A nurse is preparing to administer an oral elixir to a 3-month-old infant using an oral medication syringe.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old. The first foods to be introduced should be single-ingredient foods that contain no sugar or salt. Among the first foods to be introduced are infant cereals. Iron-fortified cereals are particularly important because iron is a crucial nutrient in the second half of a baby’s first year.

Choice B rationale

While strained fruits are a common food to introduce early on, they are typically not the first food to be introduced. The first food is usually an iron-fortified cereal due to the importance of iron in a baby’s diet.

Choice C rationale

Pureed meats are also a good source of iron and can be introduced early on. However, they are not typically the first food to be introduced.

Choice D rationale

Cooked egg whites are not typically one of the first foods introduced to infants. There is also a risk of allergic reactions with egg whites, so they should be introduced with caution and not as the first food.

The correct answer is C. When administering an oral elixir to a 3-month-old infant using an oral medication syringe, the nurse should position the syringe to the side of the infant’s tongue. This prevents the medication from being administered too quickly and reduces the risk of choking.