What does an organized term infant achieve by calming themselves?

The correct answer highlights that an organized term infant who is able to calm themselves typically achieves a return to a quiet alert state. This is significant because a quiet alert state is optimal for cognitive and sensory processing and allows the infant to engage with their environment positively.

When infants are well-regulated, they can transition from states of distress or increased arousal to a state where they are more receptive to feeding, interaction, and bonding. This self-soothing ability is crucial for their development, as it contributes to their overall emotional regulation and well-being.

Achieving a quiet alert state encourages feeding behaviors and promotes healthy interactions with caregivers, thereby facilitating optimal growth and development. In contrast, states of distress, frequent crying, or disruption in feeding can hinder these processes and indicate challenges in self-regulation.