Kitchen Helper Step Stool

I just got a simple plastic step stool from Ikea for $5.00. Easy to move around, single step, easy to clean, doesn't take up a lot of space. We have those Ikea step stools all over the house.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60248418/

Or you can get a 2 step stool like this one at Ikea. We have a number of 2 step stools of another brand around the house as well.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40178888/

There is no reason for that big, elaborate Kitchen Helper one.

It might be nice to have.

I will say, that my daughter just uses a regular bar-style stool we use for sitting at the counter. She just monkeys right up the rungs, then sits or kneels on it. I was super nervous when she started it (around 2.5 yrs) and hovered like crazy... But I quickly learned that she is a lot more stable than I thought. She has had a few times where she almost fell, but she learned quickly from those instances and became very careful.

Essentially, I think the helper stool would be pretty nice to have, and super convenient... But if it's an expense you have to justify, you may do better just to do a regular stool.

Yeah I know you hate me but whatever. I saw that on I Want That a couple weeks ago and by far the dumbest product on earth. Apparently not just me, the reviews will tell you the same.

You said she was a climber, get her a two step step ladder than she can get up and down from on her own. That contraption is going to compel her to climb out of it rather than wait to be removed and that just doesn't look safe!

All my kids were curious climbers and they just grabbed the step ladder out of the pantry. That thing just looks like a recipe for disaster unless you have one of those clingy compliant kids.

I was always my mom's kitchen helper, and this is the kind of stool she had us use: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cosco-Retro-Chair-with-Step-Stool...

Even at a young age none of us toppled off of it. It was quite stable and I have wanted to get one for my own kids.

Having the fold-out steps is nice since the kid can stand on any of the steps, depending upon how high up they need to go.

Otherwise, I sometimes just bring my ingredients I need to prep to the kitchen island and sit with the kids and give them a butter knife or something really safe so they can "cut" some of the food. My little sous chefs are so helpful ;-) When my (now 3 year old) was a toddler, he always wanted to watch me cooking on the stove, so I put him in my Ergo on my back and let him watch me. So much easier to have him in there than reaching into my pan.

ETA: J. S. makes a good point about her probably wanting to climb out of that stool at will, so I'd do something that allows her to come right up to the counter, yet lets her back down when she wants to. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/GuideCraft-High-Rise-Step-Up-Natura...

I bought a used "learning tower" from a friend and I totally regret it. It was a good deal since brand new they are $200 and I paid $65. However, it is HUGE and heavy. My kitchen is a decent size but not big enough for this. I think I am going to try and resell it. I will probably lose money but i don't care. I want it out of my kitchen!

I just bought one for myself, since I'm short I can't reach anything. I bought the heavy duty Rubbermaid one, at the hardware store. They are about 20 dollars and fold up for easy storage. They have great rubber feet on the bottom too, so they don't scratch up the floors.