The Becopotty is one of those things that I bought for a reason – it is environmentally friendly - and only realised later that I got more than I bargained for.

Becopotty is produced by the company Becothings. Although they have nice dog bowls and eco-friendly coat hangers, it's their potties that I am in love with.

Becopotties are made using natural plant materials, so it's BPA and nasties-free. It also means that even though it will last for years in the home, it will begin to break down as soon as it is planted in the ground.

The idea with the Becopotty is to plant the no longer needed chamberpot in your garden, pop seeds in the bowl and cover with ground. Over the next couple of years the potty will break down, nourishing the flowers you've planted, consistently reminding you to be grateful that you're no longer changing nappies. It could also be symbolic for your little one – moving on to the big boy/girl toilet.

Sentimentality aside, however, how practical is it? Well, we've never tried anything else, so it's hard to make a comparison, but the high back means little ones don't slip off, and the large splash guard in the front does what it's meant to and keeps little hands out of the bowl!

The only negative thing about Becopotties comes out of the very thing that makes them so desirable – they are a plant material and therefore rather fragile. Kick a badly placed Becopotty in the middle of the night and it might well break. Stand in the bowl, and you will go through.

Even so, at less than £8, considerably less than more popular brands, buying a new potty doesn't exactly break the bank.

Becopotties can be found at JoJo MaMan Bebe, John Lewis and Kiddiecare, and selected eco-shops.

I'm trying really hard to like this screaming little man, I really am. For £5.00 from Argos, down from £9.99, I am willing to at least give this water level detector a moment's thought.

• Drift on over to Argos to see this offer

If I have to be honest, I'd realise that I had survived 30 years without this little gadget and would click on by. But, sitting here trying to think of the benefits of this water level detectors, I've come up with these:

• As a busy mama, running a bath and then having to chase a child around the house, answer the phone, turn off the stove, it is possible that I might at some point forget that I had run the bath. The Bath Buddy alarm going off would save a lot of mopping up later.
• It resolves the “Darling, can you come and see if this is too much or too little water for me to bath the baby in?” situation. Set it up and leave it there, so Daddy can get on on his own from time to time.
• And then there is the environmental benefit of not running too much water and then having to empty it out again, or too much hot water and have to empty out to add cold water. It could possibly save some water, making it good for the environment and your pocket.

The Bath Buddy suctions on to the bath and is operated by three (included) batteries - probably negating the environmental effect.

Having said all that, I'm not sure it's anything other than a pass-the-parcel present, but if you disagree, you can buy or reserve it for in store pick-up, or have it delivered within two days.

Thanks to Haylhoo over at HUKD