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Pressure-fit and retractable stair gates are not a good option for the top of stairs because their design incurs a trip hazard and they are not as sturdy. There is no way to prevent every little bump and a few bruises along the way is to be expected, but you can avoid any major accidents by using a safety gate. If your child were to fall down a set of stairs, this would constitute a major accident. Fortunately, this scenario is preventable with a safety gate at the top of the stairs. Your child will simply not have access to the staircase. The Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate is easy to adjust to fit securely at the top of any staircase, and because you don’t need to use any additional extenders, the full width of the gate will open, leaving no obstruction that could cause you to trip. Which is the best safety gate to buy? However, they are generally not safe for use at the top of a staircase. This is for two main reasons.
Some stair gates also come with a small door inset into the gate, to let a smaller pet through while keeping large people and dogs out.
The most popular recommendations were pulled together to include in a longlist of approximately 30 stair gates, then whittled down to form our final shortlist. How we tested the stair gates Material A wooden or metal side-opening stair gate will need plenty of room to swing open, so you need to think about potential obstructions and whether it will be awkward to navigate around. While her baby-proofing days are now behind her, Lucy used (and reviewed) several stair gates with her two children when they were young, including both metal and retractable designs. We've split our recommendations into the different types of stair gate you can buy, so you can find one that's best suited for your house and needs. You don't need to break the bank to get a reliable product either - one of our top models was among the cheapest we tested.
To pass our testing, the stair gates we review must meet the requirements of the relevant safety standard. This ensures that they're sturdy, and can withstand the shakes and rattles of a determined child. We think the BabyDan Guard Me Auto Retractable Satefy Guard gate is the best stair gate available to buy right now. It scored the highest in our product testing and has received many glowing recommendations in the Mumsnet Talk forums. The retractable feature offers a neat option for leaving the gate folded away when not in use and it has a simple opening mechanism. About the author When testing and selecting the best stair gates we considered, safety, ease of installation, suitability, fit and value. Assembly: How easy was the gate to install? Were the instructions clear? Were any additional tools or fixings required?You can stop using a stair gate when you’re confident that your child can go up and down the stairs safely on their own (which includes the middle of the night). This will depend on the individual child, but this usually happens at around two or three years of age. If your child doesn’t pull or push on the gate, which could cause it to shift or break, and doesn’t attempt to climb over it, you can keep it in place until you feel comfortable removing it. What are the different types of stair gate? The key purpose of a stair gate is to keep your curious toddler away from anything that might cause them harm, including flights of stairs and busy kitchens.
To bring you our list of the best stair gates you can buy today, we first tapped into the wealth of knowledge in the Mumsnet forums, seeking tried and tested recommendations on the stair gates they’ve used and would happily recommend to others. Where possible, our parent-test Katja and her three children then put each stair gate through its paces, learning more about the key features and benefits of each product via everyday use. Best stair gates: at a glance Although the BabyDan Guard Me is safe for use anywhere in your home, the best stair gate for use at the top of the stairs is the Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate, which is also the best screw-fit stair gate we tested. It’s recommended that you invest in a high-quality stair gate as soon as your baby starts crawling and/or walking, but when it comes to something as important as your child’s safety, how do you know which is the best stair gate to buy? Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircaseDay-to-day use: Does the gate do the job it’s supposed to? Does it withstand a toddler’s weight? Is it easy to open and close with one hand?
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