When your child wants to help in the kitchen or reach the bathroom sink on their own, a learning tower or kitchen helper is one option that can help them discover some independence. From a basic step stool with railings to an art easel your child can climb, learning towers and kitchen helpers range in size and style, and are made from either wood or plastic. They also feature a solid platform for children to stand on so they can reach new heights.
Our home and family advisor for Safe Smart Family, Richard Bartlett, selected the top five learning towers and kitchen helpers. From toddler step stools for small spaces to learning towers that inspire and promote creativity, our advisor chose the SDADI Adjustable Height Kitchen Step Stool as the best overall learning tower/kitchen helper. Read how he chose the top 5.
Toddlers love to do everything themselves. It’s a time for learning, growing, and advancing. Have fun and bond while giving your child a boost using a kitchen helper.
Our Home and Family Expert’s Top 5 Learning Towers/Kitchen Helpers for Toddlers
Here are the top picks from our home and family advisor. Compare the ratings and key features of each of the different models.
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating | Enclosed with Safety Railings | Reinforced Base | Assembly Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | SDADI Adjustable Height Kitchen Step Stool | ||||
| Best for Small Spaces | Simplay3 Toddler Tower Childrens Step Stool | ||||
| Roomiest | Little Partners Kids Learning Tower | ||||
| Best for Creativity | Clevr Height Adjustable Kids Kitchen Step Stool | ||||
| Sturdiest | Guidecraft Kitchen Helper Tower Step-Up |
*Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 and based on reviews, feedback, and opinions of actual customers
In This Article
Who Should Buy a Learning Tower/Kitchen Helper for Toddlers
- Parents of children over 18 months. Learning towers are recommended for children 18 months or older to encourage engagement in daily activities, such as helping you with dinner or brushing their teeth before bed.
- When you want to foster independence. If you’re looking to help your child become independent and do things for herself, a kitchen helper is a good tool to aid your child in reaching counters and tables.
- Your child is the appropriate size. Consider a learning tower or kitchen helper as part of your child’s development if your child is over 18 months old and within the recommended weight capacity and measurements of a learning tower.
Who Should Not Buy a Learning Tower/Kitchen Helper for Toddlers
- Parents of children under 18 months of age. Learning towers or kitchen helpers are not recommended for children under the age of 18 months. Children should be sturdy on their feet before using a kitchen tower.
- Homes lacking an adequate amount of space. Learning towers and kitchen helpers can take up a bit of room. If there isn’t enough space, the tower could become a hazard, blocking safe access to necessary or important areas.
- Your child is too small or too big. Learning towers and kitchen helpers are designed for a range of ages and weights. However, if your child doesn’t meet the recommended weight and height, it could become a safety issue.
Research Tips
Here are some tips and best practices to consider when purchasing a learning tower or kitchen helper for toddlers. Be sure to do adequate research on the product you’re considering to look for key features, and ask your friends or family if they have any recommendations on learning towers or kitchen helpers for toddlers.
- What kind of learning tower or kitchen helper are you looking for? – There are a number of styles, structures, and uses for learning towers and kitchen helpers. Consider what you want to use the tower for and choose one that best suits your needs. Basic learning towers and kitchen helpers act as an extra-stable step stool for your child to safely reach counters and tables. More elaborate learning towers and kitchen helpers offer additional features, such as safety railings, wider platforms, adjustable height, and fun activities.
- What is the tower made from? – Most learning towers and kitchen helpers are made from plastic or wood. Both materials have their pros and cons. Plastic kitchen helpers are easy to clean, but tend to be lighter in weight. Wooden learning towers have more heft to them, making them more stable, but are often more expensive.
- What are the dimensions and weight capacity of the kitchen helper? – Once you’ve decided whether you want a plastic or wooden learning tower or kitchen helper and what its purpose will be, choose one with the right dimensions and weight capacity for your child. Keep in mind your toddler can grow with the tower since most feature adjustable heights.
- Does the learning tower or kitchen helper have safety rails? – Are you concerned with your child falling off the learning tower or kitchen helper? Although your child should always be supervised using a learning tower, look for high sides that have four safety railings around the top to help enclose your child safely.
- How sturdy and stable is the base of the kitchen helper? – The learning tower or kitchen helper should be stable enough for your child to climb and stand on. Many tower bases feature nonslip or nonskid rubber pads to help keep the tower from slipping or sliding. Others feature a wide base that covers more area so they’re less apt to tip. Some learning towers and kitchen helpers are outfitted with T-style feet for extra stability.
- Are there extra or unique features? – Many learning towers and kitchen helpers are similar in structure and purpose. But some are uniquely designed for special uses, such as an art easel or activity center, and others are made with additional safety features.
How Much Do They Cost?
Between $80 and $250
Learning towers or kitchen helpers range in price, usually from about $80 to $250, but the average price is about $100. Basic kitchen helpers – step stools with handles – are on the cheaper end while more elaborate kitchen helpers – those with additional features, high sides, safety railings, and more – are on the higher end of the price range. Learning towers made from wood also tend to cost a bit more.
Our Methodology: Why Trust Safe Smart Family
With the help of my home and family experience, as well as some in-depth research, I selected the top five learning towers/kitchen helpers for toddlers based on strength, durability, and use. There are several factors to consider, such as size, weight capacity, structure and safety when choosing a learning tower or kitchen helper for toddlers, with safety being of the utmost importance. – Richard Bartlett
The Best Learning Towers/Kitchen Helpers for Toddlers: Full Reviews
The SDADI Adjustable Height Kitchen Step Stool stands 35 inches tall from the bottom of the tower to the top. The step stool features three railings around the base and a fourth safety railing at the top to help keep your child standing. Designed for toddlers 18 months old up to 3 years in age, the stool platform supports up to 150 pounds and is adjustable in height from 10.5 inches to 15.5 inches. The tower width is just over 15 inches and the first step up is about 10 inches high.
The SDADI learning tower and kitchen helper does require some assembly before first use but is easy to put together and clean. Sturdy and solid, the learning tower and kitchen helper is made from wood. The finish is a lead-free coating and comes in white, natural, coffee, and gray. The step stool weighs under 10 pounds, so it’s easy to move around the kitchen or bathroom. The back stool legs also have wide feet to add extra support to the base.
- Adjustable-height platform
- Safety railing at the top
- Extra-wide feet for stability
- Assembly required
Our home and family expert chose the Simplay3 Toddler Tower Childrens Step Stool as the best learning tower or kitchen helper for small spaces. Easy to put together, this step stool for your little one supports up to 60 pounds and features three adjustable heights – 12 inches, 15 inches, and 18 inches. The learning tower/kitchen helper measures 34.5 inches from top to bottom, allowing you to store the stool under most island counters. The kitchen helper is designed to reach counters at 36 inches and tables at 30 inches.
The Simplay3 learning tower/kitchen helper features high sides that surround the entire stool so your child feels more balanced and able to participate in activities with you. The top of the tower has two side rails that are equipped with hand grips for a better hold. The tower is outfitted with nonskid rubber feet to help keep the base from sliding around. Use the tower stool in the kitchen or bathroom to give your child a boost to reach the sink. Easy to assemble and clean, the Simplay3 toddler tower is made from a durable BPA-free plastic.
- High sides all the way around
- Adjustable platform height
- Designed to store under island counters
- Child has to climb under the top rail or be lifted into the tower
- Reviews of it tipping over
For a learning tower/kitchen helper that has a lot of space for your children to move around in, we chose the Little Partners Kids Learning Tower as the roomiest learning tower and kitchen helper. Made from natural wood, this tower is available in multiple finishes, such as cherry, espresso, olive green, red, and white. With enough room to support two children, the standing platform has ample amount of space, measuring 15 inches by 18 inches, and holds up to 250 pounds. The platform is adjustable to four different heights so it grows with your toddler.
The Little Partners learning tower and kitchen helper features four large openings for your child to get in and out, using the two built-in footholds on the side walls. Measuring 22 inches high, the sturdy tall walls have four railings at the top, two of which are rounded handholds, to help your child with balance. Designed with a wide base that measures 24 inches by 39 inches, this tower and kitchen helper is outfitted with T-shaped feet to help prevent tipping. The Little Partners learning tower is also compatible with the 2-in-1 climbing ramp slide.
- Can support two children
- Platform is adjustable
- Wide base with T-shaped feet
- Large and bulky
- Assembly required
To inspire creativity while your little one helps you out in the kitchen, consider the Clevr Height Adjustable Kids Kitchen Step Stool as your selection. Our home and family expert chose it as the best learning tower/kitchen helper for creativity. This kitchen helper comes with a magnetic black and white board for your child to draw and design on, either with chalk or markers. The bottom step even has a place to hold the chalk. The creative kitchen tower stands almost 3 feet high and is just over 17 inches deep by 16 inches wide.
Made from wood, the Clevr learning tower for toddlers features an adjustable platform that supports up to 150 pounds for three different heights: 19 inches, 13 inches, and 10 inches. The top of the tower is equipped with four railings to help your child maintain his balance, while the bottom of the tower is outfitted with nonslip pads to aid in the stability of the tower. Two of the top railings have built-in handholds that make it easier to move the learning tower and kitchen helper around and for your child to hang onto the side while standing on the platform.
- Reversible black and white board
- Adjustable-height platform
- Built-in handholds
- Assembly required
Made from pine, the Guidecraft Kitchen Helper Tower Step-Up is the sturdiest learning tower and kitchen helper, according to our home and family expert. Reaching 3 feet high, the kitchen tower step stool features a wide base with extra balance support on the front feet. The kitchen helper step measures 20 inches in depth and just over 22 inches in width. The platform, which supports up to 200 pounds, is adjustable to two heights.
The Guidecraft kitchen helper and learning tower features three railings at the top – the side railings have built-in handholds to help children up and down and to maintain balance. The back of the kitchen helper stool is wide open for easy access to the platform. Available in multiple finishes, including natural wood, the kitchen tower helper is sure to match your décor. The Guidecraft kitchen helper is also suitable for adults up to 200 pounds.
- Additional support on front legs
- Built-in handholds
- Spacious
- Doesn’t have a safety railing
- Assembly required
Frequently Asked Questions
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Article Sources
Safe Smart Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Karsten A. Best toddler learning tower: all you need to know before getting one. Annainthehouse.com. Published December 13, 2021. Accessed August 2, 2022.
- Ette Tete. Montessori helper towers: how you and your child can benefit from having one? Ettetete.com. Published September 11, 2020. Accessed August 2, 2022.
- Mawhinney D. Everything you need to know about toddler learning towers. Thetot.com. Accessed August 2, 2022.
- Mawhinney D. Everything you need to know about toddler learning towers. Thetot.com. Accessed August 2, 2022.
Home and family advisor for Safe Smart Family with more than a decade writing about home and family lifestyle topics and expertise in home product reviews
