Best learning tower for kitchen for children

[frolicmum]

I would like to start involving my toddler in tasks such as cooking, baking and the cleaning process. I'm therefore looking for a good quality, sturdy learning tower he can stand on.

Any suggestions?

Didn't even know they were a thing. DD watched me from a sling then I sat her on the counter and she helped out that way.

I made my own! Find an IKEA stool hack and made it for around a third of the price they sell for. My toddler loves being able to get up to the worktop level.

Mine stood on a kitchen chair..

A kitchen chair or a little step. We did more sitting at the kitchen table than I normally would.

I feel like he's a tad too young, he is 22 months and he's not very risk adverse, very boisterous.

They're Montessori inspired, very common in Germany and the Nordic countries.

We bought a little tikes slide with platform, then realised it fit under our breakfast bar and is the perfect height for this purpose. Dual purpose, but needs a bit of space for it.

@KatherineOfGaunt

I made my own! Find an IKEA stool hack and made it for around a third of the price they sell for. My toddler loves being able to get up to the worktop level.

I'll check that out as it might be cheaper than the ones you can buy as such. I missed some of the responses, probably because it was 2am and my toddler was up coughing his lungs out, poor sod getting his corona test today x

I missed some of the responses, probably because it was 2am and my toddler was up coughing his lungs out, poor sod getting his corona test today x

Good luck frolic.

I've got a little helper one, bought it off Facebook for cheap. Maybe have a look on marketplace/gumtree? Hope your little one is okay :)

We have a little helper fun pod.
Also got one at the grandparents too. Live saver.

I just use a chair and have done since DS was 19mo. I think it helps his spacial awareness. I have a big kitchen but don't want a kitchen helper cluttering it up.

He's 26 months now and loves cooking. He actually pushes the chair up to the counter in the morning and insists we cook 😂.

Two of mine were fine on a chair, in the corner of the worktop, so only one side to fall off. The other was a lunatic and couldn’t be trusted.
Try a chair and see first, but the little helper one is good.

@WooYa

I've got a little helper one, bought it off Facebook for cheap. Maybe have a look on marketplace/gumtree? Hope your little one is okay :)

We did the same, managed to get for £20. It has a few chips but my 1 yr old is much happier watching me from that height.

We also have the ikea hack one (DH and i made it) works perfectly and much cheaper than a lot of others on the market.

We have quadro for a climbing frame and little house and you can convert their starter kit into one very easily.

We also did the Ikea hack. I made it and if I can do it, anyone can. They now just stand on their Tripp trapp chairs against the worktop and my youngest has just turned 2.

@GreyishDays

Two of mine were fine on a chair, in the corner of the worktop, so only one side to fall off. The other was a lunatic and couldn’t be trusted. Try a chair and see first, but the little helper one is good.

I do think mine is the lunatic, he's a little crazy boy. I love him and I love who he is but got to keep an eye on him a lot x

@WooYa @everdaymumma I do like the little helper one, it does look very sturdy and secure.

@BergamotMouse I do have a Tripp Trapp but don't think my boy's personality suits him to stand on it.

I have always thought the little helper type ones were dangerous. If anything did spill into it they're stuck in it and it'd take longer to get them out. Standing on a stool or chair is safer becuase they can use their natural instinct to move away. Worst case they fall on the floor a few times but they'll soon get the hang of it

Another vote for the Little Helper fun pod.

Daughter (21mths) loves it, can be a range of heights but what I like is she can’t climb in / out of it herself & it’s too heavy for her for move. So basically she can only use it when we let her.

When she is older, and more to be trusted I will get her a more open one like the ikea hack but at the moment I only want her to be at unit height when supervised.

We have a trip trap chair & she is strong enough to push it away from the table when she is done

I bought this one from Etsy:
www.etsy.com/transaction/1868706262?campaign_label=proteus_transaction_buyer_notification_boe_convo_url_treatment&email_sent=1588269803&euid=JJZPtSDV_ji58Kv66_uUNLmNCHhf&eaid=24354315424&x_eaid=67e837b089

It was the one I could with the smallest footprint as I have a tiny kitchen. I was using a stool (our chairs aren’t good for standing on) but then he fell off and smashed his head on the tiled floor and I decided to bite th bullet and buy one. It’s been great. We bake regularly and he will ‘chat’ to me while I cook sometimes. He’s a bit wild so I like him being more contained. We could manage without but I’ glad we have it.

@Clockstop

I have always thought the little helper type ones were dangerous. If anything did spill into it they're stuck in it and it'd take longer to get them out. Standing on a stool or chair is safer becuase they can use their natural instinct to move away. Worst case they fall on the floor a few times but they'll soon get the hang of it

Boiling liquid? Why would they be anywhere near hot things when they’re two?! It’s more for helping to ice biscuits and make dough than cook a full on dinner

@AutumnVibes that's what happened to my friend unfortunately with her little boy and I can see it happen with my boy because of his nature.

@Clockstop I can see where you're coming from but he won't be anywhere near the stove, it's especially important for breakie prep, lunch prep, snack prep and washing hands. He does have porridge in the morning which is of course hot but I want him to help me poor the porridge, add the milk. This can cook whilst we cut the banana and blueberries etc.

His dinner is the meal that is actually a hot and properly cooked which is usually our dinner from the night before. If we have a takeaway or something he cannot have (spicy food etc), I just defrost and reheat something that's in the freezer (I batch cook quite a bit) x

I need to see how it goes anyway - who knows if he's even interested and if it works 🤷🏼‍♀️

No I'd assume no boiling liquid but other stuff too, just a hot baking tray or a stray knife. Obviously you try to keep those things out the way but I'd say a chair is safer than being trapped if an accident were to happen.

I can see your point, but I think being a bit trapped can be safer too. For example, last week, my two year old managed to grab the glass jar the teabags live in and throw it on the floor, so lots of smashed glass. Having him secure in there bought me enough time to clear it up before he could get down and hurt himself. There are other hazards, like now he is big enough to start climbing over it in all sorts of unintended ways so it can wobble. But I think however you manage your little one in the kitchen there are risks and benefits to be weighed and the right equipment really depends on your house, your child and their temperament, the kinds of things you want to do and what suits you best. For us, it’s been good so hopefully you find something that works for you.