KidzWerks Adjustable Wooden Step Stool for Kids - Safe Toddler Standing Tower for Kitchen Counter | White Learning Stool for Cooking, Washing Hands & Reaching Sinks | Montessori Helper for Independent Children

My sent this to my granddaughter for her first birthday. I was afraid she was still to young to use it. Boy was I wrong. She helps her mom cook and uses it for arts and crafts while feeling quite secure.Takes up a lot of room but well builtEDIT: I want to give this the highest marks for customer service alone. I got through to them by contacting the seller directly through Amazon. David responded and refunded the total amount AND sent a new unit to me. Awesome! 5/5 for customer service.The product itself still gets a 1/5.Unfortunately, the new unit also had a defect. One of the part D boards split again and the step (part C) is not drilled in the right place.If you buy this unit, I will suggest testing the boards/holes with the screws before fully assembling it (keep in mind to only screw down the 3/4” to account for the side pieces - if you go further, that split is on you). I also suggest refilling and then redrill any holes that are drilled too big. If you don’t, the unit sways side to side. Lastly, use wood glue for the sides and structural parts (not the adjustable shelf or the adjustable dowel, parts B and one of E) to prevent additional movement. It won’t be perfect and use it at your own risk.I’m not the only one who had this issue and I believe it is probably the manufacturer’s error, but I can’t recommend this unit to anyone because it is dangerously defective.—————-I wrote to the company ([email protected]) about the problems I encountered with the unit and will not be using it until it is resolved. If they do not resolve the issues I will be returning it. See photos.Here’s my email to them:“I just received my order for the kidzwerks child standing tower. I’ve put it together and had issues with all three of the smaller boards (part D x3) as well as the step board (part C).One of the boards (part D)was semi-cracked on one side (the 3/4” on the long edges) so I carefully screwed in the screws thinking it would’ve been glued up before painting and pre-drilling the holes. However, the board split (see picture). For the other two boards (part D), I also had issues with the pre-drilled holes, where at one end on each of the boards, the screws just pushed in and didn’t grab the board at all. Another note is that part C does not install like the instructions say it will in the picture. The picture shows it sticking out a bit in the front but this is not the case. It actually sticks out the back. This is another error in the pre-drilled holes being in the wrong spot. I am asking for either 4 new boards (part D x3 and part C) be sent to me and I will swap them out for the bad boards, OR to have a new unit sent to me. Your instructions ask for a review on Amazon, which I will post as a one star with the information I have provided you. I am happy to adjust this when the issue has been resolved.”Blue paint chips easily But it feels sturdy overallCaution ALWAYS watch your child when using this product! Recommend standing behind them at all times, until you're certain they can get in/out safely....read on for details.We had a close call when our son was in this step stool, with grandparents seated on either side of him. He went to sit down, which made his center of gravity behind him, causing him to topple out the back and hit his head on the tile floor. Fortunately, he was fine (no blood and very little crying!), but we felt awful, as did his grandparents for not being able to react quickly enough to catch him.Recommend using ratchet straps/bungee cords or some other contraption to prevent children from climbing in/out until they are older, or waiting until 18+ months to use this device. Apparently our 1-year-old was not ready for this quite yet.Otherwise for the product itself, it's definitely easier with two people to assemble, and recommend installing the screws for everything, including the top dowel, as it is too easy for a child to remove it otherwise (the instructs list this step as being optional).I bought this Kidwerks tower instead of what seemed like the most popular of the category, the Learning Tower by Little Partners. I preferred the design and size of this tower, and it cost almost half of the other one. We've had it assembled and in use for a day now, so I figured I'd share my thoughts.Assembly only took about 15 minutes and was pretty easy. The instructions aren't very well designed, but it's a simple structure and was easy enough to figure out. You are basically just screwing the pieces of wood together with philips heads screws, no hex wrench involved. The wood seems of high quality, and it's relatively heavy once assembled. There were no defects with my unit, and everything was packaged well to avoid damage. My one piece of advice would be to not use a power drill during assembly because the screws can strip the wood fairly easily.The tower looks good, and it's the right size for my 2 year old. I like that the standing height adjusts, but the step itself doesn't adjust, meaning that when you place the standing base to the highest level for your little one, the step is likely going to be too far for them to reach.I don't have any other towers to compare this to, but one aspect I didn't like is that my 2 year old immediately figured out how to remove the rear railing, and there is no way to secure it without modification. I may try to tape or screw it to avoid it becoming a weapon against our 6 month old.Another concern of mine is that the cut-outs on the sides allow for rambunctious kids to climb up above the standing height, and could possibly tip the unit. While the tower seems to have plenty of side-to-side stability, a cantilevered child could push that to the limit.Lastly, a minor nitpick on the beechwood color - the screw covers included are quite a bit darker than the wood. I ended up leaving them off because I preferred the look of the screws and I was concerned about the choking hazard of the screw covers.We love the toddler tower and the fact that it’s adjustable. My guy feels so empowered now that he has access to it. Generally good construction but not sure it’s five stars.This item is the best piece of furniture in the kitchen. Keeps toddlers involved in everything and is safeToddler loves it! As described and delivered within time frame m.poor workmanship on the woodpieces. peeled of layers exposing sharp edges of the wood. hazard for toddlers.