Being vertically challenged myself, I’ve always been a fan of step stools and have them scattered around my house for reaching cabinets, obviously designed for giants. Once I had a child walking (and bumping into things) the need became urgent to expand my selection.

Key places for a step stool are in each bathroom in the house and in the kitchen. Getting into the habit of hand washing is much easier, especially as the child becomes less dependent if he or she can actually reach the sink! Good dental hygiene habits also get much easier to enforce if both the toothbrush/toothpaste and the water supply are within reach.

My first consideration is safety. Is the stool solid? Can it tip over…intentionally or not? And second, do I mind having it in my powder room/kitchen where adult guests are sure to venture?

This sturdy step stool in a natural pine color fits the bill for me. I like the two step model as it works for little and littler kids and provides a way for even the tiniest toddler to reach the sink, without standing on tippy toe. The storage compartment is great for extra diapers and wipes in a downstairs bathroom or for tooth brushing supplies.