An infant with bronchiolitis being cared for at home should receive which essential instruction?

An infant with bronchiolitis being cared for at home should receive which essential instruction?

• A. Offering small amounts of fluids frequently
• B. Allowing the infant to sleep prone
• C. Calling the clinic if the infant vomits
• D. Writing down how much the infant drinks

Answer: (A)

Maintaining hydration is the key for an infant with bronchiolitis being cared for at home. The illness often brings a faster breathing rate and nasal congestion, which can make feeding more challenging and increase the risk of dehydration. Offering small amounts of fluids frequently is the most practical, tolerable way to keep fluid intake up without overwhelming the infant, helping to prevent dehydration and supporting recovery. Sleeping on the stomach is not advised for infants because it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome; the safer approach is to place the baby on the back to sleep, with supervision as needed. Vomiting can occur with viral illness, but it’s not the primary home-care instruction for bronchiolitis; if vomiting is persistent or you’re worried about dehydration, you would contact a clinician. Writing down how much the infant drinks is helpful for monitoring but is secondary to ensuring that fluids are offered regularly to maintain hydration.

Maintaining hydration is the key for an infant with bronchiolitis being cared for at home. The illness often brings a faster breathing rate and nasal congestion, which can make feeding more challenging and increase the risk of dehydration. Offering small amounts of fluids frequently is the most practical, tolerable way to keep fluid intake up without overwhelming the infant, helping to prevent dehydration and supporting recovery.

Sleeping on the stomach is not advised for infants because it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome; the safer approach is to place the baby on the back to sleep, with supervision as needed. Vomiting can occur with viral illness, but it’s not the primary home-care instruction for bronchiolitis; if vomiting is persistent or you’re worried about dehydration, you would contact a clinician. Writing down how much the infant drinks is helpful for monitoring but is secondary to ensuring that fluids are offered regularly to maintain hydration.