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Because homes are designed to accommodate adults, bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, and even toilets are out of reach for toddlers and preschoolers. Helping children adapt to their surroundings presents its own challenges; lifting a wriggling child so they can wash their hands can wreak havoc on your back, and children may try to climb bookshelves to reach out-of-reach books.
Step stools offer a better solution by allowing kids to sit on a toilet, reach a bathroom sink, and safely work at a kitchen counter. The best step stools for kids feature rubberized feet and nonslip treads, multiple steps that make the stools easy to climb, and even railings that prevent falls.
If you’re looking for a safe way to help your young child rise to new heights in your home, read on to find out why the products below are some of the best step stools for kids.
Our Top Picks
When shopping for a step stool for a child, safety is paramount. The step stools below allow little ones to reach bathroom sinks, toilets, and even kitchen countertops without hurting themselves.
Best Overall
Wood City Wooden Toddler Step Stool for Kids
With its sturdy wood construction, clean lines, and attention to safety, this attractive step stool from Wood City is an excellent pick for toddlers. Its two-step design provides a 12.5-inch boost that’s perfect for potty training, washing hands at the bathroom sink, or reaching that special toy from a high shelf.
For added safety, the stool’s back is perpendicular to its base, allowing the user to push it flush to the wall to prevent the child from falling through a gap between the stool and the wall. A solid riser and wide treads provide a broad stepping area, while nonslip treads prevent the stool from sliding out from under the child. With an impressive weight capacity of 200 pounds, parents don’t need to worry whether this stool will support their child.
Best Bang For The Buck
Mommy’s Helper Step Up Non-Slip Stepstool
This affordable stool from Mommy’s Helper allows small children to step up—or rather hop up—to help Mom or Dad out in the kitchen or reach the sink for handwashing and brushing teeth. It features a cute frog design that fits nicely in a child’s bedroom or bathroom. Stout legs with nonslip grips and a maximum weight capacity of 80 pounds create a stable base that won’t slide on smooth flooring, while a rubberized top keeps little feet from slipping off this helpful amphibian.
This step stool has a height of 6.5 inches, providing enough lift to reach a bathroom countertop while still being low enough for little legs to climb aboard. At 14 inches wide and 8.2 inches deep, this step stool provides ample surface area for a child to stand on while brushing their teeth or washing their hands.
Best For Kitchen Counters
SDADI Kids Kitchen Step Stool with Safety Rail
Ascending to a standard countertop height of 3 feet can be hazardous for toddlers. This step stool from SDADI makes it safer, thanks to an innovative railing that surrounds the child on all four sides. The rail is high enough to hit an 18-month-old just below the arms and a 3-year-old at the waist, providing enough protection to prevent falls.
A two-step design makes climbing to the top step, which is nearly 16 inches off the ground, manageable for short legs. Flared 18-inch legs create a broad base that keeps this stool from tipping over, while a wide first step reduces the risk of slipping off while climbing. Anti-slip strips on the feet keep this step stool firmly rooted to the floor. This stout step stool can support weights of up to 150 pounds and comes in white, grey, and espresso.
Best For Potty Training
Secure Home Dual Height 2 Step Stool
Potty training can be a challenge for toddlers, made all the more difficult when they can’t reach the toilet. Ascending to the porcelain throne is more manageable with this step stool, making potty training a little easier. Its two steps give children a total boost of 10.3 inches, ample for reaching the toilet seat, while 12.7-inch wide treads provide a firm footing. Slip-resistant treads and rubber pads on the feet prevent falls.
Convenient handles integrated into the sides of the stool and a weight under 2 pounds make moving the steps into and out of position easy for young children. Design-conscious parents will approve of this step’s neutral white color, which matches most bathroom decor. We like that this stool’s all-plastic construction is super easy to clean. That’s a good thing, because potty training can be a messy affair.
Best For Style
B. spaces by Battat – Kids Wooden Two Step Stool
Step stools don’t have to be purely utilitarian—they can add to a room’s decor too. The Peek-a-Boost step stool from B. spaces blends form and function to create an attractive yet useful step stool for kids ages 3 and up. With its beautiful natural wood grain and whimsical pattern on its treads, this step stool adds a nice touch to the decor of a child’s room.
It’s sturdy too, with a weight capacity of 154 pounds. The treads provide a wide space for smaller feet, while integrated handles make it easy to move this 3-pound step stool around. This two-step stool provides a substantial 14.5-inch boost, which is just enough reaching books on that upper shelf.
Best Adjustable
Little Partners’ Kids Learning Tower Adjustable Stool
With its four height options, this adjustable step stool from Little Partners allows children of varying heights to safely reach the kitchen countertop. Adjusting the height involves moving the top step to one of the preset notches. The highest setting reaches 19 inches off the floor, which gives toddlers a big boost to reach the kitchen counter. As the child grows, parents can lower the step.
We’re impressed by the Learning Tower’s sturdy wood construction, which has a weight capacity of 250 pounds. Safety rails circle the 15-inch by 19-inch standing area, preventing children from falling off the stool. Outer feet buttress the stool to keep it from tipping over. This stool comes in a wide selection of finishes, including natural, dark cherry, espresso, white, green, and red. While this step stool may be one of the pricier models on the market, its adjustability gives it a longer lifespan.
Best Folding
Simplify Folding Step Stool
Sometimes you need a step stool but don’t want it cluttering up a room when it’s not needed. This step stool folds flat for easy storage when it’s not in use; closed, it’ll easily tuck into a closet’s corner or in the gap between a dresser and the wall. When open, it’s a sturdy step stool for kids that provides a 9-inch boost and has a weight capacity of 200 pounds.
A 12.5-inch wide by 10-inch deep surface provides plenty of room for two feet. Nonslip pads on the top of the stool prevent children from slipping and anti-skid pads on the feet keep this stool from sliding out from under them. With its convenient handle and light weight, this step stool is easy to carry from room to room.