What should the nurse expect to see when assessing a 12-month-old's growth?

When assessing a 12-month-old's growth, observing that the birth weight has doubled is an expected milestone. Typically, by the time a child reaches the age of one year, their weight should be approximately double what it was at birth. This increase in weight reflects the child's growth and development in the first year of life, which is characterized by rapid growth.

The other choices may seem plausible at first glance but can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, while a 12-month-old might have started to develop teeth, reaching a total of six teeth is not a strict expectation for this age. The eruption of teeth can vary significantly among children. As for the closure of the posterior fontanel, this usually occurs by 2 to 3 months of age, so it would not be an expected finding during an assessment of a child who is 12 months old. Finally, regarding height, while a child’s height does increase, a 30% increase would not be a standard expectation. Growth rates can vary, but such a specific percentage may not accurately reflect typical growth patterns for this age group.

Thus, the expectation of the birth weight doubling aligns well with established growth benchmarks for infants around one year old.