During the breathing assessment of infants, you should:

• A. Measure breathing rate while the infant is crying.
• B. Observe the rise and fall of the abdomen to count respirations.
• C. Ask the infant to take a deep breath.
• D. Count respirations by watching chest movement only.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that infants primarily use their diaphragm for breathing, which causes the abdomen to rise and fall more prominently than the chest during respiration.
2. Recognize that observing the rise and fall of the abdomen is the most accurate method to count respirations in infants, as chest movement may be less noticeable.
3. Avoid measuring the breathing rate while the infant is crying, as crying can alter the respiratory pattern and lead to inaccurate results.
4. Do not ask the infant to take a deep breath, as infants are not developmentally capable of following such instructions.
5. Focus on observing the abdomen's movement in a calm and quiet state to ensure an accurate assessment of the infant's breathing rate.