Child Safety Gates Tips

Baby gates can be used to keep your baby out of areas or securely in areas depending on your needs. They are wonderful tools to prevent the treacherous fall down stairs and can even be used to separate the kids from the animals. They have thousands of uses and are a big help when it comes to supervising kids in and around the house. Keep in mind that although a child should not be able to open them an adult should be able to do it with ease.

The last thing you want is a gate you have to leap over with a baby in your arms to get from one room to the other. Find the ones that have easy to open features. It doesn’t matter if you choose plastic, metal, wood or mesh – just give them a once over to ensure they don’t pose any entrapment hazards and are sturdy enough to withstand pressure from your ever curious children.

 

What Type of Gates are Available & Which Is Best?

You basically have two simple options when it comes to baby gates. Either you can purchase a pressure gate or buy a hardware mounted gate. Both are great tools. The portable pressure mounted gates are nice to have handy so you can quarantine areas on demand or take them with you when you travel. You also don’t have to be a genius with a measuring tape because they fit in most spaces. The downfall of course, is that your rowdy and rambunctious kids could probably knock them loose unexpectedly.

The hardware mounted gates are pretty permanent. They will leave holes in the walls but provide less of a chance that a kid can bust through it. They can be slightly trickier to install and may require extra hardware or kits to ensure they fit properly. With a mounted gate, make sure to find one that has a one handed release option. This is a feature you will appreciate in time. If I was choosing a gate for the top of the stairs I would definitely opt for a mounted gate!

How Long Will Safety Gates Work in my Home?

The older, wiser and more clever your child becomes the harder it will be to use the gates as effective barriers. They are usually only intended for toddlers up to 2 years old. After that there is no telling what your kids may do to try and clear the gate, so be forewarned that you still may expect the unwanted visitor or ski trip down the stairs if you are relying only on gates.

If your gate opens and closes and older kids are in the house you may have to remind them to close it after they pass through. For this reason, barrier gates or self closing gates are often practical. Just make sure the self closing gate works as designed..

Tips to Install Your Gate Properly

Gates are normally made at 65cm high. When you are installing them make sure you are not leaving a foot hold somewhere that your child could use to get over the gate more easily. Yes, they will try it! This is especially true on the stairs. Install the gate right at the top or on the first step at the bottom so they cannot use a step as a climbing tool. Even check to make sure that the latch itself can’t be used as a foot hold. Don’t buy any gate that has horizontal bars or mesh, as children can quickly learn to use them as a ladder.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Safety Gate

Once you found the perfect gate you are ready to install it. If you are using a pressure mounted gate then installation is a breeze. They usually have spring loaded bars to hold them or spindles that can be wound until they are tight. I have even seen some varieties that have plastic cups you can screw into the wall that secure the rods.

This can make this type of gate even more secure. If you chose a permanent gate, install it well because it will be there for a long time. They cannot be moved at will and should come with all the appropriate hardware. Now that your house is gated properly you can sit down and enjoy your cup of coffee while your children are safe from danger. That is at least until they are able to climb. Enjoy the time while it lasts.