What intervention should the nurse implement to help keep a 6-month-old infant calm during a physical assessment?

• A. Give the infant a soft cuddly toy to hold.
• B. Remove the pacifier from the infant's mouth.
• C. Encourage the parent to hold the infant.
• D. Distract the infant with noise or bright lights.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that a caregiver’s presence provides safety and soothing for an infant, making it easier to stay calm during an examination. Encouraging the parent to hold the infant uses that familiar, comforting bond, allowing the baby to feel secure and cooperative while the nurse completes the assessment. The nurse can still perform the exam with the parent supporting the infant, which helps minimize distress and movement that could affect accuracy.

A soft cuddly toy may help a little, but it doesn’t offer the same reassurance as a parent’s touch and voice. Removing the pacifier could upset the infant instead of calming them, and trying to distract with noise or bright lights is likely to be overstimulating rather than soothing, potentially increasing distress and making the exam harder.