A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a 20-month-old toddler who is initially uncooperative and anxious. Which approach should the nurse prioritize to facilitate an effective and less distressing assessment?

Perform all intrusive procedures first to get them over with quickly, minimizing total assessment time.

Remove all clothing at once to speed up the process and avoid repeated exposure that may upset the toddler.

Allow the toddler to sit in the parent's lap and examine the least invasive areas first, offering simple choices and praise to encourage cooperation.

Start the examination with the toddler on the exam table immediately to establish control over the assessment environment.