A nurse in a pediatric clinic is talking with a parent of a toddler. The parent tells the nurse that her toddler drinks a quart of milk a day. The nurse should recognize that the toddler is at risk for which of the following disorders?

A. Wrist: Wrist restraints are typically used to prevent older children or adults from pulling at medical devices or dressings. For an infant, wrist restraints can be too harsh and restrictive. They do not prevent the child from bending their arms, which could allow them to reach their face and potentially disrupt the surgical site.

B. Mummy: A mummy restraint involves wrapping the infant’s body tightly with a blanket to restrict movement, typically used for short periods during medical procedures to keep the child still. This type of restraint is too restrictive for postoperative care and does not allow any movement of the arms, making it uncomfortable and unsuitable for continuous use over extended periods.

C. Elbow: Elbow restraints, also known as no-no’s, are designed to prevent the infant from bending their arms. This type of restraint keeps the elbows straight, preventing the child from touching their face and disrupting the surgical site of the cleft lip and palate. It is effective in allowing the infant to move their arms while ensuring that they cannot interfere with the healing area. This method is less restrictive and more humane for postoperative care in an infant.

D. Jacket: Jacket restraints are used to secure the torso, usually to prevent a child from moving out of bed or a chair. This type of restraint is more restrictive and not specific to preventing arm movement. For an infant recovering from cleft lip and palate surgery, jacket restraints would not effectively prevent the child from reaching their face, and they can be excessively confining and distressing for an infant.

A. Temporal: The temporal artery is not commonly used for pulse checks in infants as it can be difficult to palpate and may not provide an accurate heart rate.

B. Carotid: The carotid pulse is not recommended in infants due to the risk of compressing the airway or carotid artery, leading to decreased blood flow to the brain.

C. Apical: The apical pulse is the most reliable method for assessing heart rate in infants. It involves auscultating the heart directly at the chest, which provides the most accurate heart rate measurement.

D. Dorsalis pedis: This site is not typically used for pulse checks in infants as it can be difficult to locate and palpate accurately.