SHOULD kids go out trick or treating unsupervised? Anne, mother-of-two, of Birches Head

Trick or treating should be safe as well as fun, so if your children take part make sure a responsible adult is with them at all times. Map a route out for them, send them out in small groups and if you're not going yourself check which adult will be with them and set a time for them to be back. Make sure they can be seen in the dark and have a torch. Check that any tricks they play are harmless and remind them to obey posters saying 'No trick or treating'. Talk with your child about not going inside any homes, alternatively, limit them to trick or treating only at the houses of friends. Make sure your children only Trick or Treat on October 31. If you are concerned about your child's safety they might enjoy an alternative, such as having a scary theme party. Teenagers may be less co-operative, but go through the same safety routine and know their route, who they're with and when they'll be back.

MY three-year-old demands she has a nappy for solids. Should I be strict and stop letting her? Sally, mother-of-two of Wolstanton.

THIS is a common problem, as many toddlers prefer to find a private spot behind the sofa and poo into their nappy. It's not wise to go head to head and refuse to let her have her nappy. Successful toilet training is about relaxing and rewards, being strict and telling off leads to children tensing up then it's more difficult. Your first step is to have her use her nappy near or in the bathroom, praise and reward her with stickers for being close to the toilet. Make the toilet a place your child will like to be, with posters of her favourite Disney characters and toys she can pretend will 'poo on the loo'. About 20 minutes after each meal get her to sit on the potty or toilet, this way she's associating the need to go with the toilet, even if she then uses her nappy. Praise her for being grown up like mum and dad when she has a go at using the loo. For more ideas contact your Health Visitor.