A visually impaired mother gives birth. The nurse anticipates which dynamic regarding the infant's sensory input?

• A. The infant will primarily rely on hearing.
• B. The infant will require the other parent to provide auditory input.
• C. The infant will rely on touch to a greater extent.
• D. The infant will need visual sensory input provided by the other parent.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that a newborn’s sensory experiences come from the caregiver, and when one parent cannot provide visual cues, another caregiver becomes the primary source of visual input to support the infant’s development. Newborn vision is immature, so babies rely on multiple senses to bond and learn, with visual interaction playing a crucial role as vision begins to mature. If the visually impaired mother cannot provide eye contact and facial cues, the other parent can and should supply visual input—things like making eye contact, smiling, and guiding the baby's gaze to objects—to help with visual stimulation and social bonding. This is why the expected dynamic is that visual input comes from the other parent. The infant will still use hearing and touch, but the specific missing visual input from the mother is addressed by the other caregiver.