Richa, a mother of 7-months-old infant, is concerned about motor skills development of her child. Nurse should explain that the activity, infant is most likely to do at his age is _____.

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

A 7-month-old infant is developmentally ready to sit without support.
This key gross motor skill typically emerges between 6 and 8 months of age.
Initially, an infant may sit with their hands for support (tripod position) around 6 months, progressing to steady, unsupported sitting by 8 months. The 7-month mark falls squarely within this developmental window.
This is the only option that is age-appropriate for a 7-month-old infant.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: This milestone is achieved later. An infant typically walks with one hand held around 12-13 months of age.
Option B: This is a fine motor skill that requires significant coordination and develops much later. An infant can typically eat with a spoon, albeit messily, around 18 months.
Option C: This milestone is achieved later. An infant typically stands alone without support around 12 months of age.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Infant Gross Motor Milestones to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses use developmental milestone charts during well-child visits to assess an infant's growth and screen for potential delays.
Educating parents on age-appropriate milestones helps them understand their child's development, provides anticipatory guidance for safety, and encourages activities that promote skill acquisition.
What if? If a 9-month-old infant cannot sit without support, it is considered a developmental 'red flag' and warrants a referral for a comprehensive developmental evaluation to rule out neurological or muscular issues.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information provided in the question stem: the infant's age is 7 months.
The question asks for the 'most likely' activity, which requires knowledge of normal developmental milestones.
Systematically evaluate each option by comparing it to the typical age range for that specific motor skill.
Recall or deduce that sitting without support is a milestone achieved around 6-8 months.
Recognize that walking, standing alone, and using a spoon are all milestones for older infants or toddlers (typically 12 months or later).
Select the option that aligns with the 7-month age, which is sitting without support.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Infant Gross Motor Milestones
Stem keywords: 7-months-old infant, motor skills development
Lead-in keywords: most likely
Clinical cues: Age of infant: 7 months

Question ID

QW4tcFo2OCZks2AtBNTvGJ

Reference Book

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 25-27

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 11323-11325

Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.

Attempt this paper Attempt in the NPrep app