Jelly baby changing mat

The changing mat is one essential bit of kit that is easy to overlook - until you're the proud owners of a newborn baby, when you soon realise it's indispensible. Yes, we were those parents, pretty clueless until we had a real live eating and pooing machine in our arms. I sent my husband out to buy one just hours after we returned home from the hospital.

And if you thought all changing mats were born equal, well, think again. This offering from Küster, constructed out of memory foam, is warm to the touch and ergonomically shaped. So if you're better-prepared parents-to-be than we were, now's your chance to buy something truly useful, and top-of-the-range. It comes in blue, pink or cream - none beautiful, but for my money the blue's the nicest.

While you're on the Küster site, check out their appealing bath toy stores. OK, not a day-one requirement like a nappy mat is, but it'll come into its own, believe me - and I love the subtle colour choices.