A one-month-old infant admitted to the hospital with dehydration and failure to thrive receives a prescription for enteral feedings. To maintain normal growth and development of the infant, which action should the nurse include in the plan of care?

A. Use sterile technique during feedings: Sterile technique is not required for routine enteral feedings in infants; clean technique is sufficient. Sterile technique is mainly indicated for sterile body cavities or immunocompromised patients, not standard tube feedings. B. Offer a pacifier for non nutritive sucking: Non-nutritive sucking supports normal oral-motor development, comfort, and the sucking reflex, which are essential for growth and transition to oral feeding. It also helps maintain developmental bonding and self-soothing behaviors in infants. C. Speak to the healthcare provider about instituting physical therapy: Physical therapy is not the primary intervention for maintaining normal development in a 1-month-old with enteral feedings. The focus should be on promoting normal oral stimulation and developmental milestones through feeding-related care. D. Ensure placement of the nasogastric tube with an abdominal x-ray: Confirming tube placement is essential before starting feedings but is a one-time safety verification, not a developmental intervention. The question focuses on maintaining normal growth and development, which is best supported by non-nutritive sucking.