HESI PEDIATRIC NUTRITION EXAM (LATEST 2026)|| qUESTIONS
AND ANSwERS wITH RATIONALES/gRADED A+/2026
UPDATE/100% CORRECT /INSTANT DOwNLOAD
Section 1: Infant Nutrition (Questions 1-8)
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a new mother about breastfeeding. The mother asks how to
know if her newborn is getting enough milk. Which response by the nurse is most
accurate?
A) Your baby should sleep through the night by 2 weeks of age
B) Your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3-4 yellow stools per day by day
5
C) Your baby should feed for exactly 20 minutes on each breast every feeding
D) Your baby should gain 1 ounce per day after the first week
Answer: B) Your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3-4 yellow stools per
day by day 5
Rationale: Adequate intake in a breastfed newborn is evidenced by at least 6 wet
diapers and 3-4 yellow, seedy stools daily by day 5 of life. Weight loss should not
exceed 7-10% of birth weight. Sleeping through the night (A) in the first weeks may
indicate inadequate intake. Feeding durations vary by infant (C). Weight gain of 1
ounce per day (D) is expected after the first week but is not a daily assessment
parents can easily make.
,Question 2
A nurse is teaching parents about introducing solid foods to their 4-month-old infant.
Which instruction is correct?
A) Start with iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk
B) Introduce honey as a first food to prevent constipation
C) Begin with pureed meats because they are high in protein
D) Offer fruit juice as the first solid food
Answer: A) Start with iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk
Rationale: Iron-fortified single-grain cereal (rice, oatmeal, or barley) is the
recommended first solid food for infants around 6 months of age (developmentally
ready). It is mixed to a thin consistency with formula or breast milk. Honey (B) is
contraindicated before 12 months due to risk of infant botulism. Pureed meats (C)
can be introduced later. Fruit juice (D) is not recommended as a first food and should
be limited to 4-6 ounces per day after 12 months.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. The parent reports that the infant refuses
to eat pureed foods and wants only finger foods. Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A) Continue offering only pureed foods until the infant accepts them
B) This is a normal developmental stage; offer soft finger foods that are safe
C) Withhold all foods until the infant will eat pureed foods
D) Switch to formula only until the infant is ready for solids again
Answer: B) This is a normal developmental stage; offer soft finger foods that are safe
, Rationale: At 8-10 months, infants develop the pincer grasp and often refuse pureed
foods in favor of self-feeding finger foods. This is a normal developmental
progression. The nurse should teach parents to offer safe, soft finger foods (small
pieces of ripe banana, cooked vegetables, soft fruit, toast strips). Continuing only
pureed foods (A) may frustrate the infant. Withholding foods (C) or switching to
formula only (D) is inappropriate and may lead to inadequate nutrition.
Question 4
A nurse is teaching a parent about preventing iron deficiency anemia in a 6-month-
old breastfed infant. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A) Begin iron-fortified rice cereal at 6 months of age
B) Switch to formula because breast milk has no iron
C) Start whole cow's milk at 6 months of age
D) Give iron supplements three times per day
Answer: A) Begin iron-fortified rice cereal at 6 months of age
Rationale: Breastfed infants should receive iron supplementation or iron-fortified
foods starting at 6 months of age because maternal iron stores are depleted by this
time. Iron-fortified rice cereal is an appropriate first food. Breast milk (B) has highly
bioavailable iron but in low amounts; it is not necessary to switch to formula. Whole
cow's milk (C) should not be introduced until 12 months due to risk of GI bleeding
and iron deficiency. Iron supplements (D) are not routinely given three times daily
without specific indication.
Question 5
A parent asks the nurse when their infant can start drinking whole cow's milk. Which
response is correct?
AND ANSwERS wITH RATIONALES/gRADED A+/2026
UPDATE/100% CORRECT /INSTANT DOwNLOAD
Section 1: Infant Nutrition (Questions 1-8)
Question 1
A nurse is teaching a new mother about breastfeeding. The mother asks how to
know if her newborn is getting enough milk. Which response by the nurse is most
accurate?
A) Your baby should sleep through the night by 2 weeks of age
B) Your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3-4 yellow stools per day by day
5
C) Your baby should feed for exactly 20 minutes on each breast every feeding
D) Your baby should gain 1 ounce per day after the first week
Answer: B) Your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3-4 yellow stools per
day by day 5
Rationale: Adequate intake in a breastfed newborn is evidenced by at least 6 wet
diapers and 3-4 yellow, seedy stools daily by day 5 of life. Weight loss should not
exceed 7-10% of birth weight. Sleeping through the night (A) in the first weeks may
indicate inadequate intake. Feeding durations vary by infant (C). Weight gain of 1
ounce per day (D) is expected after the first week but is not a daily assessment
parents can easily make.
,Question 2
A nurse is teaching parents about introducing solid foods to their 4-month-old infant.
Which instruction is correct?
A) Start with iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk
B) Introduce honey as a first food to prevent constipation
C) Begin with pureed meats because they are high in protein
D) Offer fruit juice as the first solid food
Answer: A) Start with iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk
Rationale: Iron-fortified single-grain cereal (rice, oatmeal, or barley) is the
recommended first solid food for infants around 6 months of age (developmentally
ready). It is mixed to a thin consistency with formula or breast milk. Honey (B) is
contraindicated before 12 months due to risk of infant botulism. Pureed meats (C)
can be introduced later. Fruit juice (D) is not recommended as a first food and should
be limited to 4-6 ounces per day after 12 months.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. The parent reports that the infant refuses
to eat pureed foods and wants only finger foods. Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A) Continue offering only pureed foods until the infant accepts them
B) This is a normal developmental stage; offer soft finger foods that are safe
C) Withhold all foods until the infant will eat pureed foods
D) Switch to formula only until the infant is ready for solids again
Answer: B) This is a normal developmental stage; offer soft finger foods that are safe
, Rationale: At 8-10 months, infants develop the pincer grasp and often refuse pureed
foods in favor of self-feeding finger foods. This is a normal developmental
progression. The nurse should teach parents to offer safe, soft finger foods (small
pieces of ripe banana, cooked vegetables, soft fruit, toast strips). Continuing only
pureed foods (A) may frustrate the infant. Withholding foods (C) or switching to
formula only (D) is inappropriate and may lead to inadequate nutrition.
Question 4
A nurse is teaching a parent about preventing iron deficiency anemia in a 6-month-
old breastfed infant. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A) Begin iron-fortified rice cereal at 6 months of age
B) Switch to formula because breast milk has no iron
C) Start whole cow's milk at 6 months of age
D) Give iron supplements three times per day
Answer: A) Begin iron-fortified rice cereal at 6 months of age
Rationale: Breastfed infants should receive iron supplementation or iron-fortified
foods starting at 6 months of age because maternal iron stores are depleted by this
time. Iron-fortified rice cereal is an appropriate first food. Breast milk (B) has highly
bioavailable iron but in low amounts; it is not necessary to switch to formula. Whole
cow's milk (C) should not be introduced until 12 months due to risk of GI bleeding
and iron deficiency. Iron supplements (D) are not routinely given three times daily
without specific indication.
Question 5
A parent asks the nurse when their infant can start drinking whole cow's milk. Which
response is correct?
