A nurse is caring for a 10-month-old infant who is 8 hours postoperative following cleft palate repair. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the infant's plan of care?

A. Keep the infant supine is incorrect. After cleft palate repair, it is generally recommended to keep the infant in a position that minimizes pressure on the surgical site. Keeping the infant in a supine position may cause pressure on the repaired area, so side or semi-prone positioning is preferred. B. Suction the mouth with an oral suction tube is incorrect. Suctioning should be avoided unless absolutely necessary because it can irritate the surgical site and cause trauma to the newly repaired palate. C. Apply elbow restraints and release them periodically is correct. Elbow restraints are commonly used after cleft palate surgery to prevent the infant from touching or putting pressure on the surgical site. These restraints should be periodically released to allow for movement and prevent skin breakdown. D. Feed the infant with a spoon for 48 hours is incorrect. After cleft palate repair, feeding should be done carefully. Special feeding bottles or cups are typically used to avoid trauma to the surgical site. Feeding with a spoon may cause pressure on the repair and should be avoided.