Baby Safety Gates
Using baby safety gates keeps your little one safe at home.
See also baby nursery rugs, baby highchairs and cloth baby diapers
As your child gets older and begins to crawl and walk, he or she will start exploring your home. This is the time that you need to start putting up baby safety gates.
Babies are curious and want to discover the world around them. Unfortunately, not every part of your home will be safe for baby to explore.
But instead of padding every inch of your living space, you can strategically place baby safety gates in the areas where you
Babies are curious and want to discover the world around them. Unfortunately, not every part of your home will be safe for baby to explore.
But instead of padding every inch of your living space, you can strategically place baby safety gates in the areas where you
want to keep baby out.
You can use baby gates for stairs and for other potentially dangerous areas of your home. Keep reading and find out more on baby safety gates and what to look for when buying them.
You can use baby gates for stairs and for other potentially dangerous areas of your home. Keep reading and find out more on baby safety gates and what to look for when buying them.
A Safety Gate Is Part of Good Baby-Proofing
As you baby-proof your home, there will be places that hold several hazards for your child that should be blocked off completely - such as the top of the stairs, the kitchen or a bathroom. Once your child is around the six month mark, you need to put up baby safety gates to prevent him or her from crawling and walking into potentially hazardous areas. You may think that supervising your child is enough, but children can move quickly. Baby-proofing your home with baby safety gates and other devices will make your life a lot easier and your baby a lot safer.
How much do baby safety gates cost?
A baby safety gate can cost more or less depending on the type of gate (i.e. attached or pressure) and the materials that it is made from (i.e. wood or plastic.) Typically baby safety gates cost anywhere from 20 dollars for a plastic pressure gate to 200 dollars for a metal attached gate.
How much do baby safety gates cost?
A baby safety gate can cost more or less depending on the type of gate (i.e. attached or pressure) and the materials that it is made from (i.e. wood or plastic.) Typically baby safety gates cost anywhere from 20 dollars for a plastic pressure gate to 200 dollars for a metal attached gate.
What to look for in a baby safety gate
The major things that you want to look for when you're shopping for a baby safety gate are sturdiness, ease of use, the size of the gate, the type of safety gate (attached vs. pressure) and style. Obviously you'll want the gate to be sturdy so your child cannot knock it down.
But also think about how you and the other adults in your house will get around the baby safety gate. You want something that will be easy to get through or over when you're holding your baby. Safety gates come in all types of materials (wood, metal, etc.) so you can find one that goes with your home's decor.
The major things that you want to look for when you're shopping for a baby safety gate are sturdiness, ease of use, the size of the gate, the type of safety gate (attached vs. pressure) and style. Obviously you'll want the gate to be sturdy so your child cannot knock it down.
But also think about how you and the other adults in your house will get around the baby safety gate. You want something that will be easy to get through or over when you're holding your baby. Safety gates come in all types of materials (wood, metal, etc.) so you can find one that goes with your home's decor.
Its best to have a baby gate that has a top edge that is straight and bars that are immovable or alternatively a mesh screen. If you need the baby safety gate to cover an especially wide space, you want to get a gate that can be configured and added to with extensions. Look out for gates that have horizontal bars or other things that your child could use to climb over the gate.
Types of Baby Safety Gates
There are basically two different types of baby safety gates. One of the types is a pressure gate. Pressure gates work by expanding the gate to a larger size and then placing it in between walls or a doorway - the pressure keeps the gate in place. This type of baby gate does not require anchoring to the wall.
The other kind of baby safety gate is an attached gate. Like the name implies, this type of baby gate is installed by attaching it to the wall or doorway that you want to block. Attached gates are generally more secure than pressure baby gates, but they require drilling a hole into your wall for nails or screws, so depending on your housing situation this might not be a good option for you.
Using baby gates for stairs
If your home has two or more floors, it will be necessary for you to get baby gates for stairs at the top and bottom of each staircase in your home to keep your child from injuring him or herself.
Gates with pressure bars that lock them in place should not be used for top of the stairs baby gates. There have been incidents where the bars have popped and allowed children to fall onto the stairs. So only attached gates can be used as baby gates for stairs. Baby gates for stairs should be kept in place until your child can solidly walk up and down the staircases of your home.
Where to buy a baby safety gate
You can purchase a baby safety gate at a baby store like Babies 'R Us or at a discounter like Target or Walmart. However, if you want a large selection of different styles and types, shopping online is your best bet. That way you can compare different prices, styles and even look at reviews from other parents who have used the gate you're considering buying.
How to save money buying a safety gate for baby
The best way to purchase a cheap baby safety gate is by shopping around online. Websites like Overstock or Amazon often have low prices for baby safety gates. Typically pressure gates are less expensive than attached gates, but if you're using a top of the stairs gate, you should still stick with an attached model. You can also get a fairly new baby gate (made the in last 3 years) through eBay.
It is not recommended to buy an older used baby safety gate. Like older cribs, dated safety gates are not up to speed with more recent safety guidelines - particularly accordion style gates.
Baby Gate Safety
Baby gates are meant to keep your child safe, but often safety gates that are improperly anchored or set up incorrectly can be just as dangerous for your baby to be around as the places that the gates are blocking. Wherever you use a baby safety gate, make sure it is firmly in place and anchored in the doorway or at the top of the stairs that the gate is blocking. This is important because babies can push the gates down if they aren't secure, which can be especially dangerous if it is a top of the stairs baby gate.
If the baby safety gate you choose has a pressure bar on it, always put the bar side on the outside of the gate so your child cannot use the bar as a step up to climb over the gate. Keep away any items that your child could use to climb over the gate. And of course, baby gates are not a substitute for supervision, so never leave you child alone even with a safety gate.
Accordion baby gates that can be folded up like an accordion are no longer manufactured due to safety problems - children's heads can get stuck in the V-shaped openings - but you may find these as used gates for sale. All accordion types of baby gates present a safety hazard, whether they are round expandable safety gates or they just fold up accordion style. Avoid this type of gate or any other gate with a V-shaped opening.
Types of Baby Safety Gates
There are basically two different types of baby safety gates. One of the types is a pressure gate. Pressure gates work by expanding the gate to a larger size and then placing it in between walls or a doorway - the pressure keeps the gate in place. This type of baby gate does not require anchoring to the wall.
The other kind of baby safety gate is an attached gate. Like the name implies, this type of baby gate is installed by attaching it to the wall or doorway that you want to block. Attached gates are generally more secure than pressure baby gates, but they require drilling a hole into your wall for nails or screws, so depending on your housing situation this might not be a good option for you.
Using baby gates for stairs
If your home has two or more floors, it will be necessary for you to get baby gates for stairs at the top and bottom of each staircase in your home to keep your child from injuring him or herself.
Gates with pressure bars that lock them in place should not be used for top of the stairs baby gates. There have been incidents where the bars have popped and allowed children to fall onto the stairs. So only attached gates can be used as baby gates for stairs. Baby gates for stairs should be kept in place until your child can solidly walk up and down the staircases of your home.
Where to buy a baby safety gate
You can purchase a baby safety gate at a baby store like Babies 'R Us or at a discounter like Target or Walmart. However, if you want a large selection of different styles and types, shopping online is your best bet. That way you can compare different prices, styles and even look at reviews from other parents who have used the gate you're considering buying.
How to save money buying a safety gate for baby
The best way to purchase a cheap baby safety gate is by shopping around online. Websites like Overstock or Amazon often have low prices for baby safety gates. Typically pressure gates are less expensive than attached gates, but if you're using a top of the stairs gate, you should still stick with an attached model. You can also get a fairly new baby gate (made the in last 3 years) through eBay.
It is not recommended to buy an older used baby safety gate. Like older cribs, dated safety gates are not up to speed with more recent safety guidelines - particularly accordion style gates.
Baby Gate Safety
Baby gates are meant to keep your child safe, but often safety gates that are improperly anchored or set up incorrectly can be just as dangerous for your baby to be around as the places that the gates are blocking. Wherever you use a baby safety gate, make sure it is firmly in place and anchored in the doorway or at the top of the stairs that the gate is blocking. This is important because babies can push the gates down if they aren't secure, which can be especially dangerous if it is a top of the stairs baby gate.
If the baby safety gate you choose has a pressure bar on it, always put the bar side on the outside of the gate so your child cannot use the bar as a step up to climb over the gate. Keep away any items that your child could use to climb over the gate. And of course, baby gates are not a substitute for supervision, so never leave you child alone even with a safety gate.
Accordion baby gates that can be folded up like an accordion are no longer manufactured due to safety problems - children's heads can get stuck in the V-shaped openings - but you may find these as used gates for sale. All accordion types of baby gates present a safety hazard, whether they are round expandable safety gates or they just fold up accordion style. Avoid this type of gate or any other gate with a V-shaped opening.
