How many calories are needed by a full-term infant weighing 11 pounds at 3 months of age?

To determine the caloric needs of a full-term infant, a common guideline is that infants typically require about 100-120 calories per kilogram of body weight per day. In this scenario, the infant weighs 11 pounds, which is equivalent to approximately 5 kilograms (since 1 pound is about 0.454 kilograms).

Using the midpoint of the caloric range, if we estimate the caloric needs to be around 100 calories per kilogram, we can calculate the daily caloric requirement as follows:

5 kilograms x 100 calories/kilogram = 500 calories per day.

If we take a slightly higher estimate of 120 calories per kilogram, the calculation would be:

5 kilograms x 120 calories/kilogram = 600 calories per day.

Since the actual caloric needs may vary based on several factors such as growth rate and activity level, the requirement can range between these two estimates.

However, choosing the option that fits within expected ranges for a full-term infant’s caloric needs at this age, 540 calories falls well within the acceptable range of 500 to 600 calories. This makes it the most appropriate answer, reflecting the realistic caloric requirements for a full-term infant of that weight and age.