diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index fe83569a2..a4aaaf65c 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
         * e_util_size_debug_set now also prints for object show/hide events
         * e_gadcon_unpopulate now correctly freezes the container while deleting gadgets
         * e_popup is now a wrapper for drawing objects onto the compositor canvas
+        * added e_layout functions for returning objects above or below a layout child
 
 2013-02-13 Deon Thomas
 
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index e8a339ccb..8a6af86bf 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ Additions:
         * e_int_border_remember_edit
         * Added function for getting children of e_layout
         * added utility function for printing all objects above a given object
+        * added e_layout functions for returning objects above or below a layout child
     Config:
         * Added option for disabling icons in menus
         * Added option for disabling pointer warping when performing directional focus changes using winlist
diff --git a/src/bin/e_layout.c b/src/bin/e_layout.c
index 389299ddd..c075184cd 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_layout.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_layout.c
@@ -154,6 +154,41 @@ e_layout_child_move(Evas_Object *obj, Evas_Coord x, Evas_Coord y)
    if (li->sd->frozen <= 0) _e_layout_smart_move_resize_item(li);
 }
 
+EAPI Evas_Object *
+e_layout_child_above_get(Evas_Object *obj)
+{
+   E_Layout_Item *li;
+
+   li = evas_object_data_get(obj, "e_layout_data");
+   EINA_SAFETY_ON_NULL_RETURN_VAL(li, NULL);
+   li = (E_Layout_Item*)EINA_INLIST_GET(li)->next;
+   return li ? li->obj : NULL;
+}
+
+EAPI Evas_Object *
+e_layout_child_below_get(Evas_Object *obj)
+{
+   E_Layout_Item *li;
+
+   li = evas_object_data_get(obj, "e_layout_data");
+   EINA_SAFETY_ON_NULL_RETURN_VAL(li, NULL);
+   li = (E_Layout_Item*)EINA_INLIST_GET(li)->prev;
+   return li ? li->obj : NULL;
+}
+
+EAPI Evas_Object *
+e_layout_top_child_get(Evas_Object *obj)
+{
+   E_Smart_Data *sd;
+   E_Layout_Item *li;
+
+   if (evas_object_smart_smart_get(obj) != _e_smart) SMARTERRNR() NULL;
+   sd = evas_object_smart_data_get(obj);
+   if (!sd->items) return NULL;
+   li = (E_Layout_Item*)sd->items->last;
+   return li->obj;
+}
+
 EAPI void
 e_layout_child_resize(Evas_Object *obj, Evas_Coord w, Evas_Coord h)
 {
diff --git a/src/bin/e_layout.h b/src/bin/e_layout.h
index 0e6ef59c2..43a6fdfd5 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_layout.h
+++ b/src/bin/e_layout.h
@@ -25,5 +25,8 @@ EAPI void         e_layout_unpack            (Evas_Object *obj);
 EAPI Eina_List *e_layout_children_get(Evas_Object *obj);
 EAPI Evas_Object *e_layout_top_child_at_xy_get(Evas_Object *obj, Evas_Coord x, Evas_Coord y, const Eina_List *ignore);
 
+EAPI Evas_Object *e_layout_child_below_get(Evas_Object *obj);
+EAPI Evas_Object *e_layout_child_above_get(Evas_Object *obj);
+EAPI Evas_Object *e_layout_top_child_get(Evas_Object *obj);
 #endif
 #endif