Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your pediatrician for individualized potty training guidance.

Why you should trust this review

I am Emma Thompson, a certified pediatric occupational therapist (OTR/L) with nine years of clinical experience supporting toddler motor development and activities of daily living, including toilet independence programs. I hold a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Washington and am a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

For this review I spent six months testing step stools in a 650-square-foot apartment with one bathroom, evaluating three products with a 22-month-old who was mid-way through potty training. I measured each stool’s footprint against our toilet’s base, logged daily use across tile, vinyl, and a bath mat, and tracked how independently my test subject could position and step off each stool without prompting.

I purchased all three test units out of pocket. No brand provided product or payment in exchange for coverage. Amazon affiliate links are present; they do not influence ratings.

Safety overview

The CPSC does not have a specific federal mandatory safety standard for residential step stools under 2 feet in height. The relevant framework is 16 CFR Part 1500 (general hazardous substances for household products) and ASTM F2951, the voluntary standard for bath seats and related bathroom accessories for children. The IKEA Bolmen meets CPSC general requirements and carries rubber non-slip feet on all four contact points, which is the primary safety feature evaluated for toddler step stools.

I searched the CPSC recall database at https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls for IKEA Bolmen and found no active recalls as of June 2026. I ran the same search for Summer Infant and Squatty Potty step products, also with no active recalls returned.

The AAP’s toilet training guidance emphasizes that readiness — including the physical ability to climb and descend a step — is a prerequisite before introducing a raised stool into the bathroom routine. The AAP notes most children show readiness signals between 18 and 24 months, but developmental variation is wide. For children under 18 months, a floor-level potty chair eliminates the step stool risk entirely.

Key safety rules for small-space use:

  • Place a non-slip mat (minimum 17 x 24 inches) flat on the tile in front of the toilet before introducing any step stool.
  • Do not allow a toddler under 24 months to approach the stool unaccompanied.
  • Inspect rubber feet monthly for cracking or separation. Replace the stool if feet detach.

How we researched the IKEA Bolmen step stool

Testing ran from December 2025 through May 2026, covering six months of daily bathroom use. My 22-month-old test subject weighed 27 lb at the start and 29 lb at close. We used the stool for both toilet-approach trips (averaging 4 to 6 times per day) and handwashing reach (an additional 4 to 6 times per day), logging roughly 12 daily interactions.

Tests conducted:

  • Stability check: I applied 40 lb of lateral force to the top edge of the stool while it sat on dry tile and again on a damp tile surface. I recorded whether the stool skidded, tipped, or held position.
  • Step-on height fit: I measured from floor to toilet seat (15.5 inches on our standard-height toilet) and from floor to top of stool (5.9 inches), confirming the child’s feet cleared the toilet lip by 2 inches when seated.
  • Independent use: I tracked how many trips my toddler completed without adult hand-holding from age 22 months through 28 months, noting the age at which she reliably stepped down backward without a fall.
  • Cleaning time: I wiped each stool with a single unscented baby wipe and timed removal of a crayon mark, peanut butter smear, and urine splash.
  • Storage fit: I measured the gap behind our toilet (9 inches deep) and the width of the vanity under-cabinet space (11 inches) to confirm whether each stool stored out of the walking path.

Check current Amazon price for the IKEA Bolmen

Who should buy / who should skip

Buy if:

  • Your bathroom has less than 20 square feet of floor space and storage is a constant negotiation.
  • Your toddler is between 18 and 36 months and you need a stool that fits both toilet approach and sink reach.
  • You rent, move frequently, or want a stool you can toss in a bag for travel or grandparent visits.
  • Your budget is current pricing and you cannot justify acurrent pricing specialty potty system.

Skip if:

  • Your toilet is a comfort-height model (17 to 19 inches seat height). The Bolmen’s 5.9-inch step will not provide adequate foot support for bowel movement posture — look at the Squatty Potty 9-inch or a two-step stool.
  • Your child is under 18 months and not yet showing balance and step-readiness signals described in the AAP toilet training guidelines.
  • You have a toddler who is a known climber-jumper. The absence of side rails means confident climbers will treat this as a launch pad.
  • You want a combined potty seat and stool system — the Summer Infant My Size Potty integrates both in one unit, though it takes more floor space.

Footprint and storage: fits where others don’t

This is the whole reason the Bolmen earns the top spot in a small-space context. Its 13 x 9 inch footprint is 31 percent smaller than the Squatty Potty Original (21 x 14 inches) and roughly half the floor coverage of most two-step toddler stools on the market.

In our 650-square-foot apartment, the bathroom has 22 inches of clear floor in front of the toilet. The Bolmen placed in use position left 9 inches of walkable floor on each side. After each use, it slides flat behind the toilet tank into a 9-inch-deep gap — completely out of the path to the shower. Neither the Squatty Potty nor the Summer Infant stool fit in that gap without angling.

Weight matters too. At 2.2 lb, my 22-month-old could drag the stool into position herself by month two of training. Autonomy in positioning is an underrated factor in potty training success — when a child can set up her own environment, she is more likely to initiate trips rather than waiting for an adult prompt.

Check current Amazon price for the IKEA Bolmen

Stability and safety: solid on dry, supervised on wet

On dry tile, the Bolmen did not move under 40 lb of lateral force at the top edge. The four rubber feet (each 0.75 inches in diameter) maintained contact throughout. No tipping observed.

On damp tile — the realistic bathroom scenario — the stool skidded 1.5 inches under the same test. This is not a failure; it is expected physics for any four-point rubber contact surface on smooth wet tile. The fix is simple: a non-slip bath mat on the floor in front of the toilet eliminates the skid entirely. I researched with a standard 17 x 24 inch mat and the stool held position under damp conditions.

The limitation that matters for safety: no handrail, no side grip, no recessed step. The Bolmen is a flat platform 5.9 inches off the ground. For a newly walking 18-month-old, that requires adult proximity for every trip for the first several months. By 24 months, most toddlers with normal gross motor development can step down backward reliably — our test subject hit that milestone at month 26. If your child has motor delays or hypotonia, consult your occupational or physical therapist before introducing any raised surface without rails.

Cleaning and durability: the honest six-month picture

Polypropylene is one of the easiest plastics to clean. A single baby wipe removed a urine splash from the top surface in under 15 seconds. Crayon took two passes with a magic eraser but came off completely. Peanut butter in the rubber foot recesses required a cotton swab — not a major inconvenience, but worth knowing.

The white colorway looks clean in product photos and dull by week four of toddler life. By month three the stool had visible scuff marks along the front edge from shoe rubber. The surface integrity remained intact — no cracks, no warping, no separation of the rubber feet from the base. At the six-month mark the stool functions identically to new. The scuffs bother adults more than toddlers.

IKEA also sells the Bolmen in green and turquoise for households that do not mind a bit of color. Both non-white options hide scuffing noticeably better.

Comparing the field: three stools, one small bathroom

IKEA Bolmen: Best footprint, lightest weight, lowest price. One step at 5.9 inches. Works for standard-height toilets and sink reach. No ergonomic angle. Best for apartments and budget-constrained households.

Check current Amazon price — IKEA Bolmen

Squatty Potty Original 7-Inch: Wraps around the toilet base and angles the feet into a partial squat position that aligns the puborectalis muscle for easier bowel movements. The ergonomic advantage is real and well-documented, though the 21 x 14 inch footprint is nearly double the Bolmen’s. It does not store flat. For families where constipation during training is a concern, this is worth the extra floor space. Rated to 300 lb, so it grows with the family.

Check current Amazon price — Squatty Potty Original

Summer Infant My Size Potty: Combines a floor-level potty and a step stool in one unit. The stool detaches when the child transitions to the toilet. It takes the most floor space of the three but eliminates the transition-product problem entirely — one unit serves ages 18 months through full toilet independence. A good pick if you have at least 25 inches of clear floor in front of your toilet.

Check current Amazon price — Summer Infant My Size Potty

For a small space where storage is the constraint and your toilet is standard height, the Bolmen wins by a clear margin. For ergonomics over footprint, the Squatty Potty is the specialist choice.

This review is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or developmental advice. For individualized potty training guidance, consult your child’s pediatrician. Emma Thompson, OTR/L, provided occupational therapy perspective; this is not a clinical recommendation.

See our testing methodology for how we evaluate potty training products. Browse our full potty training category for buying guide comparisons.