I like the seeming ironic name to what looks like some sort of punishment device or a kiddie cage.

this is just silly, what is wrong with a step stool? and why would small space dwelling families love it? It take up way more room than a regular step stool.

What? No padding?

No wonder it costs so much to raise a child.

I kind of like telling the story about how I got the scar on my forehead...

"Well, Doctor, she was trying to climb out of the Pod..."

Just had to double check the calendar to make sure it was Feb 1 and not April 1. This thing is ridiculous!

It does look sturdier than the kitchen chair I've been using so my daughter can help me cook. Still, a step stool would be more practical, since I could use it too.

Seriously? And the irony is that this wouldn't prevent a kid from accidentally knocking a pot of boiling water onto themselves, which is my biggest concern when the kids 'help' me cook.

If your kid is not stable enough to not fall off a stepstool, keep him in his high chair. Or on the floor. This thing is pretty silly.

Thank you, Sharpette. My exact thought.

Agree with all posters. Seems like a step stool or a chair are still the easiest. And I say this having suffered a concussion as a 3-year-old after falling off a barstool in an effort to scramble back when my dad told me the electric griddle was hot. It didn't kill me, probably just ruined breakfast. Do we really have to strap our children down at all times to keep them safe?

Are you kidding??? Thanks for the laugh this am....

This is great, because every time I tie pillows around my kids to help cook, they catch fire at the oven. product fail.

I guess I'm the only one, but I've been looking for something like this for my 16 month old. He loves to be involved with whatever I'm doing in the kitchen, but feels too constrained in his high chair, yet is not stable enough to use to step stool. I'm hoping to have my husband or father make it for me, though.

Alanna, you're not the only one. My one-year-old definitely would not be safe on a step stool and would love to be at counter-height "helping" as opposed to just watching me from her (lower) high chair. I would LOVE this, but don't want to pay $190 for it! (I am not considering the Learning Tower because of how big it is and the open sides)

we got a hand me down called the "learning tower" which is similar to this except sides are open. and I'd daresay not quite as ugly. it is NOT for "small" spaces since it of course takes up space but we love it. we've been using it since my daughter was a year and a half and she's three and a half and I think we'll be using it for years to come. as a bonus my mother stubs her toes on it every single time she comes over.

for those who want to include their very small children in the cooking, here's what i always did: instead of having my boys stand up on a chair or stool, i brought whatever i was doing down onto the seat of the chair so that they could reach while still standing on the floor. i just put a towel over the seat and let them stir, crack eggs, etc. worked like a charm. now that they are a bit older they can easily balance on a chair and help me at the counter.

Puke

That thing is too ugly to spend that much money on, regardless of whether or not it might be useful. I'd rather spend $400 on Skagerak's Dania Step-stool - not that I will, since Ikea is bound to have something just as useful...

I don't know if this hack would work or not for toddlers since I'm only expecting my first...it's a step stool with a front "guardrail":

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/05/safe-bekvam-step-stool-for-toddlers.html

Get a learning stand off of Craigslist for 50 bucks. Kids can climb in and out of them.

Well, I'll balance out the perspective here! I'm glad there is another option on the market, and I kind of like the look of this one.

We had a fold-up knockoff 'learning tower' we used CONSTANTLY and it beat the socks off of a chair, a stool, or a highchair. For a kid like mine, who wasn't very into toys and prefers to do the 'real thing' adults are doing instead, getting through cooking three meals a day would have been significantly harder without the tower we had. It is safer (although the one open side means she did tumble out once), and the height is exactly right.

Now my kid is four, she prefers a big girl stool, but she still runs at high speed to the kitchen when anyone starts cooking to be part of the food prep. It's her style, and we've obviously also encouraged it.

We're the tiny-house family who didn't buy any gear at all, so having one of these says something. Two of our friends eventually bought one after watching it in constant action in our kitchen...it's one of those things. You have to see it to 'get it'. And also be cooking a lot.

haa..funstraw! depending on age..marankaetzel has the right idea...she comes down to her children's level...where it's safe...and fun for them as well as her..when it comes to stove or oven time, it would be:time to sit safely away from the hot oven/stove and watch ..part of helping mommy or daddy..not this hideous monstrosity..it just seems so foolish..keeeRISTE! ; )

Huh? Wha?

I love the Learning Tower and after friends have seen my daughter spending time with me in the kitchen, we have inspired the purchase of at least 4 more! It truly is great to allow them to be so independent and included at the same time.
That said, I wouldn't want one with enclosed sides. I really think that the main thing that she loves is climbing in and out herself. The Learning Tower is huge!!! But she has been in it with friends on many occasions. Much better than any stool or chair. It is not just for helping, it is for hanging out and spending time in the kitchen together. She snacks, plays, helps, etc. all in The Learning Tower. We use a regular step stool for washing hands, but get so much enjoyment out of our Learning Tower it is definitely worth it.

Watch out for that pineapple - that could go right in her eye, and don't even get me started on how close that the blender is... Danger Will Robinson, danger!

It needs more padding. My precious babies need more padding. No harm can come to them ever. They have to stay pristine like my limited edition Spawn figures. They can never leave their packaging. Is there a model available with bubble wrap?

I wouldn't buy one of these because they're so expensive, but if someone gave me one, we'd use it all the time. Step stools aren't tall enough, and chairs get in the way.

Side note: before Apartment Therapy was reorganized, all of the kid-related posts were on Ohdeedoh and there was a whole lot less snark from people without kids. Just sayin'.

Aha! That's the difference, AmberM. I was reading these surprised that so many Ohdeedoh readers had never seen a learning tower before - the obvious predecessor to this product. Uy, another reason for me to bemoan this new setup.

I'd love a learning tower if I didn't have this tiny kitchen, or this product if I didn't have a tiny bank acct. A step stool is perfect for my 4 year old, but not tall enough or stable enough for my 1.5 year old who also loves to help.

How long are that kid's legs that she needs the lowest setting?!?

@AmberM
Many regular AT readers have or have raised kids. A lot of it isn't snark, it's the experience of having raised kids without many of the "New and Improved" consumer items that parents think they need. Put the $200 in a college fund.

Or you could by the $22 version:

http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-11-135CLGG4-Folding-Stool-2-Step/dp/B002AAZGQG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328536898&sr=8-2

We have pics of my daughter at 18 months standing on this helping me cook. And she survived!

@MJS7640--exactly my thoughts! Another piece of crap people think they have to have for kids. I seriously wish my husband would let me get rid of our bouncer, swing, walker...what's the point of having a baby if you stick him in plastic chairs all day long? (Not that dear husband really does, I just think the few times we really use them don't justify storing them for 3 years! :P)

Until my (now 3 year old) son was stable, and tall enough to use just a step stool in the kitchen, we just moved food prep that he could help with to the kitchen table. He either kneeled on a chair or sat in his booster.
http://simpletruths.typepad.com/simple-truths/2010/06/the-family-that-cooks-together.html