Are you having difficulties with your husband, son, brother, or any other male in your life? Nanny Susan knows exactly how to put them in their place. Just write to Nanny Susan, at:

Dear Nanny Susan,
My mommy makes me wear plastic pants and nappies all day. What advice can you give me regarding the chaffing that is caused when the nappy gets damp. I find that this is becoming a real problem that normal creams can't solve. Should I seek medical advice, as I have a female doctor who wants to go into the ins and outs of personal problems like mine?
I would be grateful for any advice,

Little Poppy.

First let me say that I do not approve of disposable nappies. How can any baby feel cuddly and happy wrapped in something made from paper? I am an old-fashioned nanny, and for me a nappy (or diaper) needs to be made from cotton fabric. Thick, fluffy towelling is very nice, but I believe the best is thick flannel. Good nappy flannel is dove-soft, very absorbent, and very cosy for any big baby to wear.

You say that mommy makes you wear plastic panties over your nappy. I know that plastic baby pants can be very pretty, especially the ones with ruffles across the bottom, but they can be uncomfortable and cause perspiration in hot weather.

I would suggest that your mommy have you out of plastic panties until the chaffing clears up. A pair of full-bloomered training panties in soft towelling can be worn over your nappy. You should be changed as soon as necessary, and patted ever so gently with Johnson's baby powder using a big fluffy puff, before your clean flannel nappy and training pants are put back on. Antiseptic creams may help, but the answer is to keep as dry as possible. It would even be helpful to leave your nappies off entirely, especially if it is hot.

Otherwise, a trip to the doctor you mention may be in order.
Susan 

Dear Miss MacDonald,

I don't know if you can help me; my problem may seem too trivial. But I came across your site on the net, and you seem to understand pretty well what nuisances sons and husbands can be. My problem is with my 14 year old son, Jamie. The Christmas just gone he was given a set of handkerchiefs by a maiden aunt of his, a sister of my husband's. It was a rather unimaginative gift I suppose, but she meant well, and she does not have very much money to spend.

Nevertheless, he whined about it, saying he didn't want handkerchiefs, and why couldn't she have given him money. That was bad enough, but when we were on holidays over New Year, he lost one of the handkerchiefs. They were quite nice handkerchiefs too, men's size, with his initial sewn in the corner in dark blue.

I berated him, pointing out that he should take more care of them if they were a gift from Aunt Diedre, but he obviously couldn't have cared less, and told me to leave him alone and stop nagging, which was quite an unfair accusation I might add.

I don't think I could bring myself to dress him as a neat little girl, although I am sure it would do him good. Can you offer any advice?

'An Annoyed Mother' (Hoylake)

Yes, I think I can be of help. It does show what babies males really are. Girls usually have nowhere to put their handkerchiefs, yet they manage not to lose them. Silly boys have pockets galore, and lose them constantly.

O.K. First, you need to go to a good women's and girls' shop, and buy some really pretty and delicate hankies, in colours such as violet, pale pink, and primrose yellow. If you cannot find any lace-trimmed ones (and, sadly, girls' hankies are not nearly as pretty as they once were) then you will have to get out the sewing machine, and sew a pretty lace border on yourself.

Next, you will have to tell him to go down to the chemist's and buy a card of baby pins – you can get some really precious ones these days, and my favourites are the pink duckling pins. But that is your own choice – or his; they are all very nice. Now, next time you are going out, pin one of his lacy hankies onto the breast of his shirt with a nappy pin, so that he looks like a little girl on her first day at kindergarten. You could also attach a piece of white card with the pin, lettered 'I LOSE MY HANKIES', but that is not absolutely necessary.

He can wear a sweater over his shirt (if it is warm then you can sensibly tell him that he is free to take his sweater off if he wishes), and, of course, he should have a male handkerchief in his pocket. Tell him that if he loses his normal handkerchief, then it will be off with his sweater, so that everybody can see that he is certainly not going to lose any more of them.

Please write and tell me if this does the trick.
Susan