Maternity nurse to the stars, Rachel Waddilove, comes to the rescue of mums struggling to balance feed times, naps and leaving baby with other carers

Clingy baby trouble
I was just wondering if you could offer some advice on a clingy baby. She seems to be uncomfortable being with my husband.

She's eight months old and ever since she was born has cried and screamed whenever she's been left with him. I haven't a clue as to why and we didn't have this problem with our first daughter. She's perfectly fine if I am at home but the minute I leave she goes totally nuts.

I have tried leaving her for five minutes, then 10 minutes and so on, but no matter how long I am out she screams until she falls asleep or until I come back. What would you recommend?

Also, she has never slept through the night. On occasion she only gets up once and that's great but most of the time she gets up anywhere between two and four times a night. I breastfeed and normally give her a quick feed and get her back to bed but it means I am awake for ages throughout the night and I'm totally shattered. What would you recommend to try and get her to sleep through?

Rachel Waddilove: I'm really sorry to hear about your problem with your little girl not wanting to be with her daddy. I would encourage your husband to do as much as he can with her when he is at home and while you are around, to make it seem just like 'normal' life for her.

Try not to make an issue of it in front of her. When you go out, leave quickly without her noticing, and perhaps do it little and often so she knows you are coming back again.

I wonder if she reacts when you leave her with other people too? She will, I'm sure, grow out of it in time. But you do need to let her have good quality time with daddy whenever you can.

As to her waking in the night, this is a habit. You are rewarding her with feeds every time she wakes and you need to wean her off this. I would suggest you try the controlled crying method that I talk about in my book. You must persevere, but I can assure you it will work, it may take a week to 10 days. You will be thrilled when she really does sleep all night. Make sure she is not sleeping too much in the day. Again, you can see sleep times in my book. I do hope this helps.

Colic and constipation
Can a baby be constipated? My one-month-old is colicky and has major gas. She always seems to be irritated and uncomfortable. I have tried gas drops but she still screams for a good hour and a half at night before sleeping for about three hours and then cries after she is fed again. She goes about two days without pooing.

She is on ½ breast milk and ½ formula because my milk never really came in. I need to sleep. This gets better right?

Rachel Waddilove: Yes, but constipation is not about how often your baby does a poo, more what his poo is like. If it is like hard rabbit droppings and he is straining to do it then he is constipated.

I am wondering if your baby is hungry as he shouldn't be crying after a feed. Do make sure you are giving him enough milk. All babies need filling up well with milk at every feed. They are not like us and can?t survive on snacks!

Babies and toiletries
I'd like to hear what Rachel has to say about products to use on baby's skin after birth and what she'd recommend if little one is prone to eczema or sensitive skin. Does it make any difference what products mums use on themselves? I use scented hair products and moisturisers but have read somewhere that there might be an issue with this.

Rachel Waddilove: I don't think it matters what sort of creams etc you use on yourself. As for your baby, I am not keen on the bubbly products you put in baby's bath. I just add a couple of drops of olive, or baby oil to the bath water and this makes such a difference to their skin. If your baby has lots of dry skin you will find by adding oil to the bath clears it all up.

There are lots of good baby products on the market. I would use the natural base ones, but I am not a believer in using lots of creams on babies unless they need it. If your baby has eczema, then use Aqueous or Oilatum in the bath.

Sleeping during the day
My baby Lois (nine weeks) is brilliant at going to bed at night, she is in bed asleep by 7.30, wakes only for feeds and settles herself back to sleep. During the day I follow the same sleep routine for naps as suggested in your book. She is in her own room with a blackout, in a sleeping bag but will not go to sleep without me! Any suggestions how to get her off to sleep without a cuddle or breastfeed? I know she can do it!

Rachel Waddilove: Lois is getting into a habit of having you settle her in the day and you really need to stop this soon, as the older she gets the more difficult it will be. Take her out for a walk in the pram for a day or so, so that she settles without you cuddling her or giving her a feed.

I'm not keen on blackouts, particularly in the day. If she is going in her cot, put her mobile on the cot if you have one, don't put the blackouts up. Put her in her cot with mobile on, draw the curtains, say goodnight and walk out. She may shout for a few minutes, but try and leave her. I think you will find this works when you are at home.

The Baby Book: How to Enjoy Year One, written by Rachel Waddilove and published by Lion Hudson, is available now.