Baby Gates - Manual Retractable or Hands Free Child Safety Gates

Stair safety gates

If you have a combination of a baby and stairs then it is imperative that you have baby gates installed. And not just one set either, because you must have them at the top and bottom of the stairs. Kids are robust and many kids take spills and falls throughout their life but for the parent to hear that awful sound of a child falling is too awful to think about.

Installing baby gates

Most people will install their own manual gates but if you are unsure of how to do it then get a friendly carpenter or friend to help. It is vitally important that the gates are securely fixed because as the child grows these gates will be severely tested. When you install them make sure that they lock (catch) completely every time. Do test them, time and time again, at installation and if you are unhappy with any little thing at all then start over and correct whatever bothers you.

Toddler gate

If you have more than one infant you may find that the hands free gate works best. Even with a single toddler it can sometimes be hard to manage to open and close a manual gate. Oftentimes you will be multitasking when minding the baby because you will likely be carrying lots of baby paraphernalia up and down the stairs.

Hand free baby gate

It is hard to believe the amount of stuff that a baby requires even on a daily basis. You will likely be trying to carry diaper, bottles, creams, lotions and potions as well as the baby and possibly a crib when you reach the baby gates so a hands free gate might be a real boon.

How the hands free gate works

It is foot-pedal operated and the gate will be able to swing in both directions. To operate the gate, just press on the foot pedal near the bottom of the gate to release the lock. The gate will not offer any resistance and you can walk through. Do remember to close it by knudging the gate shut. You will hear the click or clunk of the mechanism as it locks again.

Baby gate foot pedal

You do not need to touch the foot pedal to close the baby gate. It fits all regular stairways and can be adapted with and extension kit for wider stairway entrances. A major disadvantage is that it should only be used and operated at the bottom of the stairs. Because it is controlled by your foot it would be considered dangerous for use at the top steps. A non hands free version will have to be employer at the top.

Fast fixing baby gates

Some of the baby safety gate can be installed without recourse to any carpentry tools. These gates have a winding, pressure threaded device fitted at the four corners of the gate. They are in effect adjustable bolt like mechanisms which wind outwards towards the walls and lock by forced pressure alone against the four edges of the gate.

Maintain baby gates

They can loosen over time so are not my preferred method where baby safety is concerned. One advantage, however, if that it will fit into an irregular space (off line walls) because of the capability to fine tune the tightening mechanism. Bear in mind, too, that you will have to upgrade the gates as your baby grows and turns into a toddler who will be much more adventurous and daring.

Other non toddler versions

The retractable baby gate is another option for child safety at stairwells. Like its name suggest it just folds away when it's not in use, in similar fashion to a roller blind, but much stronger, of course, as child safety is involved. It can be useful if your have a small or cramped house.

Baby gate material

This gate is made from mesh-like flexible material which a child cannot fall through. It is not a hands free model however and sometime both hands are needed to operate it. It is best in little used areas of the home where the retraction is not needed on several occasions each day.

Minimize tripping and falling instances

The bottom bar on the gateway constitutes a trip hazard on some of the baby gates so look out for this as certain gates have a step over while others have a very shallow, but strong, supporting rod at floor level. Several manufacturers have this support as a ramp feature which helps reduce the tripping factor.

Baby Gate secured to wall

These baby gates for stairs may be the full width of your stairway opening but the opening gate-door gap may not be and this is something worth checking as some baby style gates are only 16 inches wide. The gate should be secured at the wall side (opening flat against the wall) because the wall offers the strength required to securely support the gate. Fitting the gate to the newel post would be an error and is not recommended by the manufacturers of baby gates.

Baby gate advice

You will get the best advice on baby gates from other more experienced parents who have tried and tested various gate types with their own offspring.