Baby Gates

As your child begins to crawl, you’re certain to become fearful of her playing near stairs in your home. In addition, you may wish to make some rooms of your home effectively “off limits” to your young children. Baby gates are the perfect product to help you achieve these goals, keeping your children out of harm’s way without requiring you to be constantly monitoring the situation.

You’ll find many different styles of baby safety gates from which to choose. They come in a wide range of prices and are made by many different manufacturers. You can choose the right gate for your home based on where it’s to be located and your budget. Following is a list of the most popular kinds.

Pressure-Mounted Gates

This type of gate usually has two sliding panels that you adjust to make the gate fit the opening. A pressure bar or other locking mechanism wedges the gate in place against the wall or door frame. This makes them very easy to install and to move from location to location in your home. Most models span openings up to 42 inches wide, but others extend 48 or even 60 inches. Be certain to measure the area you need to restrict so that you buy the right size. You can also purchase optional extensions for some models. These are best for areas where falling is not a big concern, such as at the bottom of a staircase, rather than at the top, because they can be dislodged.

Hardware-Mounted Gates

These gates require you to actually install them by drilling holes in your wall or door jamb. This makes them a bit more difficult to install and move around, but they’re far safer for baby because they don’t come dislodged. In addition, they can be installed so that they swing open only one way so that you can ensure that they swing open away from your stairs. This feature makes them a much better choice for installing at the top of a staircase.

Specialty Gates
There may be areas of your home in which these two typical types of baby gates just don’t work. For these special spots, you need special gates. Some gates adjust to uneven baseboards, walls, or door frames. Others have special hardware for attaching the gate to wrought-iron railings, wooden newel posts, and other structures. You can also find specialty gates to protect your child from the fireplace or barbecue grill.