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Toddler towers are enclosed, elevated constructions that enable youngsters to play safely at counter top whereas lowering the dangers of falls. Widely utilized in Montessori training, these constructions promote unbiased studying and encourage the event of sensible life abilities. By bringing toddlers as much as your stage and offering entry to areas which are in any other case off-limits, towers assist youngsters really feel included and get them out from underneath your ft.
“Learning towers open up this world of textures, smells, sounds, and tastes in a managed means,” says Robin Haines, an educator and member of the American Montessori Society. “They enable youngsters to get ‘hands-on’ with meals prep and self-care actions like washing fingers. This not solely teaches sensible abilities but in addition fosters a way of functionality that is elementary to healthy emotional growth.”
These constructions are sometimes referred to as “studying towers,” however the model Little Partners has trademarked this time period. We use “studying tower” and “toddler tower” interchangeably. To aid you discover the greatest toddler tower for your loved ones’s wants, we examined a number of well-liked designs at residence. We assessed every mannequin based mostly on security, adjustability, sturdiness, ease of use, performance, and worth. Here are our eight high picks in a spread of classes.
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Why We Like It
With an adjustable step and platform that may be set as much as 20 inches excessive, this toddler tower was simply the factor for a younger toddler to “assist out” within the kitchen. The sturdy design and supplies gave us the arrogance to permit a small toddler to affix adults at counter top. And our 18-month-old was at all times excited to climb inside to be a part of the meal prep.
The picket development held up completely by way of a month of testing. We beloved that the graceful surfaces had been simply cleaned and that it is available in a spread of coloration choices. Though we largely used it within the kitchen, it’s light-weight sufficient to maneuver round the home, so we will see it being helpful for tooth brushing and different actions for years to come back.
What Parents Say
“She beloved being nearer to our stage, a part of the motion, and having fun with her snacks on the kitchen island. This was additionally the primary time she was actually capable of see us cooking and she beloved it.” –Nicole, mom of an 18-month-old
But Take Note
Though there’s a again bar to forestall falls, if a toddler slipped, there’s a probability the bar wouldn’t stop them from falling out of the tower. Also, altering the peak entails disassembling the tower and it isn’t foldable or simply stashed away.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 36 inches
- Weight: 14.3 kilos
- Weight and top limits: 100 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: Three adjustable step and platform heights
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Why We Like It
Sturdy, secure, and extremely protected, this toddler tower is tremendous simple to regulate to get the right top to your toddler to affix you on the counter or desk. The broad base options stabilizer arms at ground stage, and we beloved that there are non-slip stickers on the arms to assist stop falls. The rock-solid development gained’t be failing anytime quickly.
Our little tester was comfortable simply to be within the tower and be a part of no matter we had been doing within the kitchen. We used the tower for arts and crafts like portray, and to assist with cooking and baking. This resulted in much less frustration, and fewer calls for to be picked up—advantages that each dad or mum or carer will perceive.
What Parents Say
“My son was extremely engaged when utilizing this. It helped contain him in every day duties and alleviated lots of frustration at not being part of our actions, but in addition served as a terrific device for crafts.” –Ciara, mom of an 18-month-old
But Take Note
This tower took round an hour and a half to assemble, albeit with toddler interruptions. It’s additionally massive and heavy, so not ideally suited for smaller properties. We needed to change one of many pre-assembled items on account of a producing error.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 38.07 x 23.18 x 33.14 inches
- Weight: Not listed
- Weight and top limits: Ages 2–6 years, as much as 250 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: Four adjustable platform heights
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Why We Like It
This toddler tower offered a secure platform for a really energetic 3-year-old to play safely at counter top. At 21.6 kilos, it’s heavy sufficient to remain firmly in place, and the underside pads assist with slip resistance. The hefty development and high quality supplies make us assured that it’ll maintain up for a few years. And we beloved that it folds flat when it’s not in use.
The easy meeting and intuitive foldability required little or no effort, and the surfaces had been simply wiped down (even spills left unnoticed for a number of days). Children beloved the ease of entry and exit—permitting them to come back and go (once more and once more and once more) to their hearts’ content material.
What Parents Say
“I really like this studying tower as a result of it is simple to get in and out of shortly so he can run to the opposite room to provide Dad an replace or wander again to maintain serving to out.” –Katie, mom of a 3-year-old
But Take Note
This tower is available in at nicely above median value, however we really feel it’s value it. It’s additionally open on the sides, so isn’t ideally suited for smaller or much less cellular toddlers. And its top isn’t adjustable.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 34.7 X 22.75 x 21.7 inches
- Weight: 21.6 kilos
- Weight and top limits: 50 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: Collapsible design
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Why We Like It
Impeccably crafted from sustainably sourced Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber, this convertible studying tower added an entire new dimension to kitchen water play. Beautifully packaged, the items had been simple to assemble in round half an hour. And whenever you’re not utilizing it as a tower, it doubles as a toddler desk, so it’s by no means left gathering mud.
Our toddler was safe and protected, having fun with some newfound independence, whether or not on the sink, coloring, or enjoying with Play-Doh. Though we discovered it just a little wobbly at first, its facet wing base stabilizers helped, as did putting it in opposition to an upright floor. Our toddler beloved the picket observe knife included. And we beloved how the minimalist aesthetic complemented our kitchen.
What Parents Say
“If it was as much as him, he’d be on this studying tower the entire day, particularly when the educational tower was parked proper subsequent to the kitchen sink.” –Stella, mom of a 2-year-old
But Take Note
The entrance to the tower is slim, so larger youngsters might battle to climb in and out. The step is slippery in socks, so greatest suited to barefoot play or grippy slippers/socks. And although the step top is adjustable, the platform isn’t.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 36 x 16 x 16 inches
- Weight: 15.7 kilos
- Weight and top limits: 18 months to six years, or as much as 175 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: Converts from tower to desk
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Why We Like It
Set up on the kitchen island or desk, this tower stored our 21-month-old toddler protected and out from underneath our ft, which was particularly useful throughout meal prep. We beloved the compact, sturdy design, and that the supplies are additionally light-weight so we might transfer the tower round as vital. And its small footprint makes it simple to stash away after we’re not utilizing it
Our toddler beloved that he might climb in and out on his personal. The potential to come back and go independently permits toddlers to resolve when to affix caregivers within the kitchen. Whether to eat snacks, enjoying with toys or Play-Doh, or coloring, our toddler loves being elevated to counter top within the kitchen, and we will see him having fun with this tower for a very long time.
What Parents Say
“When he will get residence from daycare and we’re fixing dinner, he’ll crawl up there and anticipate us to carry him an exercise or simply hang around nearer to our stage. He loves it!” –Alicia, mom of a 21-month-old
But Take Note
We eliminated the dowel mechanism from the highest to permit our toddler to simply climb in and out, barely reducing the tower’s stability. The steps are slim. And although the platform is adjustable, it’s worthwhile to partially disassemble the tower to take action.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 34.5 x 17.5 x 17.5 inches (at base)
- Weight: 20 kilos
- Weight and top limits: 150 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: Three adjustable platform heights
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Why We Like It
With 4 top settings, this stable timber toddler tower permits for loads of adjustment as toddlers develop. The fold-up/down step means you possibly can retailer the tower underneath the countertop in a barely smaller format. The extra-wide base, stabilizers, and anti-slip footprint stickers supply further peace of thoughts that your toddler is protected from slips and falls.
As quickly as we assembled the tower, which took round half an hour, our toddler was in it with no help required. Climbing out, nevertheless, proved tougher, with the slim step posing some issues for our 15-month-old. We used the tower for hand washing, serving to with cooking, baking, and cleansing up.
What Parents Say
“My son LOVES the educational tower. As quickly as we begin to transfer it out of the pantry the place we retailer it, he’s there able to climb on.” –Michelle, mom of a 15-month-old
But Take Note
We discovered the “space-saving design” didn’t dwell as much as its declare. With the step folded up, there’s a potential pinching hazard for small fingers. Our toddler managed to shimmy contained in the tower whereas within the stowed place, leading to a fall, so it is best to retailer it out of sight when not in use.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 33.50 x 22.28 x 19.56 inches at base
- Weight: Not listed
- Weight and top limits: 2–6 years, as much as 250 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: Four adjustable platform heights
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Why We Like It
This product isn’t an unbiased studying tower, however an add-on that attaches to the Cybex Lemo High Chair, which have to be bought individually. We beloved the stability of the tower/chair. Though in all probability not beneficial, we even allowed twins to face in it collectively—to save lots of them from preventing over who will get to make use of it.
Having been instructed that we must always contain our toddlers extra within the mealtime preparation course of, we set this tower on the kitchen counter. The youngsters beloved utilizing it for laundry fingers (this was an enormous one!) partaking in meal prep, coloring, snacking, and merely interacting with dad and mom within the kitchen. If you’ve already received a Lemo High Chair, it is a handy add-on to maintain youngsters protected and comfortable at eye-level so that you will be hands-free.
What Parents Say
“My youngsters beloved the tower. I feel it gave them an enormous sense of independence and a recent new vantage level! They could possibly be eye stage and work together with us within the kitchen.” –Margo, mom of 22-month-old twins
But Take Note
The tower is cumbersome and has just one top setting and a far decrease most weight restrict than different towers we examined. Its anti-slip silicone mats triggered extra of a hazard as a result of they wouldn’t keep in place. The slim backside step makes it very tough for younger toddlers to exit the tower, which triggered frustration.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 34.5 x 14 x 18 inches (whereas connected to chair)
- Weight: 19.6 kilos
- Weight and top limits: 1–4 years, as much as 55 kilos
- Folding and adjusting options: This clips onto the Lemo Chair (offered individually)
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Why We Like It
Stable and sturdy, this tower was tremendous simple for our little tester to climb in and out of, permitting them to get entangled with the breakfast prep—a practical and enjoyable addition to the morning routine. The heavy-duty plastic supplies held up completely by way of testing, and now we have full confidence that little ones are protected when inside.
We beloved that the tower enabled our baby to be part of the cooking course of, which has confirmed a greater distraction than TV. Our toddler beloved making smoothies, whisking eggs, and snacking on fruit whereas we did chores across the kitchen. Though the aesthetics gained’t enchantment to some households, if you happen to’re after a sturdy choice for underneath $100, that is our best-value decide.
What Parents Say
“My favourite factor concerning the studying tower was with the ability to contain my son in our morning routine and to have him within the kitchen with me making breakfast!” –Ariel, mom of a two-year-old
But Take Note
At 21 kilos, this tower is cumbersome and not tremendous simple to maneuver round the home. Assembly requires drilling holes, so requires an influence drill and just a little know-how to finish.
The Details:
- Dimensions: 34.5 x 18.5 x 22.5 inches
- Weight: 21 kilos
- Weight and top limits: 1.5+ years
- Folding and adjusting options: Three adjustable platform heights
Our Testing Process
To decide the most effective toddler towers, we examined 9 fashions at residence for one month, with our testers incorporating every tower into their baby’s on a regular basis routine. Each studying tower was assessed on the next attributes:
- Safety: We took word of the general stability of every tower on flat floor, and requested our toddlers (the place potential) how protected they felt whereas enjoying on them. We additionally evaluated how nicely we might supervise toddlers at play, whether or not there have been pinch factors, entrapment hazards, or different considerations, and whether or not every tower had further security options like broad stabilizer ft or non-slip stickers.
- Adjustability: Where top adjustability was an choice, we tried completely different heights to evaluate the convenience of adjusting, and whether or not these fashions had been able to accommodating youngsters of various heights.
- Durability: After a month of use, we evaluated how nicely the supplies held up, and checked for indicators of wear and tear and tear. During testing, we additionally famous ease of cleansing, vital upkeep, and whether or not there was any discount in stability by way of time.
- Ease of use: We evaluated ease of meeting and whether or not youngsters might enter/exit every tower simply, with or with out help. We additionally assessed how nicely it slot in our areas, how simple it was to retailer when not in use, and how simple it was to maneuver round the home.
- Functionality: Watching our kids use every tower, we took word of their stage of engagement and general enjoyment of the actions (meal prep, hand-washing, coloring, and so on) we might facilitate on the counter. We took word of any developmental leaps that occurred by way of testing and whether or not the towers allowed caregivers to hold out on a regular basis duties extra simply.
- Value: At the top of testing, we requested testers to find out whether or not they thought the tower represented an excellent worth, given the product’s value and general high quality. We requested in the event that they’d be comfortable paying full value and in the event that they’d advocate the tower to mates or household.
Parents
Our Experts
To discover out extra about the advantages of toddler towers, what to search for when looking for one, and what security concerns to bear in mind, we spoke to the next professionals:
- Nychelle (Nikki) Fleming, toy security skilled and spokesperson for the Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Robin Haines, educator and member of the American Montessori Society and the Association Montessori Internationale
Factors to Consider When Buying a Toddler Tower
- Safety: Learning towers needs to be created from stable supplies and have a large, sturdy base. Look for security options like rails, locking mechanisms, and broad steps toddlers can negotiate simply.
- Design: Toddler towers will be cumbersome, so contemplate your house and aesthetics. For small areas, search for foldable choices you possibly can retailer when not in use, or towers with smaller footprints. If chunky plastic doesn’t suit your decor, there are many minimalist timber designs that mix into trendy areas.
- Durability and Versatility: All the toddler towers we examined stood as much as common use in a spread of settings: from kitchen counters and sinks to eating tables. With indoor use and common upkeep (screw tightening, wipe downs, and so on) you possibly can anticipate a well-made toddler tower to final a number of years. Towers with adjustable platforms will be tailored to suit your baby as they develop.
- Price: Toddler towers vary in value from $100 to over $200. After testing a number of fashions, we will say with confidence that $100–$200 represents nice worth for an merchandise you should use for a number of years with a number of youngsters.
How to Use Toddler Towers Safely
Before buying a toddler tower, Fleming recommends contemplating the next elements:
- The product needs to be secure and resist tipping over.
- The guardrails ought to attain or exceed the peak of the kid’s naval throughout use.
- There shouldn’t be openings which will entrap a toddler’s head, neck, or physique (this poses a threat of asphyxiation).
- There shouldn’t be any folding mechanisms within the toddler tower that would unintentionally pinch or minimize a toddler throughout use.
- Select a tower from a good model with good product evaluations.
Once your toddler tower is about up in your house, observe these security tips:
- Never let your baby use the tower with out supervision.
- Read and observe the producer’s security directions.
- Assist your baby as they study to enter/exit the tower to assist them achieve confidence.
- Pack your tower away when not in use.
- Stay inside arms’ attain of your toddler always. That means, in the event that they occur to tip the tower over or slip, you will have a a lot better probability of avoiding damage.
- Ensure all sharp objects and breakables are out of attain.
- Conduct routine upkeep checks (e.g. screw tightness and structurally impactful put on and tear) to assist to cut back the chance of {hardware} failure.
Parents
Toddler Tower Activity Ideas
Our little testers used their toddler towers for arts and crafts, water play, hand washing, and an entire lot of “serving to” within the kitchen. By incorporating a toddler tower into your every day routine, you’re serving to your toddler develop necessary abilities. Haines says to keep in mind that selling independence means messes and spills, and for duties to take means longer than traditional.
Here are some concepts for tower play:
- Kitchen helper: Get your toddler to assist with mixing, washing greens, chopping (with child-safe knives), plating meals, and cleansing up.
- Bathroom actions: Promote good hygiene by utilizing your tower for hand washing and hair and tooth brushing.
- Arts and crafts: Set up craft actions to maintain your toddler occupied and inside arm’s attain on the kitchen counter or eating desk.
- Water play: Fill the sink, then set your toddler up with some toys or kitchen instruments to splash with.
- Play-Doh, puzzles, and books: Kids love to hold with adults at their stage, so actions like puzzles, tactile play, and studying assist your toddler play independently (which will help you obtain one thing independently!).
- Outdoor play: Get your youngsters hands-on and assist with some potting, backyard actions, or outside water play.
Who We Are
Samson McDougall is a journalist, copywriter, editor, and biology graduate. His work encompasses all the pieces from internet copy for science museums, to sexual well being articles for universities, information sheets for prescription drugs, to model messaging for wearable contact remedy created by neuroscientists. Samson can also be a father of two.