The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old suspected of having cerebral palsy (CP). Upon initial interview, which of the following statements made by the mother would indicate that the infant may have CP?

"My baby cannot lift her head up by herself. Her head just flops back."
"When I pick her up, she arches her back and gets stiff all over."

Explanation

• Hypotonia is an early manifestation of CP. The infant should be able to support its head by age 4 months.

• Infants with CP may have an irregular posture, muscle stiffness, and spasticity. Arching of the back and hypertonicity in the extremities is commonly seen.

• Sitting up or rolling is not expected at age 4 months. By age 6 months, the infant should be able to roll over. Sitting up without support also begins around 6 months.

• Tilting of the hip is an indication of hip dysplasia.

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