I do home childcare, so the stool dilemma I can totally understand. While I like the "higher" counter tops (my in-laws purposely had theirs a bit higher when they remodeled their bath and kitchen to avoid bending and they are of average height), my house is a 20 year old home. We did, however do a new teeny basement bathroom that I use for daycare kids. We also did a vessel bowl sink, which makes it even higher. My little kidlets could barely reach the edge of the bowl, let alone the water and such for ease of hand-washing, without breaking the bowl sink (too much pressure and it will be damaged over time, as it is held in really by the drain area and thats really it.
But I found this great stool online at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Its tall, has a big surface area, and can fold up to slip between the sink and toilet (my bathroom is very very teeny with only enough floor space really for the door to open and close and a little more in front of the small shower and toilet..this stool has to be put away so we can close the door).
We do have a shorter regular kid stool to use with potty needs.
This stool for the sink also can hold up to 300 pounds, so I use it around the house on the weekends and evenings. It comes in black or white.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=112924&am...