The nurse is teaching a new mother about the development of sensory skills in her newborn. What would alert the mother to a deficit in her child?

A. The newborn becomes more alert with stroking when drowsy: This is a normal sensory response. Gentle tactile stimulation arouses newborns from drowsiness, indicating intact touch perception and central nervous system responsiveness. B. The newborn's eyes focus on near objects: Focusing on objects 8–12 inches away is expected in newborns, as their visual acuity is limited but functional for tracking faces and immediate surroundings. C. The newborn's eyes wander and occasionally are crossed: Intermittent eye crossing and wandering are normal in the first few months due to immature ocular muscle coordination. This does not indicate a sensory deficit at birth. D. The newborn does not startle to loud noises: Lack of a startle (Moro) reflex in response to sudden loud sounds may indicate auditory deficits, central nervous system dysfunction, or neuromuscular impairment. This finding warrants further evaluation to assess hearing and neurological integrity.