Q:I'm nervous about getting rid of my 2 year old's dummy,as neither of us could cope.What should I do?

A:Changing any habit is always a bit daunting,but having a good plan in place will make it a little easier.Start by working out the key times when dummy feels essential.It's often bedtime or when one of you feels tired,so make these last areas to tackle.For other times,put the dummy out of reach and introduce fun activities to distract her,such as singing.Start with a clear boundary,such as no dummy outside.Once you're sticking to this,move on to less dummy time during the day and then tackle the sleep times.The first few days may be difficult,so pick a time when you have lots of energy and there are no other changes happening in the family.Getting out to some playgroups may also help as socialising with new friends will keep your tot distracted.

Q:I'm worried my 3 year old is hyperactive as he's always on the go and has poor concentration.Is it a phase?

A:It's hard to say if a toddler is hyperactive at this stage of his development,as the range of what's considered normal is wide.Most tots calm down naturally,but some may need extra support.Talk to his nursery so they can monitor his progress.Sharing what works will give you a picture of what helps or challenges him.Busy kids need lots of running around outdoors,but limit TV time to 30 minutes a day.Keep morning,mealtimes and bedtime routines the same.Clear,consistent boundaries will help him feel safe,as toddlers love predictability and play is the best tool to increase concentration.Try having short 2-10 minute slots where you play together and he has your full attention.It'll take persistence from you,but keep at it.

Q:My 3-year-old daughter has picked up threadworms at nursery.What should I do?

A:Threadworms are small parasites that live in the gut.At night,they lay tiny eggs around the bottom area,causing itchiness.As your tot scratches,eggs get under her fingernails and can quickly transfer to her mouth,clothing and anything else she touches.This continues the cycle and threadworms can quickly spread to the rest of the family.This means everyone will need to be treated,whether they have symptoms or not.Your doctor can prescribe medication,or speak to your pharmacist.Then the whole household needs to follow strict hygiene rules for two weeks.These include washing hands regularly,washing the bottom area carefully each morning to get rid of eggs laid at night,and keeping fingernails short and clean.Wash all sleepwear,bed linen,towels and soft toys,and wipe down all surfaces regularly to remove any eggs.If you don't opt for medication,stick to the hygiene rules for six weeks,as this is the average lifespan of threadworms.

Q:My baby has started bringing milk back up and now his feeding is all out of sync.Is this normal?

Regurgitating small amounts of milk after each feed is called posseting.The difficulty is that babies then get hungry soon after and you can find yourself in a vicious cycle.Your baby's tummy is about the size of his fist,so it's easy to see why he'll bring milk back up if he feeds too quickly or has too much.You can try slowing down the rate of his feed by extra winding and slower flow teats if you're bottle-feeding.After a feed,sit your little one up for a while to let gravity do its job.When you put him down to sleep,raise the head of the whole cot slightly (rather than raising the mattress) so he is at a 30 degrees upward tilt to encourage the milk to stay down.Keep an eye on your baby's growth,too.If he's gaining weight,there's often nothing to worry about.Posseting generally gets better in time,especially as your baby starts to sit up more and the muscles at top of the stomach strengthen.In the meantime,keep muslins at hand and give extra cuddles.

Q:If I need help getting my baby out,will the doctor use forceps or ventouse?

A:About one in eight births in the UK need intervention.To use forceps or ventouse,your cervix needs to be 10cm dilated.Your doctor may suggest this if you're very tired and can no longer push,or your baby isn't progressing downyour pelvis,or is distressed.
   The doctor will decide which instrument to use based on the position of your baby.You'll be asked to push with the contraction while the doctor pulls.Forceps are metal instruments that cradle your baby's head,and ventouse is a cap that's placed on your baby's head and a suction is created to help ease your baby out.
   If your baby can't be born after a couple of attempts,you'll need a c-section.Don't let this worry you,as eight out of 10 women go on to have an unassisted birth next time.

Q:My friend was sent home in early labour and I'm afraid this will happen to me.

A:The midwife actually did your friend a favor,as the longer you stay in a relaxing environment,the more likely your labour will progress normally.If she was struggling,then I really hope she wouldn't have been sent home.Often women in early labour just need reassurance and are happy to carry on as normal.
   At home women tend to walk around,and keeping upright helps the baby move lower into the pelvis.This puts pressure on the cervix and encourages regular contractions.Early labour is the preparation phase when the cervix is moving forward,thinning and shortening.
   Most women can wait until labour is established and the contractions feel strong and regular.However,if you need support at any stage,call your midwife.

Q:I'm eight weeks pregnant and feeling very anxious following an early miscarriage last year.Can I have extra scans?

A:It's understandable to feel worried after suffering a miscarriage.But extra scans won't necessarily take away your anxiety,as a scan can only tell you that everything's OK on the day of the scan.In fact,having more scans may increase anxiety.Most women have their first scan at 11-13 weeks.This is the dating or nuchal scan (a screening scan to determine the chance of a baby having Down's syndrome).You'll then be offered another scan at 18-20 weeks to check the baby developing OK and that the placenta isn't lying over the cervix (placenta praevia).You'll only have additional scans if your midwife is concerned about your baby's growth,or if she's unsure whether your baby is head down by 36 weeks of pregnancy.However,if you feel it's something you still want,discuss it with your midwife.