Keep Children Out of Trouble with the Best Baby Gate

Baby gates are an essential if you want to keep your toddler secure from getting injured or hurt due to tripping over stairs or an area with elevated height. For added safety, you might also need to place a baby gate near stairs, in the kitchen doorway, or your garage. Most of the time, parents require more than one best baby safety gate in order to secure all corners of the house where the baby might get himself injured.

However, with so many different types and models of baby gates available in the market. Choosing the right the best baby gate in 2021 for your toddler can get a bit confusing. To make the choice easier for you, we have listed some of the essential features that should be present in the baby gate that you purchase.

Some of the important factors that should be take into consideration are:

Height

The height of the baby gate is one of the most important factors that should be considered since it ensures the safety of your baby and ensures that your baby won’t be able to climb over the gate. The ideal baby gate height is more than three quarters of the height of your child. Generally, the higher the gate is for your baby - the better. Some of the best baby gates available measure more than 39 in height, however, if you have limited space in your home, then baby gates that are too high can be more of a hazard than safety. .

Sturdy Construction

A baby gate can’t be useful at keeping your baby safe if it itself does not have a sturdy construction. Hence, the build quality of the baby gate is another important factor that is crucial for selecting the best baby gate. Baby gates made from metal are durable and long-lasting, however these are heavier and more difficult to move. On the other hand, baby gates made from plastic are lightweight and portable but these are not as durable as metal gates.

Latches and hardware

Latches and hardware are necessary for your baby’s safety. You can find baby gates that come with a double activity lock that needs to be pushed down with one hand to be released. You should always look for a locking mechanism that would be difficult to use for your baby because if he/she figures out how to unlock the baby gate, there’s always a chance that he/she might get into a hazardous situation. Therefore, the best option is to look for latches and locks that are tricky to open.

Opening closing mechanism

Baby gates come with several opening closing mechanisms. Three of the most common types are swing open gates and lift off gates.

To open swing gates you need to push two parts together and undo a safety latch. Though swing gates are something that toddlers would find difficult to open themselves, these are also difficult to open by adults with one hand while carrying the baby or any other thing in their other hand.

Lift off gates need to be lifted up and down in order to open and close. These are difficult for babies to lift so your baby would be safe within one. However, these are usually a hassle for parents to manage as well, therefore they tend to climb over them. If your baby is old enough to climb over the gate then he/she might start copying you as well. Therefore, these gates are the best options for children below the age of 13 to 18 months.

Types of baby gates

There are three common types of best baby gates available in the market these days. The right option depends on your toddler's age and where you plan to install the baby gate. Below mentioned are the three main options to choose from.

Pressure-Mounted

Pressure mounted gates are very popular among parents because these are portable and very easy to carry from one place to another. You can easily install these in one place, remove them, and transfer them somewhere else. Also, these do not require any tools or drilled holes to be installed. Overall, these are also a great option for people who occasionally have babies at their place and need to use baby gates.

Hardware-Mounted

If you plan to install a baby gate for long-term use, then you might want to get your hands on a hardware mounted gate. Hardware mounted gates only require one-time installation. Also since these are installed by drilling screws in the wall, you can rest assured that your baby won’t be able to knock this gate over. However, keep in mind that these are not n portable option.

Baby gates for stairs

As the name suggests, baby gates for stairs are used to keep the infant safe from tripping from stairs. Baby stairs for gates dont come with a step-over rail which can be dangerous for the baby. Infact, these are made keeping banisters in mind. For added security, stair gates are hardware mounted and feature a safety lock so the door doesn’t swing over the stairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. At what age does a baby start climbing stairs?

Babies can try to start climbing stairs as soon as they are old enough to get up and start walking. Usually, babies start to walk at the age of 12 months.

Q. What is the most portable type of baby gate?

If you are looking for a baby gate that is portable and easy to carry, then you might want to go for a pressure mounted baby gate since these are not connected to drilled holes in the walls.

Q. At what age should parents stop using baby gates?

Baby gates are usually used till the baby is below 2 years old. This is because when they are 2 years or older they can unlock and climb over the gates which can result in the baby getting injured.