The 8 Best Toddler Towers, Tested and Reviewed

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Elevate your toddler’s learning with a safe, stable kitchen helper stool.

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Parents

Toddler towers are enclosed, elevated structures that allow children to play safely at counter height while reducing the risks of falls. Widely used in Montessori education, these structures promote independent learning and encourage the development of practical life skills. By bringing toddlers up to your level and providing access to areas that are otherwise off-limits, towers help kids feel included and get them out from under your feet.

“Learning towers open up this world of textures, smells, sounds, and tastes in a controlled way,” says Robin Haines, an educator and member of the American Montessori Society. “They allow kids to get ‘hands-on’ with food prep and self-care activities like washing hands. This not only teaches practical skills but also fosters a sense of capability that's fundamental to healthy emotional development.”

These structures are often called “learning towers,” but the brand Little Partners has trademarked this term. We use “learning tower” and “toddler tower” interchangeably. To help you find the best toddler tower for your family’s needs, we tested several popular designs at home. We assessed each model based on safety, adjustability, durability, ease of use, functionality, and value. Here are our eight top picks in a range of categories.

With an adjustable step and platform that can be set up to 20 inches high, this toddler tower was just the thing for a young toddler to “help out” in the kitchen. The sturdy design and materials gave us the confidence to allow a small toddler to join adults at counter height. And our 18-month-old was always excited to climb inside to be part of the meal prep.

The wooden construction held up perfectly through a month of testing. We loved that the smooth surfaces were easily wiped clean and that it comes in a range of color options. Though we mostly used it in the kitchen, it’s lightweight enough to move around the house, so we can see it being useful for tooth brushing and other activities for years to come.

“She loved being closer to our level, part of the action, and enjoying her snacks on the kitchen island. This was also the first time she was really able to see us cooking and she loved it.” –Nicole, mother of an 18-month-old

Though there is a back bar to prevent falls, if a child slipped, there is a chance the bar would not prevent them from falling out of the tower. Also, changing the height involves disassembling the tower and it's not foldable or easily stashed away.

The Details:

Sturdy, stable, and incredibly safe, this toddler tower is super easy to adjust to get the perfect height for your toddler to join you at the counter or table. The wide base features stabilizer arms at floor level, and we loved that there are non-slip stickers on the arms to help prevent falls. The rock-solid construction won’t be failing anytime soon.

Our little tester was happy just to be in the tower and be part of whatever we were doing in the kitchen. We used the tower for arts and crafts like painting, and to help with cooking and baking. This resulted in less frustration, and fewer demands to be picked up—benefits that every parent or carer will understand.

“My son was incredibly engaged when using this. It helped involve him in daily tasks and alleviated a lot of frustration at not being a part of our activities, but also served as a great tool for crafts.” –Ciara, mother of an 18-month-old

This tower took around an hour and a half to assemble, albeit with toddler interruptions. It’s also large and heavy, so not ideal for smaller homes. We had to replace one of the pre-assembled pieces due to a manufacturing error.

The Details:

This toddler tower provided a stable platform for a very active 3-year-old to play safely at counter height. At 21.6 pounds, it’s heavy enough to stay firmly in place, and the bottom pads help with slip resistance. The hefty construction and quality materials make us confident that it will hold up for many years. And we loved that it folds flat when it’s not in use.

The simple assembly and intuitive foldability required very little effort, and the surfaces were easily wiped down (even spills left unnoticed for several days). Children loved the ease of entry and exit—allowing them to come and go (again and again and again) to their hearts’ content.

“I love this learning tower because it's easy to get in and out of quickly so he can run to the other room to give Dad an update or wander back to keep helping out.” –Katie, mother of a 3-year-old

This tower comes in at well above median price, but we feel it’s worth it. It’s also open at the sides, so is not ideal for smaller or less mobile toddlers. And its height is not adjustable.

The Details:

Impeccably crafted from sustainably sourced Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber, this convertible learning tower added a whole new dimension to kitchen water play. Beautifully packaged, the pieces were easy to assemble in around half an hour. And when you’re not using it as a tower, it doubles as a toddler table, so it’s never left gathering dust.

Our toddler was secure and safe, enjoying some newfound independence, whether at the sink, coloring, or playing with Play-Doh. Though we found it a little wobbly at first, its side wing base stabilizers helped, as did placing it against an upright surface. Our toddler loved the wooden practice knife included. And we loved how the minimalist aesthetic complemented our kitchen.

“If it was up to him, he'd be in this learning tower the whole day, especially when the learning tower was parked right next to the kitchen sink.” –Stella, mother of a 2-year-old

The entrance to the tower is narrow, so bigger kids may struggle to climb in and out. The step is slippery in socks, so best suited to barefoot play or grippy slippers/socks. And though the step height is adjustable, the platform isn’t.

The Details:

Set up at the kitchen island or table, this tower kept our 21-month-old toddler safe and out from under our feet, which was especially helpful during meal prep. We loved the compact, sturdy design, and that the materials are also lightweight so we could move the tower around as necessary. And its small footprint makes it easy to stash away when we’re not using it

Our toddler loved that he could climb in and out on his own. The ability to come and go independently allows toddlers to decide when to join caregivers in the kitchen. Whether eating snacks, playing with toys or Play-Doh, or coloring, our toddler loves being elevated to counter height in the kitchen, and we can see him enjoying this tower for a long time.

“When he gets home from daycare and we are fixing dinner, he will crawl up there and wait for us to bring him an activity or just hang out closer to our level. He loves it!” –Alicia, mother of a 21-month-old

We removed the dowel mechanism from the top to allow our toddler to easily climb in and out, slightly decreasing the tower’s stability. The steps are narrow. And though the platform is adjustable, you need to partially disassemble the tower to do so.

The Details:

With four height settings, this solid timber toddler tower allows for plenty of adjustment as toddlers grow. The fold-up/down step means you can store the tower under the countertop in a slightly smaller format. The extra-wide base, stabilizers, and anti-slip footprint stickers offer additional peace of mind that your toddler is safe from slips and falls.

As soon as we assembled the tower, which took around half an hour, our toddler was in it with no assistance required. Climbing out, however, proved more challenging, with the narrow step posing some problems for our 15-month-old. We used the tower for hand washing, helping with cooking, baking, and cleaning up.

“My son LOVES the learning tower. As soon as we start to move it out of the pantry where we store it, he is there ready to climb on.” –Michelle, mother of a 15-month-old

We found the “space-saving design” didn’t live up to its claim. With the step folded up, there is a potential pinching hazard for small fingers. Our toddler managed to shimmy inside the tower while in the stowed position, resulting in a fall, so it's best to store it out of sight when not in use.

The Details:

This product is not an independent learning tower, but an add-on that attaches to the Cybex Lemo High Chair, which must be purchased separately. We loved the stability of the tower/chair. Though probably not recommended, we even allowed twins to stand in it together—to save them from fighting over who gets to use it.

Having been told that we should involve our toddlers more in the mealtime preparation process, we set this tower at the kitchen counter. The kids loved using it for washing hands (this was a big one!) engaging in meal prep, coloring, snacking, and simply interacting with parents in the kitchen. If you’ve already got a Lemo High Chair, this is a convenient add-on to keep kids safe and happy at eye-level so you can be hands-free.

“My kids loved the tower. I think it gave them a huge sense of independence and a fresh new vantage point! They could be eye level and interact with us in the kitchen.” –Margo, mother of 22-month-old twins

The tower is bulky and has only one height setting and a far lower maximum weight limit than other towers we tested. Its anti-slip silicone mats caused more of a hazard because they wouldn’t stay in place. The narrow bottom step makes it very difficult for young toddlers to exit the tower, which caused frustration.

The Details:

Stable and durable, this tower was super easy for our little tester to climb in and out of, allowing them to get involved with the breakfast prep—a functional and fun addition to the morning routine. The heavy-duty plastic materials held up perfectly through testing, and we have complete confidence that little ones are safe when inside.

We loved that the tower enabled our child to be a part of the cooking process, which has proven a better distraction than TV. Our toddler loved making smoothies, whisking eggs, and snacking on fruit while we did chores around the kitchen. Though the aesthetics won’t appeal to some families, if you’re after a sturdy option for under $100, this is our best-value pick.

“My favorite thing about the learning tower was being able to involve my son in our morning routine and to have him in the kitchen with me making breakfast!” –Ariel, mother of a two-year-old

At 21 pounds, this tower is bulky and not super easy to move around the house. Assembly requires drilling holes, so requires a power drill and a little know-how to complete.

The Details:

To pick the best toddler towers, we tested nine models at home for one month, with our testers incorporating each tower into their child’s everyday routine. Each learning tower was assessed on the following attributes:

Parents

To find out more about the benefits of toddler towers, what to look for when shopping for one, and what safety considerations to keep in mind, we spoke to the following professionals:

Before purchasing a toddler tower, Fleming recommends considering the following factors:

Once your toddler tower is set up in your home, follow these safety guidelines:

Parents

Our little testers used their toddler towers for arts and crafts, water play, hand washing, and a whole lot of “helping” in the kitchen. By incorporating a toddler tower into your daily routine, you’re helping your toddler develop important skills. Haines says to remember that promoting independence means messes and spills, and for tasks to take way longer than usual.

Here are some ideas for tower play:

Samson McDougall is a journalist, copywriter, editor, and biology graduate. His work encompasses everything from web copy for science museums, to sexual health articles for universities, info sheets for pharmaceuticals, to brand messaging for wearable touch therapy created by neuroscientists. Samson is also a father of two.