Safety Gates Buying Guide

Safety gates are one of the most important items of child safety gear. Every parent wants to keep his or her baby safe from the dangers of the outside world, but the home holds just as many hazards for an active and curious baby. Baby proofing your home is essential for your child's safety. A safety gate blocks stairways and other areas of the home that could pose a danger. A child safety gate can offer peace of mind for worried parents and a barrier of protection for children. This safety gate buying guide will help you figure out how to buy a safety gate that will offer the most effective protection for your baby around the house.

Buying a Safety Gate:

1. Pressure-mounted: These types of safety gates work essentially the same as tension rods for shower curtains. The gate simply wedges between two walls or a door frame, using pressure to stay in place. A pressure-mounted gate will work great in doorways between rooms or in a hallway. A pressure-mounted safety gate can be used at the bottom of the stairs to keep your baby from climbing or between rooms to keep your baby separated from the family dog or cat.

2. Hardware-mounted: Unlike a pressure-mounted gate that can be moved from place to place, a hardware-mounted safety gate is secured to your walls or doorways with screws or brackets. It is recommended that a hardware-mounted gate be used at the tops of staircases or any other area of uneven floor levels where your baby could fall.

3. Metal: Metal frames are often the sturdiest child gates, whether hardware or pressure-mounted. Metal safety gates are often preferable for mounting at the tops of stairs or anywhere you need the most protection possible.

4. Wood or plastic: For pressure-mounted gates, a wood or plastic gate will work fine as long as you're not relying on it to keep your baby from falling down a staircase. If you buy a wooden safety gate, make sure the wood is completely sanded and smooth to avoid slivers and splinters.

Child Gate Safety Tips:

1. Slats: Avoid buying a child safety gate that has horizontal slats or bars. A child gate with horizontal slats or bars is no better than providing your child with a ladder to climb. Look for safety gates with closely set vertical slats or bars or one with a wire mesh screen or plastic panel. These types of child gates will more effectively prevent your child from climbing them. If you're buying a safety gate with bars, slats or a mesh screen, make sure the bars are set close enough together to prevent little feet from slipping between the slats to climb onto the gate, and the mesh has holes that are neither big enough to become footholds nor small enough to trap little fingers.

2. Installation: When installing a hardware-mounted gate, the importance of installing it correctly cannot be overstated. Screws or brackets should be drilled into the door frame or a wall stud, never just into the dry wall. If you install a hardware-mounted gate with a swinging door at the top of the stairs, make sure the door swings open away from the stairs for maximum safety. To install a pressure-mounted gate, simple tighten the tension bar between two walls or in a doorway until the gate is securely in place.

3. Upkeep: Over time, the hardware or pressure of your safety gates will loosen slightly, so it's important to check them often to keep them tight and secure.

4. Watchful eye: To maximize the effectiveness of your safety gate, watch your child closely and keep an eye on the environment surrounding your safety gates. Remove anything from the area that your baby can use to climb onto or over the gate, such as lightweight furniture, toy chests or even large stuffed animals near the gate.