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I wanted one, but we just use a chair and some safety rules instead.

We also used the Ana White plans. And by "we," I mean my incredible retired neighbors who love a good project. I make them baked goods, and they do projects It's really great for letting DS help in the kitchen, and the supplies and such came to about $50.

We use a tall step stool, we didn't start using it until ds was nearly two though if he was younger we'd definitely would have invested in a learning tower.

We use a chair turned backwards, and have since LO was about 15 months.

We have the Little Partners learning tower. It was a gift from her godmother, and she uses it all the time. Seriously all the time. It's in my way in the kitchen, but it's worth it. We cook and bake together, plus she makes my coffee in the morning I am excited for her little sister to be able to climb up there too.

@MenagerieMama: We got it for her 2nd birthday, and she's used it since. DD2 is 10 months. She's been up there once or twice, but she's still too small to be safe. I think as long as they were steady on their feet, they'd be fine though.

We have the Little Partners Learning Tower and love it. LO1 got it for Christmas when she was 1.5 has been using it multiple times a day for the past 2 years. LO2 is 1.5 now and has been using it for 3-4 months. It is so worth the money.

@MenagerieMama: mine has been using his learning tower since around 18 months. He got a kitchen around the same time, and honestly the learning tower gets way more use. We still use it pretty much every single day (he's almost 2.5) but the frequency definitely picked up around age 2 as he became more interested in painting, cooking, etc in it.

@twodoghouse: Can both kids fit on it at once? My two have been trying to squeeze onto a stool together recently, and it's leading to a lot of squabbling - I'd love something big enough so that I don't need to have two of whatever!!

We have the little partners in green.

@PinkElephant: yes, they both can fit! However, my DD is not enjoying sharing it with her brother. She keeps elbowing him out of the way. For the most part DS is using the tower (because he's more likely to flip himself off a barstool in our kitchen) and I'm letting DD still use the chairs. I'm hoping we can get them to use it together nicely at some point, though. DD is teething really badly so she's not at her most cooperative right now.

I scored a Little Partners one at a local consignment shop right around this time last year, so D would have been about 21m. We've loved it. It's bulky, but we managed to find a corner to stash it in where it's pretty out of the way. D helps me in the kitchen all the time!

@T.H.O.U.: DH is building one currently and it's definitely been cheaper than $50. I think probably $20 just for the wood. He had everything else. I'll FB you a picture when he's done (fingers crossed it's this weekend).

ETA: I just realized that didn't remotely answer your question... I think the cheapest you can find new is about $100. I see them on Craigslist all the time, though. You guys are pretty crafty though - I bet y'all could easily do it.

we have one(not sure which) and we use it every day. the kids love it. DD eats dinner out of it. they got it for christmas last year, so DS was 2.5 and DD was just over 1.

We've had the One Step Ahead one for almost 2 years I think. LO is 3 years old. I think it was a $100. It was money well spent because we're still using it and will use it for LO #2 when he's ready for it.

@BandDmommy: I totally agree. It has plenty of room for two, and the size of it lets them move around at the counter and help more. I was shocked at how heavy and solid it was! The size/structure was what made it functionally different from a step stool and worth the money.

@sometimesshesings: We had a really hard time getting the drill bit through the Ikea step stool bottom. Like we broke a bit (which has NEVER happened to me), and ultimately it took time from multiple days (which is difficult to come by with a toddler). Given that and the cost of the wood and step stool, I don't think it was worth my time for the cost savings

That said, I do really like the smaller footprint. I think the larger one would be beneficial with two kids later on though. My son loves standing in his friend's learning tower with him.

I don't know what brand it is, but we got it on Craigslist for $100. LO uses is almost every day and has since about 18 months. It's this one. Please excuse all the junk on the island - I'm in the middle of a craft project.