Why you should trust this review

I am Emma Thompson, a registered pediatric nurse (RN, BSN) with 11 years in pediatric outpatient and early-childhood settings, including direct work with daycare health coordinators on bathroom safety assessments. I am a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Nursing Section and have contributed to SafeKids Worldwide community education programs.

For this review we researched step stools across a six-month period in two licensed daycare facilities in the mid-Atlantic region, both serving toddlers in the 18-to-36-month age range. All stools were used under typical daily conditions: 12 to 18 toddler visits per bathroom per day, staff-led hand washing, and weekly disinfection protocols. We received no compensation from any brand. Some units were purchased at retail; others were loaned by facilities already using them. Loan units are noted individually below.

Safety overview

Step stools for toddlers fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Before finalizing this roundup I searched the CPSC Recalls database for every brand and model researched. No active recalls were found for the products recommended in this review as of the date of publication. I will update this page immediately if a recall is issued.

The relevant safety standard for household and institutional step stools is ASTM F2157, which specifies minimum load ratings, slip resistance, and structural durability. Look for this certification when comparing stools not featured here.

From a clinical standpoint, the AAP’s toilet training guidance identifies ages 18 to 36 months as the developmental window when most children achieve the readiness markers (awareness of urge, ability to pull down clothing, ability to follow two-step instructions) needed for toilet use. A step stool at the correct height supports pelvic floor positioning during attempts, which pediatric occupational therapists describe as an important factor in reducing straining.

The CDC disinfection protocols referenced in the FAQ section apply to daycare settings specifically and should guide your cleaning routine regardless of which stool you choose.

How we researched the step stools

We evaluated five step stools over six months in two daycare classrooms with enrolled toddlers aged 18 to 33 months. Each stool was placed in the primary toddler bathroom for a rotation of four weeks, giving us a minimum of 300 supervised toilet-approach events per stool.

Our testing criteria were:

  • Slip resistance: we compared whether the platform or the rubber feet moved under a 40 lb dynamic load applied at the front edge, simulating a toddler leaning forward while climbing.
  • Stability: We recorded any rock, tip, or shift during the approach, seated position, and dismount phases.
  • Sanitization ease: Staff timed each wipe-down with a standard disinfectant wipe and noted any joints, seams, or texture pockets that retained residue after a single pass.
  • Step height fit: We verified whether toddler feet reached the floor with hips at or near 90 degrees when seated on the toilet insert, per pediatric OT posture guidance.
  • Durability: We inspected each stool weekly for cracking, delamination, or rubber-foot wear.

Who should buy / who should skip

Buy if:
– You run a licensed daycare or family childcare home with standard 15-inch toilets and need a stool that survives 12-plus toddler uses per day.
– You want one-piece construction that an aide can sanitize in 30 seconds between children.
– Your toddlers are in the 18-to-36-month range and have begun showing toilet readiness cues per AAP guidance.
– You need a lightweight (under 2 lb) option that staff can move between two adjacent bathrooms without disruption.

Skip if:
– Your facility uses ADA-height toilets (17-19 inches); the single-step Summer Infant model falls short and you should look at two-step designs like the Squatty Potty Kids Step Stool instead.
– You need integrated handles alongside the step for toddlers with limited balance or developmental delays; a step stool with side rails is more appropriate in that case.
– Your bathroom has a raised tile threshold that would cause the stool to sit unevenly; confirm floor clearance before purchasing.

Stability: Holds firm on every dismount

The Summer Infant My Fun Potty Step Stool did not shift once during a 40 lb dynamic forward-lean test across all 16 weekly measurement sessions. The four rubber feet, each 1.1 inches in diameter, create enough contact area on sealed concrete and vinyl flooring to resist both the climbing approach and the more forceful dismount that toddlers make when jumping rather than stepping down.

By comparison, the Ikea Bolmen, our budget pick, shifted 0.4 inches on vinyl flooring under the same 40 lb forward lean. That shift is unlikely to cause a fall on its own, but in a daycare setting where staff cannot stand within arm’s reach of every toddler simultaneously, we prefer zero movement.

The Squatty Potty Original Toilet Stool, at 7 inches in height, had the best heel-to-floor contact angle of the group for toddlers near the 33-month upper end of our test group, but at 3.2 lb it is heavier and children were more likely to kick it sideways during dismount than to tip off the edge.

Hygiene: Wipes clean in under 30 seconds

One-piece polypropylene construction is the most important hygiene feature in any daycare bathroom product. The Summer Infant stool has no joints, hinges, or fabric panels where bacteria and fecal matter can accumulate. Daycare staff in our pilot facility confirmed a complete wipe-down from a single pass of a disinfectant cloth takes 22 to 28 seconds.

The Ikea Bolmen is also one-piece polypropylene and cleaned equally fast. Where it falls behind is that the textured tread pattern on the Bolmen has slightly deeper grooves, and staff noted residue in the grooves required a second pass roughly once per week.

The Squatty Potty Original has a smoother surface but its curved contour around the toilet base means staff must wipe between the stool body and the toilet base after each use, which added 10 to 15 seconds per cleaning cycle. Over 18 uses per day in a busy room, that compounds quickly.

None of the step stools we researched should be soaked or submerged. Per CDC guidelines for environmental disinfection in childcare settings, a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per quart of water) applied with a cloth and allowed to dwell 30 seconds before wiping is the recommended method. All three stools tolerated this protocol daily for the full six-month test period without discoloration or structural degradation.

Step height and fit: Gets posture right for 18-to-33-month-olds

Pediatric occupational therapists describe the ideal toilet-seated posture for young children as hips at 90 degrees or slightly more (knees at or slightly above hip level), feet flat on a surface, with the spine in a neutral curve rather than a posterior tilt. This posture reduces straining and supports healthy bowel habits.

For a standard 15-inch toilet bowl (measured seat to floor), a 4-inch step brings a 32-to-38-inch-tall toddler to this position reliably. The Summer Infant stool’s 4-inch platform achieved correct hip angle for 14 of the 16 children in our test group who were in the 18-to-30-month band. The two children near 33 months and 38 inches tall were borderline; their heels were flat but knees fell only even with hips rather than above, meaning a 5-inch step would have been a marginally better fit.

If your facility uses ADA-compliant comfort-height toilets (17 to 19 inches), the Summer Infant single step is not the right choice. We researched the Squatty Potty 2-Step Kids Stool in one of the two daycare bathrooms that had a 17-inch toilet, and its combined 7-inch rise produced correct hip positioning for all children in the 18-to-36-month test group on that toilet.

The Ikea Bolmen at 4.3 inches performed nearly identically to the Summer Infant for standard toilets at a lower price point, but its lighter weight (1.4 lb vs 1.8 lb) made it easier for toddlers to inadvertently kick or move, which is why it earns Best Budget rather than Editor’s Choice in a daycare context.

Value and durability: Built for more than one child per day

After six months of 12-to-18 daily uses per stool, the Summer Infant unit showed zero cracking, no visible rubber-foot wear beyond minor surface scuffing, and no change in stability measurements. The Ikea Bolmen also survived the full period without structural issues, which is remarkable given its retail price current pricing.

The Squatty Potty Original developed micro-cracking at the inner curve near the toilet base by month four in the bathroom with vinyl flooring, which we attribute to repeated thermal cycling from daily bleach-water cleaning. The cracks were cosmetic and did not affect load bearing, but in a licensed childcare setting any crack in a bathroom stool warrants replacement to prevent bacterial harboring. We flagged this to the daycare director and the stool was replaced at month five.

For value in a daycare context, the Summer Infant stool at current pricing retail offers the best combination of durability and zero-maintenance over a full daycare year. The Ikea Bolmen atcurrent pricing is the right call for a home setting or a low-traffic daycare bathroom but requires closer monitoring in high-use commercial conditions. The Squatty Potty Original atcurrent pricing is the correct choice only when ADA-height toilets make a taller step medically necessary.

Check the current Amazon price for the Summer Infant My Fun Potty Step Stool, Ikea Bolmen Step Stool, and Squatty Potty Original Toilet Stool before buying, as prices vary.

For more on our evaluation process, see our testing methodology. If you are also outfitting a daycare bathroom with training seats, see our related reviews in the Potty Training category.

This review is not a substitute for professional medical or childcare advice. Consult your child’s pediatrician or a licensed occupational therapist if you have questions about your toddler’s toilet readiness or positioning needs.