A nurse is planning care for a 5-month-old infant who is scheduled for a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Choice A reason: Applying lidocaine-prilocaine cream 15 minutes prior is ineffective, as it requires 60 minutes to achieve adequate anesthesia. This topical anesthetic reduces pain but is not the primary action for a lumbar puncture, which focuses on positioning to ensure procedural safety and accuracy. Choice B reason: Keeping an infant NPO for 6 hours is unnecessary for a lumbar puncture, as it is not performed under general anesthesia. Prolonged fasting can cause dehydration or hypoglycemia in infants, who have limited glycogen stores, making this action inappropriate and potentially harmful. Choice C reason: Holding the infant in a flexed position (chin to chest, knees to abdomen) during a lumbar puncture widens the intervertebral spaces, facilitating needle insertion into the subarachnoid space. This positioning ensures accurate cerebrospinal fluid collection while minimizing trauma to spinal structures, critical for diagnostic success. Choice D reason: Placing an infant in an infant seat post-procedure is inappropriate, as it does not promote recovery or prevent complications like cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Infants should remain flat to reduce headache risk, and prolonged sitting may cause discomfort or strain, delaying healing.