cloth nappies: terry flats and a small (10) selectionof cost effective MCNs has put in in good stead for all DS's nappy needs, perk cloths, change mats, face washers, extra warmth in the pram, and everything else! spent around $150 for a full set up. awesome value, great on DS's skin, and good for the environment

glider: a complete God-send in DS's first few months. after a boobie feed and a burp and change and cuddle, I would put DS in his glider with some music on, and he would sleep for hours. as I had birth injuries and needed salt baths multiple times a day, and so the glider was brilliant. It meant I could have him in the lounge or back room while I did the laundry or housework or cooking (knowing he was in sight, but happy and asleep) or within view from the bath while I sorted myself out. But he didn't always have to be in his cot, or the same part of the house, etc.

fast ear thermometer: ah, why didn't we get this sooner?! having to keep DS still long enough to get the reading is stressful for him and for us, and then when you do get a temperature reading, you don't know whether it's lower than it ought to be because it's come out from under his arm at some point, or if it's higher than it should be because he's wriggling and getting worked up, raising his temp!

so I heart these three things