance, and adding cereal does not correct these deficiencies. C. Instruct the parent to give 5 mcg of vitamin D daily: While vitamin D supplementation is important for infants, the concern in this scenario is the use of cow’s milk, not vitamin D deficiency. Breastfed infants should receive supplementation, but formula-fed infants typically get adequate vitamin D through fortified formula. D. Advise the parent to avoid giving cow's milk to the infant prior to 1 year of age: Cow’s milk should not be introduced before 12 months because it lacks iron, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids, and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and occult blood loss.