Safety Gates
Safety gates help prevent a fall down the
stairs, as well as access to “off-limits” rooms
such as home offices or adult exercise areas. You can use them
to differentiate adult from toddler areas, offering a safe
play space for your baby while protecting your valuables, too.
Safety gates range in size from widths of approximately 25
inches to as wide as 30 feet, and average 30 inches in height.
It's wise to install safety gates before your child becomes
mobile. This helps prevent injuries and will also give you
time to become accustomed to using them regularly.
TYPES AND STYLES OF SAFETY GATES
Carefully examine the areas for which you need safety gates
to select the safest and most appropriate type for each location.
The gate you need may be determined by its location rather
than how you want it to operate or look.
All safety gates are designed to be mounted between two solid
wood surfaces such as a wood framed doorway. (See our Gate
Mounting Kit, #2610 which helps solve mounting issues in other
areas.) Once gates are installed they should always remain
closed since an open gate is a safety hazard for both toddlers
and adults. Consider installing gates in areas such as front
foyers or hallways rather than on staircases as they may be
easier to install and may be more visually appealing, too.
Pressure-Mounted Gates
Pressure-mounted gates are easier to install than those that
attach with hardware since they don't require tools and carpentry
skills. They expand to fit a desired opening and secure with
tension. Pressure gates tend to be inconvenient, since most
must be removed and replaced each time you enter and leave
rooms. Also, since many parents climb over pressure gates,
there’s the chance of injury to adults as well as to
tots who try to copy them. Pressure gates are available to
fit openings from about 28-60 inches, and are best suited for
doorways separating two rooms that are on the same level.
Basic guidelines for the use of pressure gates: Never us them
at the top of stairs, as there is always the danger of your
child's weight pushing them over. If you do use them between
rooms, mount them with the locking bar facing away from your
child, and make sure they fit snugly within openings to resist
the strength of your child. Select a gate that has been designed
for use with children and not puppies. Beware of gates with
square openings as they may be easy for some children to climb.
Example:
Evenflo Soft Child
Safety Gate 36"-60"W
x 27"H
Item # 5261
Hardware-Mounted Gates
Hardware-mounted gates attach with screws to walls and banisters.
These gates usually open and close much like a door. This makes
them more convenient for areas you'll be walking through regularly.
They can be mounted between two walls, two banisters or a banister
and a wall.
As with all safety equipment, gates should be checked frequently
for secure fittings, mounts, latching devices and effective
operation. Available in wood or metal, hardware-mounted gates
differ with respect to size, shape and overall design and fit
openings from approximately 25 to 67 inches. Most have vertical
slats to make them difficult for toddlers to climb. Although
the latching mechanisms vary, most are designed for easy adult
operation.
Example:
Baby Gate Mounting Kit
Item # 2610
Hardware-mounted gates are designed to be installed into a
solid wood surface. If your doorway or opening is already
framed in wood you can install the gate without any preparation.
If this is not the case, you’ll have to first install
a Gate Mounting Kit (with screws or wall anchors if no stud
is available) on each side of the opening. If you are attaching
the gate to a stairway post that is not square from top to
bottom you may also need to install a Gate Mounting Kit.
Some examples:
Cardinal Gates
Stairway Special Child Safety Gate 26"-42 1/2"W x 30"H
(Black or White)
Item # 5540
Wood Slat Baby Gate
28"-42"W x 27"H by Evenflo
Item # 1055
Hardware-Mounted Walk-Through Gates
Hardware-mounted walk-through gates attach with screws to
walls and banisters in the same fashion as hardware-mounted
gates. With a walk-through gate, however, only a portion of
the gate or “door” swings open and closed instead
of the entire gate. This style of gate is ideal for small areas
and even wide areas where an extra-long gate is needed and
swinging the entire gate would be inconvenient or impossible.
Walk-through gates come in many shapes and may even extend
up to 20 feet or more. Some must be mounted in a straight line
while others may be configured around corners or irregular
shapes to fit almost any space you need. Favored for their
flexibility and design, most walk-through gates feature one-hand
latching for adult convenience. Since all walk-through gates
have a bottom threshold, it’s especially important that
they be closed after entering or exiting and that they not
be installed on staircases whenever possible.
Some Examples:
Kidco Elongate Baby
Gate Fits Openings 48"-60" wide,
29 1/2" high
Item # 2600
Kidco Configure Baby
Gate, Three 24" Sections
Item # 2901
Kidco HearthGate, 5 Sections
Item # 2700
Pressure-Mounted Walk-Through Gates
Pressure-mounted walk-through gates operate the same way as
hardware-mounted walk-through gates. Since they secure with
tension, pressure-mounted walk-through gates should not be
used on stairways but are a good choice for doorways separating
rooms that are on the same level in your home. They are available
to fit openings from 28 to 45 inches wide.
Example:
Auto Close Gate
Item # 4800
Kidco Wood Center Gateway - 28'' to 35 3/4''
Item # 2241
DOS AND DON'TS
THE PROPER USE OF SAFETY GATES
DO select a safety gate which is JPMA or ASTM approved. Read
the manufacturer’s instructions for mounting the gate,
and be sure the gate is secure when installed.
DO test the locking mechanism to make sure it works properly
every time you use it.
DO get in the habit of closing gates all the time, even if
your baby is sleeping safely in his crib. This will help prevent
you from forgetting to close the gate when your baby is nearby.
DO use a mounting kit, unless you are mounting the gate to
a wooden door frame or other flat wood surface.
DO install safety gates early–before your child is mobile.
DO take into consideration the total length of time (and number
of children) for which gates will be needed. Select a gate
which will best withstand time and constant use.
DO follow manufacturer's instructions concerning when to remove
safety gates. (Most recommend that gates be removed at age
2 to 2 1/2 or when a child is tall enough to climb over them.)
DO be careful and remember to always close all gates, especially
walk-through gates as the threshold could be tripped over.
DON'T use a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs.
DON'T use older style, hand-me-down safety gates.
DON'T climb over gates. This provides children with behavior
to imitate.
DON'T use pet gates which usually have a square mesh openings
that are easy for tots to climb.
DON'T leave your child unattended, or rely on safety gates
to keep your child safe.
The information given and the products referred to can reduce
the likeliness of injury and are intended to help you provide
a safer environment for your child. The effectiveness of suggested
products depends on proper installation and use. There is no
replacement for adult supervision.
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