5 Best Toddler Learning Towers, Tested by Moms and their Tots

Monness tells us that multipurpose toddler towers can be especially valuable for families with limited space, since they serve more than one function. The Avenlur Date’s smart, multipurpose design converts from a kitchen tower into a toddler table and chair set, and has a built-in chalkboard for creative play. “That will definitely come in handy for parents who live in apartments or other smaller spaces, or those who don't want extra clutter,” says Korin. She adds, “With a 16 x 18 inch base, this design was one of the smallest options we tested, but it manages to get a lot of features into that little package.”

Korin appreciated that the Avenlur Date gave her daughter multiple ways to engage. “This tower allowed my daughter to cook, which is a big thing in our household,” she says, adding, “She used it to make muffins, wash her hands, color, and have a special picnic with her 4-year-old sister, who pulled up a stool.” While the height of the platform is fixed, the single level worked well for both her 2-year-old and 4-year-old, while the rounded edges and back safety bar added peace of mind for parents of more adventurous climbers.

Assembly required a screwdriver for the hinge hardware, and overall, Korin found the setup straightforward. Once built, the tower felt sturdy and secure across all modes, and light enough to move around when needed. Cleaning was also easy, with a simple wipe-down removing food, Play-Doh and even stray crayon marks from one of her daughter’s coloring sessions. All-in-all, it performed well across the board, offering stability, safety and versatility at a size that doesn’t overwhelm smaller spaces—and a price that won’t overwhelm your budget.

Dimensions: 16" (L) x 18" (W) x 34" (H) | Weight: 11 lbs. | Weight capacity: 55 lbs. | Age rating: 2 to 6 years | Material: Birch plywood | Number of adjustable heights: Not adjustable

If your tot adores everything food-related, is itching to help prepare meals, or is just curious about what’s happening at the kitchen counter, a kitchen toddler tower is a must-have. These designs need to be easy enough to move around while still providing enough stability to keep your child safe as they lend a hand. Lalo’s The Tower checks all of these boxes—plus, its airy, modern design looks great in the kitchen and won’t feel bulky or out of place.

Made from sustainable birch wood, The Tower is impressively sturdy and doesn’t wobble in use. It’s built to sit flush at standard counter height so that little ones can join right in on food prep. The structure offers two platform levels to accommodate growth (though you’ll need to unscrew parts to adjust), and it even boasts a 200-pound weight capacity—product tester Korin even used it as a stepstool herself to reach items above the fridge.

Even though The Tower doesn’t fold flat, it has a surprisingly small footprint and a lightweight feel, allowing it to be easily pushed around the kitchen with minimal effort. Monness notes that “proprioceptive movement (like pushing furniture safely) is important,” and letting children push a piece of furniture offers that kind of sensory input without a parent having to say no. In fact, her own kids loved being able to take the Lalo toddler tower from the corner of the room and push it up to the counter. And even better, It’s simple to wipe clean, which is essential for regular kitchen use—as Korin reports, “My daughter spilled batter on it and I was able to easily clean it off with a rag and multipurpose cleaner.”

Dimensions: 18.3" (L) x 18.8" (W) x 33.4" (H) | Weight: 16.3 lbs. | Weight capacity: 200 lbs. | Age rating: 18+ months | Material: Birch wood | Number of adjustable heights: Two

“The biggest roadblock in buying a learning tower is storage,” says Monness, who is all for a foldable option, as long as it’s sturdy. Made of solid wood, the Piccalio Mini Chef Foldable Helper Tower is both sturdy and durable—the genius design has a back safety bar that goes up and over the tower before it can be folded, so kids can’t collapse the structure while standing on it—yet it folds nearly flat, making it easy to move around or store when not in use. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised that my 2-year-old could even drag the folded tower across the floor on his own. Korin also tested this product with her children, and tells us, “I’m a big fan of its ability to provide a sturdy surface for kids to stand on while still packing up small enough to stash in a closet or corner. While other towers I tested folded up to some degree, this option folded up relatively flat.”

Both of my boys loved using the Piccalio. My two-year-old was thrilled to wash his hands and brush his teeth at the bathroom sink, while my five-year-old enjoyed Play-Doh at the counter. The adjustable platform allows the tower to grow with your child, although changing the height does require partial disassembly. Even so, the high weight capacity means both my kids will be able to use it for a few years to come.

Assembly was straightforward, though the instructions could be clearer on one step—parts that need to be screwed in from the bottom are shown with the hole facing up. But once together, the tower felt extremely stable. And I loved the included toddler-safe wooden cutter, which made kitchen activities fun and engaging for both kids (they both diced up strawberries—their favorite!). Monness says that giving children access to safe tools like a Montessori knife encourages both fine and gross motor skills as they learn to handle age-appropriate kitchen tools safely.

We tested some smaller towers that were specifically marketed as portable or collapsible options, but they didn’t fold as flat or move as easily as this one. Between its sturdy wood construction, compact fold, and versatility for kitchen or bathroom use, the Piccalio Mini Chef combines the best of both worlds: a full-sized Montessori-style tower that’s surprisingly easy to move and store.

Dimensions: 18" (L) x 18" (W) x 36" (H) | Weight: 14 lbs. | Weight capacity: 175 lbs. | Age rating: 18 months to 6 years | Material: FSC birch plywood and New Zealand pine | Number of adjustable heights: 3

The Sprout Kids Sous-Chef Toddler Tower is our go-to pick for parents who want a learning tower that’s refreshingly easy to set up. Unlike many other designs that require tools and screws, this one comes together with a simple slot system, skipping complicated setup entirely. Product tester Korin explained, “This was the first toddler tower I assembled and it ruined me for all of the others because it was so easy to put together. There are no screws or tools needed for this—the pieces just fit together. The only downside of that is that you have to put a little force into some pieces to make sure they’re actually secure. But overall, putting this together was a breeze.”

Made from sturdy wood, the Sous-Chef Tower has a clean, minimalist design with practical details that support both safety and independence. As Korin says, “I like that it has small handles on either side of the stairs, making it easy for my 2-year-old to get a grip while climbing into it.” The three-height adjustable platform grows with your child, making it a piece you’ll use for years and potentially from child to child.

Though it doesn’t fold flat and can take up a bit of floor space, parents will appreciate that it can be disassembled when needed. But it’s worth noting that Korin didn’t find it quite as sturdy-feelin as others that used screws. She tells us, “This could be a result of my lack of strength when constructing it or the fact that it's just pieced together. However, it does have full-coverage sides which made me feel like it was highly unlikely that my daughter would fall while using it.” She adds, “That three-sided enclosure also meant my older kids saw this as a fort and helped their little sister create her own play structure.”

Dimensions: 17.5" (L) x 17.5" (W) x 34.5" (H) | Weight: 20 lbs. | Weight capacity: 150 lbs. | Age rating: 12+ months | Material: Birch wood, maple wood, melamine | Number of adjustable heights: 3

The thoughtful safety features on the Ocodile Standing Tower are great for nervous toddlers—once your child climbs into the tower, a sliding back door can be put into place to keep little ones secured on all four sides, giving parents confidence while children explore independently. Non-slip stickers on the platform and pads on the feet prevent slipping, and the solid birch and pinewood construction ensures stability while in use. During testing, both of my boys felt confident climbing in and out, and I felt fully secure letting them use it independently for short tasks.

You might worry that putting a tower with added features together would be difficult, but I loved how straightforward assembly was. The instructions were clear, each piece was labeled, and the included allen wrench made setup simple (and the grip handle made it comfortable!). Adjusting the platform is easy with three height options, allowing both my 2-year-old and 5-year-old to use the tower comfortably at the same t ime. The platform is sturdy, and the anti-slip stickers ensure safe footing, while the tower itself remains solid and stable during play.

While the Ocodile tower is heavier and doesn’t fold, it has handles for moving when needed, and the varnished wood makes cleaning a breeze. Both of my kids were eager to use it for hand-washing, brushing teeth and helping in the kitchen, and the design really encouraged supervised independence. What’s more, the price is one of the more affordable on our list. At $129, the Ocodile Standing Tower offers a secure, stylish and durable option for families seeking a toddler tower that goes the extra mile on safety.

Dimensions: 15.75" (L) x 17.75" (W) x 36" (H) | Weight: 21 lbs. | Weight capacity: 150 lbs. | Age rating: 18 months to 6 years | Material: Birch plywood and pinewood | Number of adjustable heights: 3