Three ways to... make bathtime fun for you and your child

1. Bathtime should be a way for you and your child to bond and relax at the end of a busy day. Make it a priority and find a convenient slot when there are no distractions - if the phone rings, let the answer machine pick it up.

2. Have a few different bubble baths or essential oils available and let your child choose. A couple of drops of chamomile or lavender oil should calm your child down - and don’t forget their favourite bath toy.

3. For an extra special treat, why not have an extra bathtime activity one night a week? Perhaps read your child’s favourite poem, play their top tune or bring some bubble blowing mixture into the bathroom.

Three ways to... ease a baby’s separation anxiety

1. Introduce new people and places gradually before leaving your baby with someone new. Stay for the first session at nursery.

2. Try not to go back to check on your baby once you’ve left, as this could prolong the distress.

3. Leave baby with a favourite toy - always say goodbye and tell her where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

Three ways to... teach your child to ride a bike

1. Get them started on a tricycle with pedals, from 10 months up to five years.

2. Give them plenty of encouragement and be ready with a cuddle if they should fall off - scuffed knees are part of growing up.

3. Find out if their school offers cycling proficiency courses - and book them in.

Three ways to... help a young child build intelligence

1. Help your child use all his senses to explore objects, and focus on one sense at a time.

2. As your child explores, talk a lot about what’s happening and what you’re doing.

3. Provide toys and objects that allow your child to see cause and effect - even if it’s just a pan he can hit with a spoon to make a noise.

Three ways to... tell if a baby’s teething

1. Try massaging their gums by running a finger along the front edges, where you may feel swollen ridges of pre-teething gums.

2. Baby may be irritable, drool a lot, wake in the night and bite things.

3. He may refuse to feed, have a low grade fever, and even have diarrhoea.

When is my child ready to...

…be potty trained?

Most toddlers will have the necessary physical and cognitive skills for potty training by the time they’re aged between 18 and 24 months, though some can be as old as four. Signs of readiness include being able to tell you they need to go before it happens, not liking having a dirty nappy, and imitating other family members’ bathroom habits.

…learn to read?

Some children start learning to read around the age of four, some not until they go to school. But whatever their age, they’re ready when they show an interest.

They’ll make the connection between written words and spoken language, and start to understand the basic way words are read - the right way up, from left to right, etc. They’ll notice letters on signs and ask what things say, and begin to put sounds together with letters at the beginning of words.

Reader Tips
  • If you haven’t got the time to get to the gym, make an effort to exercise with your child - anything from pushing the pram uphill, playing football in the park or bouncing on the trampoline with them can be fun and good for everyone.
  • If your child gets a splinter, instead of using tweezers try placing some sticky tape over it, then pull it out.
  • If your child has written or drawn on the walls with crayons, try spraying some WD-40 on the marks and then clean them off with soap and water.