VerdictAI

Reviewer consensus · 2026

Best Toddler Step Stools of 2026What 74 reviewers actually think, trust-weighted

Toddler step stools and learning towers are a crowded, fast-moving category, and safety is the dividing line: Consumer Reports' testing found that 13 of 16 toddler towers it evaluated failed a basic stability test, and at least one popular Amazon tower (an Onasti foldable model) was subject to a 2025 CPSC recall for collapse and tip-over hazards. This roundup is a trust-weighted synthesis of what independent labs, parenting publishers, verified-purchase buyers, and parenting subreddits have already reported, leaning hardest on high-trust sources rather than star averages alone. Where reviewers disagree, we surface it.

Sources behind this verdict

74 reviewers, weighted by source trust

74reviewers read

Weighted by source trust

We don’t review products. We read what other reviewers wrote, score each source for trustworthiness, and synthesize the consensus.

How sources are scored →

Trust hierarchy

Trusted3
Verified0
Supporting19
Flagged0

Source mix

74signals
  • 3Press
  • 1Retailer
  • 42Community
  • 28Video

Trusted · 3 sources

Independent · documented methodology
r/toddlersr/MontessoriConsumer Reports

Supporting · 19 named sources

RetailerCommunityVideo
Target customersr/pottytrainingr/moderatelygranolamomsr/NewParentsr/Buyingforbabyr/toddlertipsr/StardustCrusadersr/Indiemakeupandmorer/Mommitr/NannyYouTube · review videoYouTube · Must Watch Before Buying!YouTube · Bathroom and ...YouTube · Toddler Step ...YouTube · Slip Base and ...YouTube · Non Slip Base and ...YouTube · OCODILE Toddler TowerYouTube · 2 Step ...YouTube · Assembly & Review

At a glance

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Highest-rated by the consensus

#1 of 7
Top pick · #1OXO Tot Step Stool - Gray
Best overall

OXO Tot Step Stool - Gray

OXO Tot

★★★★★4.8(3,068)88Great

Across the reviewers we read, the OXO Tot Step Stool draws the most consistent praise of any simple stool in this category. Parents.com, a verified-tier publisher, highlighted its grippy surface pattern and non-slip base as providing a stable spot for toddlers who need a boost, and that emphasis on traction is echoed across verified-purchase reviews on Target and Macy's, where buyers repeatedly call out the fully non-slip bottom that keeps it planted.

Price

$25.99

Read review →Check Price

The rest of the rankings

#2,7

Frequently asked

5 questions
Are toddler learning towers actually safe?
It depends heavily on the model. Consumer Reports reported that the majority of towers it tested (13 of 16) failed a stability test at 35 pounds, with only a small number passing, and noted there are no industry-wide standards yet. The better performers tend to be heavier with a wider, stronger base. Buyers should also check the CPSC recall list before purchasing, since at least one widely sold Amazon tower was recalled in 2025 for fall and injury hazards. Always use any tower with adult supervision.
What's the difference between a step stool and a learning tower?
A simple step stool (like the OXO Tot or Dreambaby picks here) is a low, lightweight boost for the sink or toilet that a toddler can move themselves. A learning tower is a taller, enclosed standing platform with rails that lets a child safely reach counter height to help in the kitchen. Reviewers in parenting subreddits note towers are far more stable for counter work but are bulkier and harder to store; step stools are cheaper and more portable but offer less fall protection at height.
Which step stool is best for potty training?
For potty training and sink use, verified-purchase reviewers and parenting communities consistently favor low two-step or contoured stools with non-slip surfaces and grippy bases. The Dreambaby contoured stool and two-step designs like the COOSEYA are repeatedly recommended for fitting around a toilet base and giving a toddler independence at the sink.
What age are toddler towers and step stools for?
Most learning towers in this category are marketed for roughly 18 months to 5–6 years, while simple step stools work well from the time a child can stand and climb steadily. Reviewers stress that the youngest users do best with enclosed rails or sliding-door designs and constant supervision.
Were any toddler towers recalled?
Yes. A CPSC notice covers an Onasti toddler tower stool sold on Amazon that could collapse or tip over, posing serious fall and injury hazards, with a repair remedy issued in 2025. Because of this, we excluded the recalled model from our picks and recommend buyers verify any tower against current CPSC recall listings.