The Castle Sit and Play Stool from Haba Toys would make a fun  gift and is something for the baby to grow into. You could fill the side pockets with age appropriate toys and items: rattles, teethers, soft toys, baby creams and powders, for example. It would be a beautiful addition to any nursery with its fun design and bright accents.

The stool has 2 zippered compartments and pockets on either side. The cover is removable and made from washable polyester. Designed and quality assured in Germany, but you can purchase one for $59.99 at  oompa.com.

These Stackable Seats by Whitney Brothers come in a set of three ottoman-like stools that nest together for easy storage. Your child’s room is always evolving as his needs and interests change from age to age. It’s a real help to have furniture that can be easily moved to suit a new room plan. You may want to have all three seats out to create a reading area, or combined with a low table for art activities, writing/coloring, or snacking. If your child is having a sleepover with hir friends and you need more floor space, just stack the seats into a corner.

The seats measure 14″ H x 17″ W x 17″ D and cost $199 at  allchildrensfurniture.com.

We want our children to help us in the kitchen because it’s fun for them and full of wonderful learning opportunities. But our first concern is safety, and in a kitchen there are also many opportunities for accidents to occur. This Kitchen Helper Kids Stool by Guidecraft may look a little cumbersome compared to a simple step stool, but it offers a sturdy and balanced space for a child to occupy as they’re busy “helping” you in the kitchen.

Thisis a very attractive piece of furniture with fun cut-outs and a rich maple toned finish. Your little helper will be completely enclosed to avoid tripping or falling due to their hasty actions. Meanwhile, they are at counter-top level where they can see and participate. Also good for stepping up to the sink to wash dishes. Folds up completely for easy storage.

The Kitchen Helper features a childproof folding design, folds for easy storage, is lightweight, and made of sturdy wood with a maple finish. It measures 20 1/4″ x 36 3/4″ x 20 3/4″ and costs $149.95 at sensoryedge.com.

This is a great little step stool that would fit well into most bathrooms.  Made from birch bent plywood, the 10 Grain Slice Step Stool is available in several finishes.  My personal favorite is the Small Paul version shown here.  I love the smiling faces of Julius, the Paul Frank monkey, and I think every child will enjoy their novelty as well.  While the monkeys add a bit of character, the appearance of the stool over all is quite simple.  I like the clean lines of its design, and I think it would look great in a bathroom with a primary color scheme.

You can purchase one for $89 at DesignPublic.com.

My girls always like to feel like they’re involved in my daily activities whether it’s cooking dinner, cleaning the house or working outside. My oldest, Zoe, has her own little stool to stand on to get up to the counter, but I’m always nervous that she may lose her balance. That’s why this Learning Tower caught my eye.

This stool has 4-sides and a roomy platform that makes me feel much more relaxed when Zoe is up on it. The best part is that this tower adjusts as your child grows! You can move the platform to accommodate your growing child so you’ll be sure to get years of use out of it.

Babyscholars.com sells this tower for $179.95.

My younger daughter is working on potty training right now, and along with that comes a fascination for hand washing. That has made step stools an absolute necessity in our house. We have one that we like, but I have been shopping around to see what other fun ones are on the market.

I like this one from distinctivenurseries.com. Decorated in shades of blue with a fun combination of stars, stripes, and polka dots, it is kid-friendly without being overly-gaudy. It measures 14” high x 14” wide x 15” deep and is made to be extra sturdy for little feet. It retails for $90 and does require minor assembly.