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Here we talk about the best toddler towers, what they are, and why they’re great to use!
What is a toddler tower?
You may be wondering – “what is a toddler tower?” First, let’s talk about all the names synonymous with toddler towers. You may hear toddler towers also referred to as learning towers, toddler kitchen helpers, mother’s helper stools, Montessori towers – just to name a few!
Toddler towers are similar to step stools, but typically higher, with some key distinctions. Toddler towers allow children to reach counter height and encourage them to practice and take part in practical activities more independently. They also have safety features like railings or enclosures to keep little ones safer and more secure.
Toddler towers are often used in Montessori-based education and living because they encourage independence and autonomy in daily activities. They help children be more involved in meal preparation, cooking, hand washing, doing the dishes, etc.
Use them as a tool to eat snacks while standing at the kitchen counter or an island. My kids use them to do crafts at counter height, too! They have so many uses!
Why are toddler towers beneficial?
Toddler towers are beneficial for toddlers because they encourage the development of practical skills. Because toddler towers allow kids to be on a similar level to adults at the counter, it allows them to participate more in activities like meal prep, cooking, cleaning, etc.
I love using our toddler towers for getting my kids involved in meal prep. When you include your little one in the process of making foods (e.g., making a smoothie, putting cheese on pizza, mixing a bowl of ingredients), they are more likely to eat the food once it’s placed in front of them.
My kids use toddler towers while they cut soft fruits and vegetables at the counter for their snacks. They participate in making smoothies and baking with me, too! Food prep activities take the pressure off of eating. Once that pressure is removed, they are more likely to explore the food themselves.
What age should I start using a toddler tower?
I recommend looking more at your child’s skills than at their age when deciding when to start using a toddler tower. Your child should be able to stand independently without support before using a tool like this. This means they should be able to stand without assistance or holding onto anything to keep their balance.
Even when your child is a full-fledged toddler who can walk, talk, and eat without concerns, it’s still essential to supervise them while using the toddler tower — safety always comes first.
What stands out most about this kitchen helper tower is that it’s fully enclosed. There is a front keeper and a back keeper, so there’s less risk of your child slipping or falling out.
Other safety features of this toddler tower are its non-slip mat for your child and non-tip feet on the platform. I love that it’s Greenguard Gold Certified! This means it passed rigorous testing in terms of lower emissions and not containing harmful chemicals.
The Guidecraft Kitchen Helper comes in multiple finishes including natural wood, walnut finish, white, ivory, navy blue, and pink! Choose the finish that suits your home or your child’s style. Better yet, this is a foldable toddler tower! If you want, you can collapse it for storing while it’s not in use.
It has 2 height adjustments to grow with your child and a higher weight limit. It’s also high-rated by consumers and a great kitchen toddler tower to get your little one more involved in cooking and more!
This highly-rated toddler tower is great because it has a removable sliding door. When your child is younger, you can keep the wooden door on to keep them enclosed. When they’re more confident and stable, you can choose to take it off!
Ocodile’s toddler tower is sturdy and well made. It has a wide base. Better yet, it has 3 different height adjustments. You can get years of use out of this product!
I love the clean aesthetic of this tower – even with the added enclosure. It comes in 5 different finishes and colors. Choose what suits your space and/or your child’s personality.
If you’re looking to safely include your little one in kitchen prep and activities, this is a great option! The price is also affordable compared to other similar towers.
Lalo’s The Tower is the most aesthetically-pleasing toddler towers out there. We have two of them (for each child) and we love them! They have a clean and minimalist design that can blend into any kitchen.
This toddler tower is made with sustainable birch wood. The natural wood color is beautiful! While this toddler tower doesn’t fold, it’s lightweight enough to move (about 16 lbs.) and doesn’t take up a large footprint.
It’s great quality and has 2 different height adjustments to grow with your child. It can hold up to 200 lbs., so you can even use it as a step stool if you need to reach something in the top cabinet. Just me?!
This is one of our most-used products in the kitchen! With the quality of the build and how sturdy it is, I know we will get years of use out of it. My little ones love having their snacks on the tower, and they love helping with meal prep!
This is the best toddler tower in terms of being affordable and budget-friendly. It’s just $60-100 based on the finish you choose.
We have this toddler tower as well and love it for several reasons. First, the price makes it so affordable. It’s sturdy and durable. And it has a minimalist design suiting any space.
There are 3 height adjustments and it can hold up to 150 lbs. Which means it really can grow with your child. Assembly is easy and to clean you just wipe it down with a damp rag! It’s a great value for the money.
The Details:
Material: Wood Item Weight: 8.8 lbs. Weight Limit: 150 lbs. Price Point: $60-$100 depending on finish Foldable: No
This ranks as the best toddler tower that folds because of the slim profile and ease of use. You can easily fold this up and carry it to any room. It’s easy to store when it’s not in use.
The Nordi toddler tower is the perfect kitchen companion for children 18 months to 6 years of age. It’s aesthetically pleasing and comes in different finishes. Best of all, it’s easy to clean! Simply wipe it down with a damp cloth.
Thoughtfully made, this foldable tower is solid and sturdy. It’s made of wood and certified by CPSC for children’s safety. Users say it’s easy to assemble.
I love that this tower also has 3 different height settings. This means it really can grow with your little one. It’s a $130 investment that can last for years!
The Little Partners brand makes one of the best toddler tower with the most height adjustments. It can grow with your child from roughly 18 months to 6+ years! It has 4 height adjustments to cater to your child’s size.
This toddler tower was designed with the Montessori method in mind. It’s great for getting little ones up at counter height and encouraging them to participate in daily tasks in the kitchen and throughout the house. I love that it’s made of wood and Greenguard Gold Certified. Little Partners is also eco-conscious and is Forestry Stewardship Council Certified.
Did you know Little Partners was actually the first company to create a toddler tower? They have been in business since 1992 and make such quality products! The bottom step folds in making it have a smaller footprint for storing or putting away when not in use.
Sturdy toddler towers like these are great for getting toddlers involved in cooking and baking, washing hands and brushing teeth, and things like crafting!
The best toddler tower for twins or two toddlers at home! The Guidecraft Double Kitchen Helper is big enough to accommodate two children and holds up to 175 lbs.
Just like its single counterpart, this tower comes with many safety features. It’s fully enclosed, has a non-slip base where little ones can stand, and has no-tip feet. It’s sturdy and well-made.
While it is heavier at 32 lbs., it is foldable and collapses to store if needed. It’s a great option if you have two little ones that both want to help in the kitchen!
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Most parenting resources come from a single expert's perspective, but development doesn't really work that way.
You can't fully understand feeding without input from both a dietitian and a feeding specialist. You can't properly address milestones without OT, PT, and SLP perspectives working together. That's why every Eat Play Say resource is created collaboratively by our entire team — giving you the most comprehensive guidance possible, all in one place.
MS, SLP
Founder of Eat Play Say, Speech-Language Pathologist, Feeding Specialist, Play Expert, Mom of 2
Jordyn Koveleski Gorman
SPECIALIZES IN: Infant and toddler speech-language, play, and feeding development, and curating a team that provides expert help that feels like a reassuring text from that one mom friend
EDUCATION: Jordyn received her BS in Speech-Language Pathology from Bloomsburg University and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University
FAVE PARENTING FIRST: “The first true smile, it’s the sweetest!”
SPECIALIZES IN: Breast and bottle feeding, tongue ties, oral motor dysfunction, starting solids, infant and toddler speech, treating oral motor disorders
EDUCATION: Jessica received her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Pennsylvania State University in 2015 and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University in 2017
FAVE PARENTING FIRST: “Baby’s first wave! What a fun first communication gesture!”
SPECIALIZES IN: Breast and bottle feeding, tongue ties, starting solids, infant and toddler speech development
EDUCATION: She received her BS in Speech-Language Pathology from Ball State in 2014 and a MA in Speech-Language Pathology from Ball State in 2016.
FAVE PARENTING FIRST: “My favorite baby’s first is their first true smile that just warms your soul knowing they are smiling at you. My other favorite is their first word. I love watching their language explode!”
MS, CCC-SLP
Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist
Nicole La Petina Kelly
SPECIALIZES IN: Bilingual development (Spanish-English), supporting multilingual families, infant and toddler speech
EDUCATION: She received her BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders and in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014 and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology with an English-Spanish Specialization from Marquette University in 2016.
FAVE PARENTING FIRST: “It’s the first slobbery kisses for me!”
MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Olivia Rechel
SPECIALIZES IN: Fine & gross motor skills, sensory processing, self-care skills, autism spectrum support, sensory feeding difficulties, sensory processing disorder, social-emotional learning, and sensory related feeding difficulties
EDUCATION: She received her BS and MS in Occupational Therapy from Xavier University.
FAVE PARENTING FIRST: “The first time that little stinker focuses in on you. When you know they are matching that voice they’ve been hearing for 9 months to your face and your touch. When you see their brain piecing you all together. That is the best first for me.”
RDN, LD
Licensed Registered Dietitian
Kimberly Vede
SPECIALIZES IN: Infant and pediatric nutrition including breastfeeding, formula feeding, and starting solids. She also specializes in prenatal and postpartum nutrition.
EDUCATION: She received her BSc in Biology in 2014 from Life University, and her BSc in Dietetics from Life University in 2019.
FAVE PARENTING FIRST: ”The first time they say ‘mama!’”
From products to developmental toys – we round up all the best products for baby, toddler, preschoolers, & caregivers!
This checklist was created with input from a Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapist and has been downloaded over 20,000 times by parents worldwide. Learn the important milestones to pay attention to, and keep it in your digital back pocket during the baby + toddler years!
Comprehensive Milestone Checklist for gross motor, fine motor, and speech-language milestones for 0-36 months,