How to Choose the Right Baby Gate

Once your baby starts exploring the world on his or her own – look out! While this new level of independence is an exciting time for both you and your baby, it can certainly increase stress levels as you watch your little one wander near stairs and other potentially hazardous places.

Baby gates offer a great solution, enabling your baby to happily explore while providing you with peace of mind knowing your baby won’t be able to get anywhere you don’t want him to. Install them at the top and bottom of stairs and any other spaces that are off limits and you can rest easy – well, easier!

Find out how to choose the right baby gate below and then get your house ready for your baby to safely roam about.

Types of Baby Gates

If you’re wondering what is the best baby gate, it will depend on where you’ll be placing the gate. Below are the two main types of baby gates, by installation method, along with the best places to use them.

1. Pressure-mounted

Pressure-mounted baby gates don’t require any hardware to install, as they’re placed in a door frame between two walls and rely on pressure to keep them in place. They’re super easy to install and can be conveniently moved from one location to another. They’re also the best option if you’re renting, since you won’t need to drill holes into walls.

However, these types of gates aren’t fully secure and can potentially be knocked over by a child since they’re not permanently fixed into the wall. This is the best baby gate for doors between two rooms and anywhere else falls aren’t likely to occur, such as the bottom of stairs. Avoid placing this type of gate at the top of stairs. 

2.Hardware-mounted

Hardware-mounted baby gates are anchored to the walls with screws or brackets, providing extra security and sturdy protection. Because of the added safety, this is the best baby gate for the top of stairs and anywhere else a dangerous fall may occur.

Note that there are also double duty gates that can be mounted both ways. Many of our pressure-mounted gates include hardware for extra safety.

Additionally, baby gates come in metal, wood and plastic. Metal ones are the sturdiest and should be your go-to choice for spots where you need extra protection, like at the top of stairs. 

Considerations Before Buying a Baby Gate

To make the shopping experience a breeze, you’ll want to take the following four factors into consideration. Taking these steps ahead of time will save you a lot of hassle, helping to ensure you get the right gate for your purposes and that your gate is the correct size for its intended location.

1. Measure the width of the opening where the baby gate will go. For staircases, measure both the top and bottom of the stairs. For doorways, measure between the walls and the skirting boards.

2. Choose how you want to fix your gate. As discussed above, you’ll need to choose between pressure-mounted and hardware-mounted gates.

3. Decide how you want your baby gate to open and close. There are various opening and closing options available. Some opening options include gates that swing open in both directions and ones you can open with one hand. A couple of closing options are gates that automatically close and manual close gates that you need to close.

4. Choose your material and finishes. First and foremost, you’ll want the material that’s the safest and sturdiest for the intended location, as mentioned above. Also look for materials and finishes that best complement your home décor. 

Once you have these details figured out, enjoy a seamless shopping experience. Check out the wide array of quality baby gates we carry and get the perfect ones for your home.