The nurse is giving an intramuscular injection of an antibiotic to a 16-month-old toddler with pneumonia. The toddler does not have any known allergies and has been walking without assistance for one month. Which technique should the nurse select for administration?

Choice A rationale Dividing the gluteal area into quarters and giving the IM injection into the upper outer quadrant is not the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. This site is not typically used until after the child has begun walking regularly and has developed sufficient muscle mass. Choice B rationale Administering the injection into the middle of the lateral aspect of the thigh is the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. The vastus lateralis muscle in the thigh is usually the preferred site for IM injections in infants and young children. Choice C rationale Using a needle length of 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) to avoid deep tissue damage is not the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. The needle length should be appropriate for the age and size of the child, and a 1/2 inch needle may not be long enough to reach the muscle tissue. Choice D rationale Giving the injection in the arm, one to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) below the acromion process, is not the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. The deltoid muscle in the arm is typically not used for IM injections until after the child is 3 years old.