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Editor's Note Aug. 1, 2025: There is currently a recall for some models of Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Steppers sold between February 2021 and July 2025 due to the safety bar failing. A repair kit for recalled products is available. Learn more about this recall from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Comission (CPSC).
- What Is It? Cosco Kitchen Stepper
- Why I Love It: Compact and lightweight, it folds up easily when not in use and squeezes into the tiniest of spaces.
- How Much is It? $60 (typically $70)
- Where to Buy It: Amazon, Target, Walmart
The moment my family moved out of our first residence — which was just shy of 700 square feet! — into a larger home, I wasted no time splurging on a Little Partners Learning Tower ($160) for my son. About 18 months old at the time, he was adamant about being my mini sous chef, but needed a serious boost to reach our kitchen counters. It had received rave reviews by the What to Expect community for its sturdiness. And considering my son was (heck, still is!) a bit of a wiggle worm, it seemed like a no-brainer buy.
But not four months in, I sold it.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great product — if you have the room for it. I never once worried about it tipping over, and my son climbed all over it like a Pikler triangle. But it was bulky, soaking up a ton of space that was already hard to come by in my galley kitchen. Most importantly, it couldn’t be broken down. I can’t tell you how many times I stubbed my toe or tripped over it, even when I relocated it to the living room. It became abundantly clear I needed something far more compact and foldable (a more affordable price point wouldn’t hurt, either). So when I came across the Cosco Kitchen Stepper for just $60 (roughly $100 less than Little Partners!), boasting 2,000-plus positive reviews, I hit add to cart — and am so glad I did.
Compact Size
Aesthetically, it isn’t as nice, but that doesn’t matter when you can fold it up and put it in the closet or tuck it behind a curtain. Completely folded up, it needs just under 3 inches to slip into; other shoppers have successfully squeezed it into awkward gaps between fridges or stoves and walls. To put that in perspective, the Little Partners tower is roughly 23 inches wide with a depth of 33 inches. It’s also a whopping 28.6 pounds. The Cosco kitchen stepper is just 11 pounds, but has a weight capacity of 225 pounds.
Versatile Usability
Because of the high weight capacity, I use the Cosco stepper to reach my upper cabinets, something I could never do with the Little Partners tower. This versatility is why other What to Expect parents love it, too.
“We have a Cosco foldable step stool,” one mom writes. “Highly recommend. I use it myself.”
Most reviewers share they keep it in the kitchen, but others add it’s been helpful in the bathroom, too.
Toddler-Proof Design
What makes this an especially great replacement for Little Towers is the multiple safety features. There is a bar to prevent accidental falls and rubber feet that grip my tile floor to reduce slippage. Despite its lightweight and slim silhouette, I haven’t had any issues with tipping after a year of tapping it for pretty much everything. And, once locked into place, your toddler won’t be able to adjust it themselves (important if your kid is also in their independence era!).
Another bonus: Since it mostly lives in our kitchen, it frequently gets covered in food grease and splatters. But all it takes is a damp wash cloth to clean it up. It’s constantly getting wet, too, as it’s the primary mechanism behind my son washing his hands in the kitchen. To say it's durable would be an understatement, especially considering my toddler loves to jump on it (much to my dismay).
Other Considerations
I won’t sugarcoat it: this thing isn’t as chic as other, popular wooden ladders on the market. It very much looks like a step stool; it’s very practical and not exactly hideous, but doesn’t add to a space either. It’s a good thing it folds up and out of sight.
Another observation after owning this for about a year is that, if you don’t have a good space for it to slide into, it is a bit of a safety hazard just leaning on its own against a wall. Toddlers could pull it over on themselves. This isn’t been an issue with my 3-year-old, but has been with my 1-year-old.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable, portable and compact step stool, the Cosco Kitchen Stepper should be the only one you consider. At 18.38 x 34.5 inches, it takes up minimal space when set up — and even less when folded and packed away. Not to mention, it’s only 11 pounds, so you can easily move it from the kitchen to the bathroom to wherever your toddler needs a boost.
I wish I had started with the Cosco Kitchen Stepper, and not wasted the extra $100 on the Little Partners tower. Learn from my mistakes and save yourself some money in the process!
Other Budget-Friendly Step Ladders
Cosco’s two-step ladder is what works best for me, but it isn’t the only under-$100 option. There are plenty of other foldable stools on the market, including those that are more toddler-friendly, if that’s what you’re searching for.
Honey Joy Kitchen Step Stool for Toddlers — $82,
$88Uuoeebb Foldable Toddler Kitchen Tower — $80,
$90Avenlur Date 4-in-1 Foldable Kitchen Tower — $99,
$109
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