Baby Gate Stairs Safety

With all the different brands and models of baby stair gates available on the market today, picking the right one can be frustrating as well as confusing. There are plastic models, wood, and a variety of other materials and many different manufacturers to choose from.

So how do you know what child stair gate is right for you. Well thankfully there are some things to help you pick the right one for you needs, and it is important that safety comes first when picking out the right model.

First of all, there are some things you shouldn't do when it comes to stair gates. While some baby essentials are great to pass down from one generation to another, never take a hand-me-down baby stair gate. These are likely to be worn, and because they do not have a lot of parts that you can maintain the safety of the stair gate may well be compromised. Sure, they may appear structurally sound, but because the materials are old, you just never know when a small child's weight may cause them to collapse.

Always buy your child safety gate brand new.

There are other baby gate stairs safety issues to consider as well. You should have a stair gate at both the top as well as bottom of the stairs, to ensure that your child has no access whatsoever to the staircase.

We would also recommend that you do not use stair gates that use pressure to adhere to the walls, always use the ones that have to be screwed in. With pressurized stair gates, there are quite a few problems. One is that the springs tend to wear out, or the notches for the latch do, slipping out of position and causing a hazard. Too much weight or pushing against the gate itself can also cause pressure failure.

Also, don't try to climb over a baby stair gate, no matter what. You child learns by example, and if they see you climbing over the stair gate, what do you think they will try to do? When you are looking for a certain model, get one with a latch that is secure, and locks when it closes. This way your child can't mimic you and try to open it.

There are several different brands of baby stair gates available and KidCo, Evenflo, and Summer Infant seem to always be at the top of any review listing. Review sites are always a good idea to check out first, since they not only compare prices and features for each brand, they also have consumer comments to help you decide which brand is right for you.

While you may be on a budget, keep in mind that baby stair gates, while not always cheap, are affordable none the less. Be careful with buying a really cheap stair gate, because the materials used may not be as high quality as more expensive models.

You really get what you pay for when it comes to child safety gates, and to have peace of mind when it comes to keeping your children from seriously hurting themselves, it is better to spend the extra and go with a trusted and respectable model.