What is a paediatrician? A medical practitioner specialising in the diseases of children and child health.

What is child development? Children acquire new skills and behaviour patterns from birth to their teens and onwards through life. Child development specialists assess the stage of development reached in each of five areas.

What is challenging behaviour? This is behaviour displayed by the child that is unacceptable to the parent(s) or staff at a nursery or school in any particular situation.

What are sleep disorders? This may be a reluctance to go to sleep or frequent waking. Babies and children do not always sleep and wake at the times a parent might expect. This may cause disruption to the child and family routine. Over a prolonged period it may cause parents to become overtired and under stress. Dr Rundle has specialised in advising and counselling parents about their child's sleep disorders for many years - it is one of the leading reasons many parents and children come to her clinics each year.

When should I seek advice about my child's poor appetite? Feeding disorders may be evident by babies or children refusing food, vomiting or failing to gain weight as expected. The children may be "fussy" eaters - typically they will have a limited variety of acceptable foods. The cause of the feeding disorder may be either physical or emotional.

What are frequent tantrums? This type of behaviour is prolonged episodes of screaming and rage when parental comforting does not help the child recover his/her normal composure.

When should my child be dry and clean by day? Most children achieve satisfactory toilet training between two and four years.

Why won't my child do what I ask? Some disobedience shown by young children is part of normal development, as their personality is being formed. However persistent and frequent oppositional behaviour can lead to disruption at home and school.

What do I do if my child won't go to school? Many children will show reluctance to leave home to attend a school or day nursery which is unfamiliar.

What should I say to my child about a family break-up? As home life is important in the development of a child, disruption to family life may inevitably lead to anxieties in the child. Typical disruptions are the arrival of a new baby, the work patterns of the mother, a father working or living away from home, death of a close family member, family discord, and relationship difficulties between the parents, possibly separation or divorce.

When should my child be dry at night? Up to the age of five years this is not unusual as about 30% of children have not achieved dryness at night by this age. By the age of seven years about 5-10% of children still wet the bed frequently.