10 Best Kitchen Helper Products for Kids in 2019
Every parent considers a top priority to keep his children safe in the kitchen. Fortunately, kitchen helper comes to the rescue!
Considering that chairs are not exactly safe, some parents even don’t allow their kids to enter the kitchen. That is not a good idea because there are many benefits to children spending time in the kitchen, such as developing an interest in food and participating in the preparation of a family meal. Fortunately, there is a much better alternative to regular chairs.
What Is a Kitchen Helper?
When mom (and/or dad) is preparing a meal in the kitchen, her child wants to help or at least be there to provide support. However, the size is a major problem for toddlers, in this case, considering that they can’t stand with you. Securing that your child can safely stand in the kitchen is exactly what kitchen helper stool does. It is a better and safer alternative to regular chairs as your child will be perfectly safe and won’t be in danger of falling on the ground.
So, to sum up, a kitchen helper is a product that enables children a completely safe way to stand in the kitchen. It is the perfect alternative for regular stools and chair and it is an extremely useful product, considering that it can be used by children of various age. According to Guidecraft, the manufacturer of the kitchen helper stool, the recommended children’s age for using the product is 2-6 years.
The Difference Between the Learning Tower and Kitchen Helper
The Learning Tower is another product that can help to safely raise your child to the counter height. It is made of solid wood, so it is a sturdier construction than Guidecraft kitchen helper. The manufacturer also recommends it for a large age span, so children from 18 months to 6 years can all safely use it. This step up kitchen helper comes in a variety of different colors, including natural, green, espresso, red, and white. That means that you can surely find a combination that will perfectly fit into your kitchen. Another great feature is that it comes with different accessories (puppet stage curtains, easel) that can make this kids kitchen helper into a true multi-purpose product.
It’s hard to give an answer to the “learning tower vs kitchen helper” question. According to Seeme and Liz, it all comes down to personal preference. Here are some important differences that you need to take into account when choosing between the toddler kitchen helper and the Learning Tower:
- The Learning Tower is a bit more expensive, but it offers different attachments, which provide additional fun activities for you kid
- It is easier to fold and store kitchen helpers, but the Learning Tower has a sturdier construction, which means that your child will be perfectly safe from falling off the chair
- The Learning Tower comes in a variety of colors and materials, so you can choose the appropriate one for your kitchen.
This interesting YouTube video also provides an interesting take on the difference between the two products.
The Benefits of the Kitchen Helper
Regardless of which kitchen helper you choose, they all have very important benefits. If you are still having doubts whether you need a kitchen helper for toddlers, take a look at these benefits:
- It secures a safe environment to lift your children to the counter height – regular chairs or stools are very risky because your children can fall, hit the ground and hurt themselves. The construction of the kitchen helper keeps them safe while they are at the counter height.
- A height-adjustable platform that can be customized in accordance with the size of the child – this means that the product can be used by children of various ages. As your kid grows, you simply adjust the height of the platform and it can continue safely using the kitchen helper.
- Long-term investment - the manufacturers recommend that the product can be used by children between 18 months and 6 years of age. Depending on the size of your child, it might fit in the toddler kitchen helper tower even sooner and it can also use it after he turns six. Either way, buying a kitchen helper will definitely prove to be a long-term investment that will pay itself.
- Parent-children bonding time – many parents, especially moms, often spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing meals for the family. Kitchen helper stool is a great way to have some bonding time with the child while you are preparing a meal.
The Importance of Children in the Kitchen
When parents want to cook a meal in peace, they usually ban their kids from coming into the kitchen. Portland Lifestyle & Family suggests a much better alternative – invite your children to participate! Here are some ways how they can benefit from pitching in when it comes to preparing meals:
- They will find out about new foods – the majority of children are picky eaters. However, if you expose them to different foods and involve them in the preparation of the meals, they might get the wish to try it.
- They will learn how to plan – you need to come up with a plan if you want to prepare a meal. Everything starts from the grocery store, so you might think about involving your child in buying the groceries, too. After that, it can help you prepare the dish while being perfectly safe in the kids kitchen helper.
- They will improve math skills – preparing meals also involves carefully measuring ingredients. The ingredients also come as fractions, and you can even start teaching your children addition or multiplication. How? Simply double your recipe for their favorite chocolate chip cookie!
- They will feel confident in the kitchen – this might be especially important for little girls as they are usually more attracted to cooking. If they spend time in the kitchen from an early age, they will learn their way around it and it will be easier for them in their adulthood.
- They will see that it is not easy to prepare a meal – once they see how much effort is put into preparing a dish, they will learn to appreciate a home-cooked meal and the chef.
- They will feel good – yes, it’s true, children love to help! I guess that it makes them feel important. Try teaching them a thing or two and you will notice that they will carefully listen. After a while, they might become a great help in the kitchen.
The important thing to keep in mind is that your child needs to stay safe while in the kitchen. Make sure to keep them away from sharp objects, hot pots and stuff like that. Most importantly, elevate them to the counter height safely by using one of the kitchen helper products available on the market.
Kitchen Helper – 10 Best Product Reviews
1 LITTLE PARTNERS LEARNING TOWER
CONVENIENT, MULTI-PURPOSE PRODUCT FOR YOUR CHILD
There are many reasons why I believe that this is the best kids kitchen helper on the market. The most important one is the increased safety of the children because of the sturdy construction made from solid wood. Naturally, you should never leave your kid unattended, but if there is a safe kitchen helper for toddlers, then this is the one.
Learning Tower is also aesthetically pleasing. You can choose from a wide variety of colors, which means that you’ll surely find one that will fit perfectly into your kitchen. The kitchen helper has been tested to hold up to 500lbs, so there is enough space to put two kids on the platform. While the weight of the kids probably won’t be a problem, it might get a little crowded in there, so it might be the best idea for each kid to have its own kitchen helper stool.
The wide variety of extensions available is the perfect way of turning the Learning Tower into a multi-purpose item and create additional hours of fun for your kid. There are puppet stage curtains, easels, or you can be creative and throw on a sheet to create a fort. The options are virtually limitless. The only real downside that I can think of is that it cannot be folded for storage, so be prepared that it will take up a portion of space in your home.
The product is carefully designed to be used by young toddlers (18+ months) and the adjustable height option will secure that you can us the kitchen helper for years. If this seems like your wanted kitchen helper, keep in mind that it is a bit pricey. It is definitely worth the money, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is the most expensive product on the market. It is also the best toddler kitchen helper out there.
Pros
- Incredibly sturdy construction, made from solid wood
- Beautiful design and a variety of colors to choose from (natural, green, white, dark cherry, espresso…)
- There is room for two children on the platform
- A big number of attachments available to convert it to a multi-purpose product
Cons
- It cannot be folded for storage and it’s pretty big
- It is the most expensive product on the market
2 GUIDECRAFT KITCHEN HELPER
A RELIABLE PRODUCT FROM A RELIABLE MANUFACTURER
Guidecraft Kitchen Helper provides additional safety for your children in the kitchen. You can elevate them to counter height and they can see what you are doing or help you with the meal. If you have a smaller kitchen, this kitchen helper is ideal for you. Thanks to its convenient dimensions, it is a perfect fit for a smaller living space.
Another useful option of the product is that you can fold it for storage and then easily put it out of sight. That way it won’t take up space when it’s not used or you can move it away if there are guests coming. That said, keep in mind that you will need tools to assemble and disassemble the item, as well as to adjust the height of this kitchen helper stool.
Guidecraft Kitchen Helper comes with additional fun activities for your child, such as a chalkboard and a wipe-off marker board. Considering that the product can be used for years (children from 2 to 6 years of age can use it), this will make sure that they are still interested in spending time in the stool. They can reach the platform by using footholds, so there is no need for you to lift them up. On the other hand, when this happens, the material doesn’t seem extremely sturdy, so it is a general impression that workmanship could be a bit better. Regardless of that, it is very safe and this is definitely one of the best kids kitchen helper products on the market.
Pros
- Excellent fit for smaller spaces, convenient dimensions
- Can be folded for storage and easily kept out of sight
- Additional fun activities, such as chalkboard and wipe-off marker board
- Children can reach the platform by using footholds
Cons
- Workmanship and the choice of materials could be a bit better
- You will need tools to adjust height and fold it for storage
3 GUIDECRAFT STEP UP KITCHEN HELPER
EASY TO MOVE, NOT SO EASY TO ASSEMBLE
The Step Up Kitchen Helper is another product brought to us by Guidecraft. They have experience in manufacturing product for kids and household helpers, so we expect them to deliver reliable items. This toddler kitchen helper is no different. At first, you can easily place your toddler in it. Later on, the product grows with the child as it has two adjustable heights. The kid can even move around the kitchen helper quite easily, considering that it is a sturdy, but light construction.
The aesthetics of the product are pleasing and you can choose from two different colors – white and espresso. The bad news is that the kitchen helper is prone to scratches, which is especially noticeable in the espresso design. It is also pretty hard to assemble the product by yourself, so think about asking your partner of a neighbor to help. It’s much easier with an extra set of hands. On the bright side, the step up kitchen helper is easily clean. All you need is a damp cloth and the item will quickly get that shiny look like when you bought it.
Pros
- Study, but light enough so that even a child can move it
- Available in two different colors – white and espresso
- You can clean it with a damp cloth
- Two adjustable heights
Cons
- Challenging to assemble, you will probably need a set of extra hands
- The product is prone to scratches, which can be pretty visible in dark colors
4 LITTLE HELPER FUNPOD STEP STOOL
A PRODUCT THAT REALLY GROWS WITH YOUR CHILD
If you have a restless child and you are afraid for its safety in the kitchen, Little Helper Kitchen Stool is the product for you. What makes this kitchen helper great is that it is enclosed from all sides, so your kid will be completely safe while spending time in it. This is also the bad news as it seems like you have ‘arrested’ the child and placed it in the stool. Another downside is that kids cannot go in or out themselves, but they need your help for that.
Little Helper kitchen stool has a whopping 8 adjustable height settings, securing that it can fit toddlers as young as 12 months or children up to 6 years of age. High-quality materials were used in making this kitchen helper for toddlers, so the durability is very high. Unfortunately, the product doesn’t come with any additional fun activities, so it has a pretty limited use. You also cannot fold it, which makes it not great for smaller kitchens and living spaces.
While the Little Helper kitchen stool doesn’t come with additional quirks and features, it does the job of keeping your kid safe in the kitchen while enabling them to be at the counter height.
Pros
- 8 adjustable height settings that can accommodate both 12-month babies and 6 years old kids
- Enclosed from all sides, providing complete safety for your child
- High-quality materials increase the durability of the product
Cons
- It cannot be folded
- The child can’t go in or out itself
- It’s not a multi-purpose tool, so it might be considered a bit expensive
5 GUIDECRAFT HIGH RISE STEP UP
LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCT TO USE AROUND THE ENTIRE HOUSE
Guidecraft High Rise Step Up kitchen helper is extremely lightweight, so your children can easily move it around the home. That makes it excellent for use outside the kitchen and pretty much wherever the kids need to climb up to reach for something. The handholds will help them climbing and they will also help them while going down the steps.
Unfortunately, the main trait you expect from a kitchen helper is safety and I’m not sure that this product provides it. First of all, the steps are a bit narrow and we know that the children tend to be restless. That being said, there is a pretty big danger of the child falling if he/she gets too excited and forgets that a step back is not allowed. Another reason why this is not a kitchen helper for toddlers is that there is a chance they might try to climb on the top railing thinking that there are additional steps. On the other hand, the older kids that are more aware and skilled with their moves might not have a problem with all this.
Due to its design, this stool is not ideal for longer activities in the kitchen, such as preparing meals. On the other hand, it is excellent for all short tasks, such as washing hands or climbing up to reach something.
Pros
- Lightweight, so the children can easily move it around
- There are handholds to help kids when they are climbing up and down the steps
- Can be used outside the kitchen
Cons
- Not ideal for longer activities
- The steps are a bit narrow and there is a danger of falling
6 JONTI-CRAFT UP-N-DOWN STEPS
MORE THAN A SIMPLE TODDLER KITCHEN HELPER
Jonti-Craft has created more than just a simple toddler kitchen helper. Their up and down steps can be used all around the house. The majority of parents also allows their children to use it in the bathroom as a way of reaching the sink. The product can be moved around by the kids, but it is sturdy enough to be safe for them to use. Handholds are there to help the children climb up and down the steps.
Another great advantage that might turn this one into your wanted kitchen helper is that it comes almost completely assembled. The only things you need to add are two-foot extensions in case you don’t want to use it against a cabinet or another piece of furniture. That being said, you should that it fits perfectly against a cabinet, so your kid will have the needed balance to participate in the kitchen activities.
The biggest downside of the product is that it seems to lack another step. That means that you child will probably need to be at least 2-3 years old to use this kids kitchen helper. The item is also pretty big, so you need to prepare that it will take up a portion of the space wherever you fit it. The kitchen helper is, on the bright side, very reliable and those what you expect from it.
Pros
- The product comes almost completely assembled
- Excellent fit against a cabinet
- Multiple uses around the house
- Handholds help the children climb up and down the stairs
Cons
- The product’s size is pretty big
- There are cheaper options
- A pretty big first step
7 SDADI KIDS KITCHEN HELPER
STABLE AND STRONG
SDADI Kids Kitchen Helper might not be as famous brand as their counterparts, but it is definitely a reliable product that will provide safety for your children in the kitchen. This kitchen helper for toddlers is both big and strong, which guarantees excellent stability for your kid. At the same time, this is the biggest advantage and a drawback of the product. It is made from a mixture of solid pine wood and MDF wood, which also means that the product is pretty heavy to move around.
SDADI Kids Kitchen Helper might not be as famous brand as their counterparts, but it is definitely a reliable product that will provide safety for your children in the kitchen. This kitchen helper for toddlers is both big and strong, which guarantees excellent stability for your kid. At the same time, this is the biggest advantage and a drawback of the product. It is made from a mixture of solid pine wood and MDF wood, which also means that the product is pretty heavy to move around.
There are fences around the standing platform, so your child is not in any danger of falling. It has adjustable height, which means it grows with your kid. According to the manufacturer, the kitchen helper stool is suitable for kids of 1-5 years of age. The durability is excellent, considering that it can hold up to 150 pounds.
Overall, this is one of the best kitchen helpers available on the market. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer any additional activities, but that means that your children can actually focus on what’s going on in the kitchen.
Pros
- Very stable and strong, thanks to the solid pine wood construction
- Excellent durability, maximum weight of up to 150 pounds
- Adjustable positioning to ensure suitability for different ages
Cons
- Heavy product, tricky to move around
- It doesn’t offer any additional accessories
8 LITTLE PARTNERS THE ORIGNAL LEARNING TOWER ,FURNITURE KITCHEN HELPER FOR TODDLERS
ALL-AROUND PRODUCT AT AFFORDABLE PRICE
Montessori furniture created an excellent affordable alternative for all those people who don’t want to splash too much money on a kitchen helper stool. They’ve decided to offer an economical solution by adding an extra function – their toddler kitchen helper tower can easily be converted to a table for playing or eating. This practically means that, once your child finishes helping you with the food, they can have their own table to actually try the meal. One of the steps will then serve as a chair, so it’s actually a complete package.
As for the kitchen helper stool itself, it is pretty sturdy and it has awesome craftsmanship. It is made from birch plywood. The handholds on the kitchen helper add to the safety of the child, as well as the rail on the back. Considering that it can be folded to a table, it can be convenient for small living spaces.
Unfortunately, since it is technically a learning tower, you would expect the tower to have some additional accessories for children’s fun, but the product comes without it. Also, the first step seems to be positioned a bit too high, so instead of seeing this as a toddler kitchen helper, you should probably think of it as a kitchen helper for a bit older kids (3-6 years).
Pros
- All-around product – a kitchen helper that you can easily convert into a table for playing/eating
- Made from birch plywood, so it is very sturdy
- Affordable price, when compared to other similar products
- Great for small living spaces
Cons
- The first step seems to be positioned too high
- Doesn’t have any additional accessories
9 GUIDECRAFT HEARTWOOD KITCHEN HELPER STOOL
CONTEMPORARY PRODUCT WITH MODERN DESIGN
This is the perfect kitchen helper stool for you if that is what you are actually looking for – a product that will be a stool for your child to stand on in the kitchen. While it only fulfills the basic expectations of a kitchen helper, it does that job brilliantly. After all, the most important thing that a kitchen helper should do is to provide safety for your child. Guidecraft Heartwood Kitchen Helper Stool perfectly does that job.
The product is made from strong North American oak. The closed sides and raised wood paneling are an addition to contemporary design, so you can rest assured that it will be a great fit for any modern kitchen. It is available in classic white and various hardwoods, so you can choose the perfect design for you.
This is one of the foldable kitchen helpers on the market, so you can easily store it away when your kid doesn’t use it. On the downside, the item is among the expensive ones in its category. If you are looking for a kitchen helper with modern design and a product that will fit into your kitchen, this might be the item for you. Otherwise, there are more affordable toddler kitchen helper products out there.
Pros
- High-quality North American oak guarantees stability of the product
- Contemporary design for modern kitchens
- It’s easy to fold and store away from plain sight
- Suitable for children who are 2+ years old
Cons
- Doesn’t have additional accessories
- Expensive
- Assembling the product can get a bit tricky
10 TRUE TOT TOWER
HANDCRAFTED IN THE UNITED STATES
The final item in our most wanted kitchen helper products list is a handcrafted standing stool made by the True Growth company from the United States. The fact that the item is handmade secures that each product was manufactured carefully and with maximum attention. The product is foldable, so the manufacturer had in mind small living spaces and convenience.
The kitchen helper is varnished for extended durability, but that is exactly what is the biggest downside of the product. While your child is generally safe because of the rails from all sides, the step can get pretty slippery if he/she is wearing only socks. If the kid gets too excited, it can easily slip, which can lead to a fall. Our tip is to make sure that your child always wears sneakers when in the kitchen helper stool.
Pros
- The product can be folded, so you can store it away easily
- Handcrafted furniture made in the USA
- Varnished for extended durability
Cons
- The step can get slippery, especially if you are child is wearing only socks
Conclusion
That completes the 10 best kitchen helper products reviews. The article covered everything you need to know about the kitchen helper and the difference between the Learning Tower and your regular kitchen helper stool. In the end, it all comes down to your needs and personal preference.
If you are looking for a complete product that will keep your child interested for hours, then the Learning Tower might be the perfect option for you. On the other hand, a very high level of safety might be your top priority, so the Little Helper Kitchen Stool might be the way to go. Before you decide to buy your wanted kitchen helper, take another look at the carefully prepared reviews in this article. I’m sure they can help you make the smartest decision for your needs.
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