Which intervention is important when caring for an infant with congestive heart failure?

Providing a calm environment is crucial when caring for an infant with congestive heart failure because stress and overexertion can exacerbate symptoms and lead to further complications. Infants with heart failure may tire easily and become overwhelmed by intense stimuli, which can increase heart workload and respiratory demands. By keeping the environment calm, caregivers can help minimize stress and promote better oxygenation, allowing the infant to conserve energy and maintain more stable vital signs.

In contrast, frequent aggressive feeding may lead to fatigue and increased heart strain, allowing the infant to cry for longer periods can heighten stress and anxiety, and encouraging play to increase activity levels is unsuitable since excessive activity can be detrimental to a child whose heart is already working harder than normal. Thus, creating a peaceful, soothing atmosphere supports optimal care for an infant with this condition.