Developmental markers of a 9-month-old female infant can be assessed from physical, cognitive, and social development (Duncan et al., 2017). Physical development in infants at this age involves motor skills such as sitting without support, pulling themselves up to stand, crawling or cruising (walking while holding onto furniture) (Duncan et al., 2017). Cognitively infants learn through exploration, imitate familiar adults around them and respond to their name when called (Duncan et al., 2017). Developmentally they demonstrate problem solving skills by connecting objects and begin to understand language better than before. Socially they seek out interaction with those familiar to them whether it be family members or peers in childcare settings.
For the mother of a 9-month-old female infant the nurse should recommend that she continue to encourage her child’s growth in all 3 domains mentioned above. Encouraging physical activity is important as it helps build coordination, strength and balance which are necessary for later life activities such as running and jumping (Gewirtz & Zuckerman 2019). The nurse may suggest enrolling her daughter in an activity group specifically designed for infants between 6 months – 12 months where she can explore playtime with other children her age under the watchful eye of a supervisor.
Describe the developmental markers a nurse should assess for a 9-month-old female infant.
This will provide an opportunity for her daughter to interact socially with others further developing communication skill sets such as understanding verbal language cues like “no” or “wait”. Additionally parents can create an environment that encourages learning through playtime using interactive games or books that require repetition such as counting or memorizing nursery rhymes (NHS Choices 2018). Through repeated exposure the child becomes comfortable with new words which aids in building communication skills.
Evidence based practice provides guidance on recommendations we make towards families regarding parenting styles. It highlights how different approaches have been studied and proven effective when observed within certain contexts(Gewritzz & Zuckerman 2019). For example promoting positive reinforcement has been found successful when used by parents on young children when desired behaviors occur(Cabrera et al., 2014). Positive reinforcement builds trust between parent/child relationships thus encouraging compliance during teaching sessions while reducing frustrated responses directed towards misbehavior(Cabrera et al., 2014 ). Parenting styles reflect evidence based care practices are beneficial when taught early on especially during infancy stages since these critical moments establish professional parent/child relationships throughout childhood into adolescence years(Bartle & Hickey 2009; Cabrera et al,.2014 ).