Best Toddler Kitchen Towers
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If I were to recommend one product, it would be a Montessori learning tower or toddler kitchen helper tower. There are several names for this item. The name doesn’t matter, but what it does matters. Toddler learning towers allow your toddler to reach the counter safely. These kitchen towers are special, enclosed stools that bring toddlers to counter height, while offering sides that protect them from easily falling. Kitchen towers let toddlers and young children join you as you cook. It doesn’t even feel dramatic to me to say they can transform your home. Yet, with so many options on the market, which toddler kitchen tower is the best?
When can you use a toddler tower?
I have found the toddler tower to be ideal for little ones from around 1 year old. We got our first learning tower when my oldest was 10 months old. We were in a hurry, and this was a bit early. My second, however, started climbing the tower independently at 11 months. That was when we decided to get her her own. My third is ten months old and does not yet have a tower. Ideally, your little one can climb up the tower themselves. They should also be solid at standing. My first two were not walking yet when we introduced the towers, but they were standing well. Before using the tower, I love to use this high chair attached to the counter. A toddler tower can be the perfect first birthday gift!
At 4, my oldest son still uses his tower. While he probably could use a stool at this age and will likely graduate to one soon (simply out of necessity to avoid having three towers), the tower is still very well loved.
In this blog post, I will guide you through choosing the best toddler tower and review some of the most popular Montessori learning towers on the market. When researching the best learning tower for your toddler, look for one that is safe, secure, and ideally adjustable. Other things, such as size preference or aesthetics, will vary based on your needs.
The Best Toddler Towers: My Top Choice
Sprout Kids (discount code OnTheWay10)
Our favorite learning tower, without question, is Sprout Kids. It was the one I chose the first time and the one I chose a second time. When my first son was 9 months, I began researching learning towers and after a lot of comparisons, decided the Sprout Kids (code OnTheWay10) Sous Chef Tower was the best one for us. We lived in New York City and did not have endless space. I spent a lot of time considering a folding one, but instead went with Sprout, which does not fold but has a smaller footprint. This was a good decision because our tower gets used all day, every day. A folding one would have been a pain for us. More realistically, it would never have been folded and just taken up more room.
The other thing I like about the Sprout learning tower is the closed sides. While a determined toddler can find a way to climb on the counter, this makes it less likely. It also significantly reduces the risk of them falling out. With my younger toddlers, I use their partial plate that comes with the tower. They are incredibly secure. They also now sell a full plate back for older babies and young toddlers, which makes it pretty impossible for them to fall out. Even without the full back plate, though, the tower is small, cozy, and secure.
This toddler kitchen tower is adjustable to 3 levels, meaning it worked for my tiny daughter at under 1 and still fits my 4-year-old perfectly. The weight limit is 150 pounds, so I use it as well as a step stool to reach high cabinets sometimes.
The tower has a nice minimalist look, which I like in our kitchen. It comes in finished birch or white. The Sprout Kids tower is a bit pricey at $199 (use code OnTheWay10 for 10% off), but for us, it was worth the investment.
Best Folding Toddler Kitchen Helper Towers
Piccalio Folding Tower
This tower was previously gifted to us several years ago. This post is my own opinion and is not related to the gifting. When I was first researching towers, I considered a folding option. Piccalio was at the top of my list. While we decided not to go with folding, and I am glad since we use the tower so often, I believe folding can be a great option for smaller spaces. We have this tower at my parents’ house. This allows my son to cook there and for them to fold it up and put it away when we are not there.
While I felt safe with my toddler using the Piccalio tower, I would not use it as young as I would use the Sprout tower. It is much more open and less secure for a small toddler. It does have a leather back you can put on, but that has never worked very well for us. For this tower, I would wait until my toddler is a bit older.
The Piccalio folding tower is adjustable to 3 levels. It folds easily, and they even sell a hook for the wall. It has a larger footprint than some of the other towers when opened, but the folding aspect means it doesn’t always have to be stored open. The weight limit is 175 pounds, making it usable for many adults as a step stool as well. It is available in 4 different colors. We have the natural wood, but I am obsessed with the sage color!
The Guidecraft tower is another popular folding toddler kitchen tower. It features an adjustable platform and a fold-away design for storage. There are multiple design options for this tower. My one caution on this tower is that I would avoid the towers with the shapes on the side. These shapes make for a perfect climbing structure for a toddler. Instead, I would opt for one that has closed sides or the vertical wooden slats on the side.
Little Partners Foldable Toddler Tower
While this tower calls itself folding, it does not fold as much as the first two folding towers I mentioned. The bottom step folds in, allowing for easier storage. It does have a small footprint, possibly even smaller than Sprout. It is a bit more affordable than many of the other options at $159.99. The brand is also eco-conscious. I have a friend who has it and loves it. The reviews are positive, including everyone reporting that it is sturdy. I considered getting this tower for my second since it is as compact as I found without being truly folding. I ended up choosing to stick with Sprout, but I do believe it is a good tower option.
Most Affordable Toddler Kitchen Helper Towers
Plastic and affordable: Core Pacific Kitchen Buddy 2-in-1 Stool
If you’re looking for an affordable option, this one fits the bill. It is made of plastic, unlike the others on this list, but at only $49, it is a much better price point than any others. When your child outgrows it, it can come apart and become a step stool. While we have not used it ourselves, I have heard from friends who chose this tower that they find it to be secure and to work well. The height is not adjustable like most of the more expensive models, which means it might not have as wide of an age range for use.
Affordable Wooden Option: SDADI Kids Kitchen Step Stool with Safety Rail
If you’re looking for a more affordable wooden learning tower, this one is a great option. It is built similarly to many of the DIY options I have seen, but does not require DIYing. The reviews are incredibly positive, including many noting it is sturdy. One warning with this one is that the sides look incredibly easy for a child to climb onto the counter from, since they are a ladder-type arrangement. Supervision using a toddler helper tower is always necessary, but this is something I would note when supervising. I know many people with towers like this also put some sort of ties around the back to close off the back and prevent falling. This toddler tower is not adjustable like many of the other options.
This one is more affordable than other wooden options at $72.99.
Best Double Toddler Kitchen Towers
RAD Children’s Double Tower (Discount code OnTheWay)
If you have twins or two littles very close in age this is a great toddler kitchen tower! It is designed for two children at once. This tower is smaller than two individual towers, but has a larger footprint than any of the solo towers. One hesitation in choosing this tower would be whether it would work with two children almost two years apart, like my children. Generally, you adjust the height as the child grows. That said, given that some learning towers do not adjust at all, it should be possible. I would be more likely, though, to recommend this tower for twins. The other consideration is if you envision your children wanting to work in different parts of the kitchen (or them not getting along sharing a tower).
RAD also has an individual tower. The double tower is $250 and the solo tower is $225.
Best Multi-Use Toddler Towers
This toddler kitchen tower works as not only a tower but a small table and chair! If you are looking for one product that does multiple things, this convertible helper tower is a wonderful option. It is adjustable to three levels, just like their foldable tower. One thing to keep in mind is that there is no back on the seat when used in table mode. This means it may not be ideal for younger toddlers. It comes with a small toddler wooden knife as well!
This tower does it all. It is a kitchen tower, a table, AND a slide. This company has multiple options for toddler towers in different styles. While this toddler kitchen tower does many different things, it is not adjustable. I would, personally, opt for the convertible tower from Piccalio that is adjustable, but the slide option is incredibly interesting.
Considerations in Choosing a Toddler Kitchen Tower
This blog post has shared some of my favorite toddler kitchen towers, but I wanted to share a few of my considerations in case you are assessing other options. A top consideration for me is, of course, safety. I prefer closed sides, which is why the Sprout Sous Chef Toddler Tower is my favorite option. It has the most closed sides and feels incredibly safe because of that. I wanted an adjustable toddler tower as well. This allows the maximum amount of use. If you are starting with a toddler who is a bit older, this may be less necessary. I also wanted a high enough weight maximum that I could climb it to reach high shelves as well. This was true for most of the towers, but not the most budget-friendly pick.
I went back and forth on whether I should choose a folding toddler tower, but eventually opted to skip the fold. I was glad I made this decision. My children are up and down the tower all day. I realistically wouldn’t put the tower away so a smaller footprint tower made more sense. The Little Partners folding tower may have been a good middle ground as putting up the bottom step would be easy. However, I am quite happy with our choice and I have purchased the same tower twice. It is compact, sturdy, and safe. It has worked well both in our city apartment and our suburban kitchen.
