Newborn Behavior & Development Flashcards

Which of the following is considered an early hunger cue in a newborn?

Answer: Rooting and turning the head side to side

Rooting and turning the head are early hunger cues; crying is a late cue indicating the infant is already quite hungry.

What is the expected maximum weight loss for a healthy term breastfed newborn in the first few days of life?

Answer: 10% of birth weight

Up to 10% weight loss from birth weight is considered normal for term breastfed newborns in the first few days.

The rooting reflex in a newborn is best described as:

Answer: The infant turning toward a stimulus that touches the cheek or corner of the mouth

The rooting reflex causes the newborn to turn toward a touch on the cheek or corner of the mouth, facilitating latch-on.

By what age is a breastfed newborn expected to regain its birth weight?

Answer: 10–14 days

Most breastfed newborns regain their birth weight by 10–14 days of age when breastfeeding is going well.

Which newborn reflex involves the infant making sucking motions when something is placed in or near the mouth?

Answer: Non-nutritive sucking reflex

The non-nutritive sucking reflex causes rhythmic sucking motions when the infant's mouth or perioral area is stimulated.

A newborn producing 6 or more wet diapers and 3 or more stools per day by day 4 of life most likely indicates:

Answer: Adequate milk intake and normal hydration

Six or more wet diapers and multiple stools per day after day 4 are reliable signs of adequate milk intake and normal hydration.

Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth primarily benefits breastfeeding by:

Answer: Stimulating the infant's innate feeding reflexes and promoting early latch

Immediate skin-to-skin contact stimulates the infant's innate feeding reflexes, including rooting and crawling to the breast, facilitating the first latch.