hi hope you are all ok. i rarely post onhere any more dont seem to have the time but i really wanted to share an item we have just bought. (it was actually a present from a friend). Its called a little helpers fun pod. and its basically instead of your toddler standing on a chair. its an enclosure they stand in with different height positions for a 1 to 4 year old. All i can say is i wish id bought it 12 months ago. I have one of those children who just wants to do what im doing and its only now at 2 she can sit and watch telly on her own an d i can prepare tea . for 12 months i struggled balancing her on the work tops while i cut vegetables etc. and from an early age ive involved her in cooking baking etc and have really needed another pair of hands. This pod allows your child to be stood safely at work top height. also sink height which is brilliant as my dd like nothing better than playing in the sink after every meal or messy activity which is fine but i have wasted hours just standing close so she doesnt fall off the chair. I found these pods last year but didnt really want to spend the ??125 rrp . my friend came over last week and made buscuits with my dd and witnesed her fall off the chair (she also cant keep still) i mentioned the pod saying i wish id bought when when we had some money (we are struggling financially at the moment) an dmy lovely friend bought it for her. We have only ha dit a few days but its such a help it really is like having a babysitter in your house . xx

Yeah I ve seen them, and I think they are fab, but I so cannot justify that amount of money for it! Even though I really want it! Maybe shold raid ebay for it ...

This is a brilliant recommendation, thanks very much. I think they're a fantastic idea, and I would really like to get one. I have found them on-line for ??86.99 with free delivery, but there aren't any on ebay sorry fooxoo. It may be because they're a fairly new product and the people who bought them are still using them, so no need to sell them on. I am going to have a long think whether I can justify the money, as it is a lot to spend.

But thanks very much for the recommendation!

This makes no sense to me - it's a box! Can't see max wanting to be in it - we have a great kitchen step from Ikea and Max just had to learn to be careful it's part of life. I can't believe they are charging THAT much for a box on legs

It's great that they work for some though and it looks like searching online you might find it cheaper!

I've seen them and a bit like Charli I thought ??125 for a box !!

I've seen that step in Ikea and might go and buy that. He's probably a little small just now but he's just desparate to see what's going on at the sink, worktops etc. S x

Here's what we have:
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00150508

I bought one of these off Netmums for ??60 it was in perfect condition! Although it is heavy and bulky I would recommend it. I tried a little stool but my lo couldnt reach and fell off a few times and hurt himself. I also tried a chair but again I couldn't take my eyes of him for one second. Now when I get home from work and need to make tea he will stand in it and bang on the worktops with the toys I give him. He also loves playing with the bubbles when Im washing up. I can see us using this more when he is more involved with cooking but at 16 (eeek!) months everything is still going in the mouth so its a bit difficult to do baking with him... IMO much safer than a chair but I def wouldn't of paid full price for it!

What I think is great about them is that they give lo much more height than he would on a normal step and there is no danger of the step slipping or him falling off it. I think they're a great idea. Lo always wants to be involved in whatever I am doing in the kttchen, and he has fallen off steps and chairs before. Or he stands on teh chair and then gets bored and wanders off and I don't know what he's doing, so I ahve to stop what I'm doing to find him. This pod would be great for us I think.

I agree that they're very expensive though. They look easy enough to make, but unfortunately neither me nor hubby are handy carpenters!

BTW - I have an ikea step, but its for me! At 5'1", I can't reach anything in the top kitchen cupboards without it!!

I'm with Maximum j would never stand still in this and I'd just be stuck with a big expensive box in my kitchen! It's great if your lo would get use out of it though x

I've been looking at these and wondering on and off for a while - never had the money spare though - but would love one. I've looked but never seen any for sale 2nd hand so guessing anyone who has one loves it!
What a brilliant thoughtful friend you have!
xxx

i am very lucky to a friend like that agreed. should have added that ive been watching them on e bay for months and they never seem to sell for anything less ??75 so i am confident we will get a good price for it when we need to sell it. my friend payed ??99 i found out so ??86 is a great price. The reason i posted this is becouse we have a step in our bathroom which we use for the toilet and brushing teeth however we have had mant falls off it and i cant really leave a toddler unsupervised which is why the pod is such a great idea leaves you hands free. My friends husband is looking at making these 'boxes' for my friends at a much reduced cost so ill keep you posted.

I was just thinking that westbrom1 - definatley one to get hubby to make! =)