Keeping kids safe in the kitchen is a priority for every parent!
Unfortunately, a chair isn’t always the safest item to use.
Luckily we discovered The Learning Tower when our kids were quite young (18 months and 3.5).
In this article I will compare The Learning Tower vs. The Kitchen Helper.
They are both very similar products with slight differences that I will discuss.
As parents, we know children love being in the kitchen.
However, until your child is quite a bit older it is difficult for them to help out for several reasons, one of which being their size.
But have no fear, there are products out there that can make it much safer for your child to stand with you in the kitchen.
Unless of course you want to use a chair.
That’s what we were using prior to discovering The Learning Tower.
Don’t get me wrong, you’re not a bad parent for using a chair for your child to stand on (that’s all I used when I was a child as these handy products didn’t exist).
For me personally, I found this to be especially difficult once we had two children. I also didn’t like how “open” a chair is.
There is nothing stopping a child from falling off the chair.
This is where the Learning Tower, or if you prefer The Kitchen Helper, comes in.
But if you are handy and have some tools you could make one of these yourself!
I have listed some DIY Learning Towers at the end of the article, so make sure to scroll all the way down.
Having a product such as The Learning Tower isn’t just about safety. It can also help develop your child’s independence as well as pretend play.
Cover it with a sheet and you now have a fort, castle, spaceship, etc.
Watch your child’s proud expression as he climbs into the tower on his own and is ready to help you in the kitchen!
My kids in the Learning Tower
Learning Tower vs Kitchen Helper: Keeping Kids Safe In The Kitchen!
*This article may contain affiliate links*
The Learning Tower
The Learning Tower (by Little Partners) is constructed of solid wood (birch and poplar).
My family and I found that it was very sturdy and fairly easy to assemble.
My husband did all of the assembling, but I don’t remember hearing many curse words, so it couldn’t have been that difficult.
Unlike The Kitchen Helper, the Learning Tower does not fold as it is made of solid wood.
Here is my list of pros and cons based on my experience:
Pros
- sturdy, solid wood construction
- creates learning and bonding time for parent and child
- large age range (18 months to 6 years – based on manufacturers recommendations)
- comes in a variety of colors (natural, ebony, dark cherry, espresso, green, red and white)
- standing platform has enough room for 2 children
- height adjustable platform – no tools required
- looks good in any kitchen
- has a “lip” at the back of the platform to prevent children from sliding off
- has various attachments that can be purchased to make it a multi-use product (e.g. easel, puppet stage curtain), or just cover it with a sheet like my children did in order to make it a fort!
Cons
- it is large and does not fold for storage, so if you live in a small space it will always be seen (39 x 22 x 24 inches ; 35 pounds )
- small children can fall off/out when the standing platform is at the highest level as there are no “rails” other than around the top. Note: This never happened to my children, but based on the reviews of others, it is a possibility. Remember, this is not meant to be a babysitter, parental supervision is still required.
*NEW IN 2020*
There is now a collapsible version of The Learning Tower which helps with the storage issue. However, it is best suited for one child (between the ages of 18 months and 6 years) as it is slightly smaller than the original version. It looks more like an adjustable step stool with safety rails. You can check it out here!
We used the learning tower in our house for approximately 3 years.
It was definitely worth every penny.
I just felt so much safer knowing that they wouldn’t fall off a chair while watching me cook.
The Kitchen Helper
The Kitchen Helper (by GuideCraft) is similar to The Learning Tower in that it provides a safer alternative to a chair or stool for your child in the kitchen.
The Kitchen Helper has some features that The Learning Tower does not have.
However there are also some negatives that go along with this product.
Here is my take:
Pros
- it is collapsible, therefore can be stored out of the way
- smaller dimensions than The Learning Tower, thus good for smaller spaces (20.2 x 5.5 x 40.2 inches ; 20 pounds)
- creates learning and bonding time for parent and child
- large age range (24 months to 6 years – based on manufacturers recommendations)
- height adjustable platform
Cons
- workmanship could be improved. Materials are furniture grade plywood and some solid wood, hinges wear quickly.
- tools are required to fold it up as well as to adjust the platform height (*Based on their newest product video it appears that an allan key may longer be needed to fold it up)
- feet that attach to legs are not very sturdy
- no “lip” to prevent small child from sliding off
- *shape cutouts on the sides can encourage climbing of the Kitchen Helper
*NEW IN 2020*
There is now a version that does not have the cutouts. It also comes with a “keeper” (a mesh screen that can be attached to the back opening to prevent children from accidentally falling out. It also comes with a non-slip mat that can be mounted on the wooden standing surface to prevent slips!
Check it out here!
One thing to note is that the maximum base height for both of these products is about 19 inches.
Learning Tower DIY Alternatives
If these products are not in your budget, or if you are handy and like creating your own kids products, why not give some of these made by hand alternatives a try!
Ikea Hack Learning Tower Stool
You will need the IKEA BEKVAM Wooden Utility Step Stool, or something similar in order to make this kid-safe kitchen tower.
Head over to Happy Grey Lucky for the instructions to make this one.
The instructions are so detailed that a beginner would probably be successful with this project.
And it’s much smaller than The Learning Tower or Kitchen Helper, so perfect for smaller spaces.
Collapsible Homemade Kitchen Helper
Ana White has a wonderful DIY site with so many awesome ideas for kids.
Check out her Folding Little Helper Tower.
It’s a bit more complicated than the Ikea hack, but if you are handy it shouldn’t be too bad.
Especially with the instructions that are provided.
If you head to Pinterest you will find many instructions to make your own Learning Tower.
Most are similar to the two I choose to feature.
Here are some other great products to get the kids involved in kitchen activities while keeping their safety in mind!
Which One to Choose?
I would have to say the choice between The Learning Tower vs The Kitchen Helper will be a personal one.
And it may come down to cost as well.
The Kitchen Helper tends to be about $50 less than The Learning Tower.
However, I do have to say that either of these products will make a great addition to your home.
Both will help get your little ones safely involved in some fun kitchen activities that will enhance their language skills.
If you have one of these products, please leave me a comment with your thoughts!
Aloha Tanya! Wow this is all new information for me and I’m happy I stumbled across your blog! I’m currently pregnant with twin boys so learning about new options that are out there is definitely getting my wheels turning! Glad to know there are new ways to keep my babies safe when they are ready to join us in the kitchen… I wonder if we would need two or if they could both play in it at once? Or one kid could be in the kitchen with me while the other is with daddy somewhere else… Hmmm!! Well anyways, thanks for this! Great info. 🙂
Congrats on the pregnancy Lizel! My kids are just over 22 months apart and they used the Learning Tower together and we never had any real issues. From time to time my daughter would try to push her little brother out but there was always one parent right beside them to put an end to that. I really don’t think you would need two of these. They would also take up a lot of room.
Make sure you check out the articles Best Learning Toys For Babies To Encourage Language Development and Building A Strong Vocabulary Starts At Birth! I think you might find both of these of interest!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.
Hi Lizel,
You might need a double wide Kitchen Helper from Guidecraft! It’s safe, stable, easy to assemble and the best thing is that it folds flat and you can store it away anywhere in your house.
Congratulation on your baby boys!
Best,
Grace.
Hi Tanya,
Great Post!! And very informative. My kids are grown and have young kids of their own but I would have loved to have one of these when they were growing up. Both of them are awesome and would work in anyone’s kitchen but I like the learning tower the best, although it’s a little more expensive but it serves it purpose. I will be sure and tell my kids about this one.
Hi Alesia,
Thanks for stopping by. Definitely pass this information on to your children, I would really appreciate that. And if money is a concern, perhaps they could try one of the DIY kitchen helper ideas!
Hello Tanya, thanks for the wonderful blog.
My wife and I are planning on starting our family so we are beginning to keep an eye on parenting websites so we can be up to date with the latest information.
When we do have kids we want to ensure that they are well supervised at all times. I read about your views on The Learning Tower vs The Kitchen Helper and I think these products will come in handy in the next few years.
Based on your review I would prefer the The Learning Tower, as it seems more secure, only has a couple of flaws, and it is about 200 dollars, which is affordable for me.
This would be the perfect for my future kids. Thanks again for the vital information, people can learn a lot from you in regards to babies. 😉
Hi Ahmad,
Thanks for your comment. You are really starting to gather information about kids and parenting early. But it is good to be prepared because once the baby arrives things can get overwhelming quickly.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that the Kitchen Helper is less safe. It doesn’t have a lip at the back, but that is about it.
But in the end the decision will be a personal one.
I remember when my son was almost 6 years old, he wanted to wash the dishes. We put him on a sturdy wooden chair and he happily washed the dishes. I think he loved the soap suds as he practically used half the washing up liquid.
The kitchen helper looks like a practical chair for toddlers. It’s a functional piece of furniture, looks easy to assemble, it looks safe and reasonably priced. It’s too bad I didn’t know these products existed a few years ago.
My kids love helping in the kitchen too Richard! Kids being in the kitchen can be seen as a nuisance by many parents, however the kitchen is packed with natural opportunities for learning.
Once of the reasons many parents don’t like their children in the kitchen is because of safety concerns. But having something like the Learning Tower can ease some of that fear.
They are quite easy to assemble or for those that are handy, the DIY options make a great alternative.
Perfect timing to come across this article. My daughter is expecting her first baby in December and we’re excited with the preparations and researching all the essential baby items she will need going forward.
This item was not available on the market when she was tiny and I can see why it’s so important for the safety of the child.
Have you done the “climb” test with your kids to see how sturdy the learning tower is? It does look like a toy that begs to be climbed on!
I actually love the look of the Ikea learning tower step stool because I could use it also to reach into my high cabinets.
Hi Karen,
Both of these products (or a DIY version) are perfect once your Grand Baby is closer to 18 months.
My children used to both climb all over our Learning Tower. They used it as an indoor gym! It was never even wobbly.
I can’t comment on the sturdiness of the DIY versions though.
This is a great idea! I only wish that this was around when my children were younger. I remember bringing over a chair or the step stool for the potty so my children could help me in the kitchen. Kids love to “help” their parents cook and do things in the kitchen. What a wonderful idea. This would’ve really come in handy.
Thanks Catherine. I know that parents can manage without these contraptions, but anything to make parenting a bit easier is often a lifesaver! This is why we choose to invest in the Learning Tower.
My youngest daughter loves helping out in the kitchen and these seem to be handy tools to have for her. My oldest daughter can already reach the counter, so that’s not an issue. However, I only saw a step stool version in the IKEA Learning Tower photo. But, I like the safety of having something behind her as she helps. Do you know of any styles that have the step stool AND a back?
I think it would be fairly easy to add a board to the Ikea stool hack. But the collapsible kitchen helper does have a back. However that one does seem to be a but more complicated to make.
I’m curious which one of these has the tallest platform height? I can’t seem to find the information on the little partners one, but the kitchen helper I believe is about 18 or 19 inches from the floor. I’ve got a short 20 month old that I desperately need to be able to get him up to the water source for hand washing without having to balance him on a knee. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Alison,
From what I can remember the Learning Tower’s upper height setting is also around 19 inches. I think other than a few minor details that I pointed out in the article these products are pretty comparable.
My son was (is) also short. He starting using it around 18 months.
This is so helpful for me, we have an island unit in the kitchen and our 3 kids are always in and around and trying to help out at the cooking and baking (especially when it comes with chocolate), we have high stools and we have an incident at least once per week where the high stools have tipped over with them on it. Both myself and my wife will be getting either the learning tower or kitchen helper (still haven’t decided which one to go with) straight away! No more accidents in my kitchen!
Hi David,
Bar stools and chairs can be tricky with young children in the kitchen. My kids also fell off chairs in our kitchen before we got the Learning Tower. My son used to try and climb up on the chair my daughter was on (he was close to 2 and she was almost 4) and she would always push him off. With the Learning Tower they both fit in and I loved that it was enclosed on all sides! Let me know which one you decide to go with.
Hi there! I can use of this review of yours when time comes my little boy is old enough to annoy me in the kitchen, lol. You know how kids are so curious about everything and this learning tower can help to keep the curious little kittens out of their curiosity 😀 Thanks for the info.
Well darn, I wish I had this information a long time ago it would have been handy to know about these. My children are too old to use a Learning Tower or Kitchen Helper now. I wish I had had them when they were younger because they have always wanted to help in the kitchen but I was always so afraid of them getting hurt. I would have felt safer if I had known about one of these items. Great review!
Thanks Kristena,
There are so many products out there for kids. It is really hard to know what exists and then also if its any good or not because many of these products come with big price tags.
Hopefully other parents with young children will see this review describing the Learning Tower and Kitchen Helper as these items really are helpful when children want to be involved in kitchen activites.
My best friend is about to have twin boys, and she’s looking for all sorts of information and reviews on pretty much EVERYTHING regarding children. I will pass this site on to her as I’m sure she will greatly benefit from it. Even though I’m not at that stage myself yet, I really like the way you make it so easy to read and decide with the pros and cons, so convenient for a busy mom!
Hi Eva,
Thanks so much for passing this site on to your friend. I hope that she will find it helpful. If she has any specific questions about toys for babies tell her she can always contact me directly via my website!
This is very interesting. I have never heard of the learning tower until I came across this article. I don’t have any small children but have small nieces and nephews. Will definitely pass this on to them. Thank you so much for sharing. I know my niece loves to help her mom cook but they too use a chair.
Hi,
Thanks for passing on this information. Both the learning tower and the kitchen helper are much safer than just using a chair! And they make great forts too.
What a great kitchen item for curious little minds – my son is coming up to one next weekend so we may well be looking into something like this in the future.
I like the way you covered your husbands assembly of the product – he is not alone in the cursing side of things (I hate DIY and I always will! ). Great review – will keep this product in mind!
Hi Chris,
We honestly felt that the Learning Tower was a lifesaver for us. As I haven’t tried the kitchen helper I can’t really comment on that one. Having the learning tower allowed us to involve our kids in kitchen activities at a much younger age as I felt that they were safe. And, the kids loved using it as a fort as well as they got older (the covered the whole structure with a sheet).
Hi Tanya,
Wow, I really wish something like the learning tower was around or that I would have at least seen a review on it a year ago! This would have been so handy to have for my little boy to play in the sink at washing the pots or help with making some krispie cakes… I ended up making a poor version of it from something I’d seen on Pinterest! It was a bit of an eyesore!
These are made quite stylishly and I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Great review.
Sammi
Hi Sammi,
The learning tower has actually been around for several years (I’m not sure exactly how many) but it’s not easy to find if you aren’t specifically looking for it.
It really came in handy for my kids. And we got a lot of comments from friends and family about it. Everyone though it was such a great idea. And you are right, it is quite stylish compared to many homemade versions I have seen.
I had no idea such thing existed. My baby is yet to learn how to crawl (soon, hopefully), so I can’t relate to the fact that children want to be in the kitchen. When we move and get a bigger kitchen, I will consider visiting your site and get the product. Thank you !
Hi Elizabeth
I also had no idea that the learning tower existed. As I mentioned in a previous comment, I went online In order to find something that would allow my son and daughter to participate safely in the kitchen. If you do decide to purchase either the learning tower or the kitchen helper, please let me know what you think.
I could use one of these. My boy likes to help me cook and he has fallen off a few chairs before because the kitchen was so small. But now I have a bigger island and i just set him on the counter so he can more easily reach things. But it doesn’t always work the best. What’s the price difference on these two?
Hi Sarah,
I remember the struggles I had before purchasing the Learning Tower. My son was about 15 months old and my daughter wasn’t quite 3 yet. She was standing on a chair watching/helping me make muffins. My son wandered over and became upset because he wasn’t in on the action and pushed the chair as hard as he could. My daughter nearly fell off, but luckily he wasn’t strong enough. He was still a bit to small to be standing on a chair so I put him on the counter (as you are doing with your son). But then I found he was just crawling around everywhere, interested in everything else that was on the island.
I talked to my husband to see if he could rig something up, but he wasn’t too keen on the idea. So I went online and started searching for options and found both the Learning Tower and the Kitchen Helper.
As for price difference, it is about $50 more for the Learning Tower. I didn’t mind not being able to collapse the Learning Tower as we have a large enough space. When I really wanted it out of the way, I was able to get it into the closet in our front hall.
Let me know if you end up purchasing one of these!
Hi Tanya.
I really enjoyed this article. I was completely unaware that devices like this even existed. My difficulty has been that I have an 18m old son and a 4 year old daughter. My daughter loves helping me in the kitchen and a chair works well for us… if my son is not around. If he is then he tries to climb up or even worse pull the chair away while she is standing on it!
I’ve got to get one of these, my son is always left out at the moment as his high chair just doesn’t give him the height he needs and he can’t get close enough to get involved. And like I said if he is running loose he is a danger lol.
Hi Lynne,
I hear where you are coming from! My son was around 14 months when we purchased our Learning Tower (my daughter was around 3). It really was a great investment. They were both able to stand in the learning tower together (as you can see in the first picture of this post – although my daughter had decided to almost sit on the counter).
We also had similar issues to you. My daughter was ok being on a chair, however my son was always pulling at it because he wanted to get in on the action as well. The kids were both thrilled when we got the learning tower! As they got older, they would pull it up to the counter and play with playdoh while standing in the learning tower. They also used it as a fort. We would put an old sheet over it!
If you end up getting one, please let me know what you think of it.
My son is now 27 years old… but I can tell you that if one of these had been around when he was young it would have been perfect.
He loved to “help”… even right down to washing up. I’d have to stand him on a chair so he could get busy.
My son was a special needs child and to be able to stand him inside something of that nature would have been a great benefit, both to him and to me.
Great review.
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for your comment. I can’t believe I didn’t think of mentioning how great the Learning Tower or Kitchen Helper would be for a child with special needs in my post. I may have to add that. These items are great for any child, but I can see how they would be a great asset for a child with special needs.
My kids also spent quite some time at the sink “doing dishes” while standing on the learning tower!
Hi Tanya,
I didn’t know these existed! I would have bought one for my 2 year old as he’s at the age of wanting to be involved in everything!! I’ve made my own version from an old wooden bar stool but I have to say these are certainly prettier – this is a really well written article with lots of pros and cons.. I just wish I’d stumbled across it earlier! Sammi
Hi Sammi, most people don’t purchase a Learning Tower or Kitchen Helper until their child is between 18 and 24 months. So, if you find that the version you made isn’t quite cutting it, it’s not too late to give one of these a try. You should be able to get at least 2-3 years of use out of it.
I love this post as i did your other post. You sound like someone who enjoys family interaction and quality time. That is quite rare these day I hesitate to say, but I feel safe in assuming. Keep up the great work and know that you are on a mission and for a great cause.
Thanks for taking the time to read several of my posts. I am glad that you are finding my website informative. We do love spending time together as a family! Just curious, if you had to pick between the Kitchen Helper and the Learning Tower, which would you choose?
These aids are really useful and I like to see well-made products that combine fun with utility for kids.
I agree with your assessment of the cons of the Kitchen Helper. Those cut outs on the side could be very dodgy and the lack of a lip could cause a few bumps and bruises. It does look fairly well made so I’ll have to take your word on the hinges etc. I like the idea that it folds away, but having to use a tool is a bit of a disaster.
I can see that tool disappearing regularly, especially in a house with small children where it’s enough to manage them without having to be so organised as to be able to lay your hands on the tool whenever you need it.
The Learning Tower does look excellent, but not being able to fold it away is a big negative.
Still – both items are good products in my view.
Thanks for your comment. You are correct, both the Kitchen Helper and the Learning Tower are quite unique and very useful. And when the kids get imaginative they can turn both of these products into fun forts or puppet theaters.
I agree, I would probably lose the tool for the Kitchen Helper as well. Since we had the Learning Tower, this wasn’t an issue. Our house is open concept so there really wasn’t anywhere to “hide” it when it was not being used. However, it has a nice streamlined look and there are many colors to choose from, so it can look good in just about any space.
Hi Tanya – brilliant idea. Its amazing how many quirky but practical products exist in the world.
My kids are grown up now and the kitchen is only a place for collecting food and depositing empty plates.
My wife and myself did go through the phase of dodgy chair dancing in the past.
I suppose one of them may come in handy when the grandkids arrive lol
Good post
Mark
Thanks for taking the time to read my post Mark (even though your kids are grown). I would definitely recommend either the Learning Tower or the Kitchen helper for the grandkids. If not for your house, then for your children to have in their homes for the little ones.
Thanks for sharing. Its always good to find a real expert.
Hi Tanya,
I had never imagined that such devices were even available!
I don’t have any children of my own yet but being a mother is my ultimate dream so when that happens I’ll definitely be investing in a learning tower! The other thing that scares the crap out of me when it comes to kids standing on chairs is that if they push themselves off against a bench (depending on how heavy the chair is and the surface of the floor) they can push the chair back from the table and…the learning tower seems like a much better alternative to having to think about that!
Thanks for opening my eyes to such a wonderful product.
All the best
Katia
Hi Katia,
You would be surprised at the amount of “stuff” available for children. It really is hard to decide what is needed and what is not. I was fine using a chair until my son came along. The 2 kids would push each other off of chairs and there were some bruises. I was so happy when I discovered the learning tower. Money wise, it is a bit of an investment. But knowing that my children weren’t going to just fall off was worth it to me.
Hi, I actully considered buying a learning tower once, but decided to settle on using a chair. Your post has made me feel like getting one. Good info and comparison. Another thing, I am not sure if it’s my browser but I’m not seeing a menu on the site. I’m using an iPad.
Hi Emma, the Learning Tower is definitely not a cheap purchase, however it is a great investment. Especially if you have more than one child. At 2, my son was the size of a 12 month old so he was not tall enough on a chair. And my daughter who would have been close to 4 used to try to squeeze onto a chair with him and they would both end up falling off. I am not sure why you aren’t seeing a menu on your iPad as this site does work on all mobile devices. I will look into this. Thanks for letting me know.
Hi Tanya
I feel a bit naive not knowing that these products even exist! But what fantastic idea they are. Children are so curious and love getting involved, especially in the kitchen, so having the peace of mind that they can hang out with you and be safe while you prepare dinner or bake cakes with them is a godsend.
Claire
It’s funny Claire, you are not the only one who has never heard of these products. Before I learned about them I was trying to convince my husband to build something like this for the kids. But then I found The Learning Tower, and we decided it was well worth the price and the one he would build would not be nearly as nice looking!
I think your site is very warm and welcoming. I could have used these products when my kids were little and still may buy for my young grandchildren to save my new dining room chairs from wear and tear.
Thank you Alethia. Both The Learning Tower and Kitchen Helper would make great gifts! And your grandchildren would get so much use out of either of these. I know, I need to get on this social media thing. It is on my every growing to do list!
Hi Tanya,
great site you have here! You have chosen a very interesting niche!
SeeMe and Liz is a funny name, very well thought out! ^_^’
I really like your article, simple, concise and to the point. I didn’t even know these things existed so I have to thank you for teaching me something new today. Live and learn, I guess?
If you are looking for some social media plugins you could try social media feather and comments evolved for wordpress. I use both and have had no problems with them!
Keep up the good work!
Thank you Eduardo. I am glad to hear you like the site’s name. I have a feeling Seeme and Liz will be with my children until they get married, they may even make appearances at their wedding…
Thanks for the social media recommendations. I will definitely take a look at those.
Hi Tanya
What a great post…I did not know something like this existed.
I think you explanations are really well written, clear and easy to read…particularly with the Pros & Cons being very clear
Great work and look forwards to further posts…..:-)
Thanks Nigel! It seems that not very many people are familiar with the learning tower or the kitchen helper. I think these products are so useful and you will be able to get years of use out of these!
What a great idea! I hadn’t even thought about this before, and then a review of different products was helpful on top of that. Thanks!
Thanks Vic! I am glad you found the information helpful.
While I haven’t used either of these and my 7 kids are already 5 and up I can tell you that the earlier you get them involved in chores and seeing them in a fun light the easier they are to get to do chores and do them quickly and right as they get older. These devices would have come in really handy for us because our kids were born like stair steps with a maximum 1.5 years between one and the next.
If you have a 5 year old and a 13 year old in the same house you can tell we are pulled at both ends.
Thanks Andy. I will take a look at adding some social media plugins. But in the meantime I would love if you could copy and paste the link to your most used social media site!