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    baby on stomach grabbing wooden baby gate

    Safety Gate Buying Guide

    Commonly referred to as a baby gate, a safety gate can be a useful defense against your child getting injured—or just getting into mischief—the moment your back is turned. 

    A strategically placed safety gate can make the job of childcare easier by separating your child from potential dangers, such as stairs or areas of the home that may be unsafe, like a kitchen where a stove is in use or a bathroom where medicines are kept (because toddlers have been known to defeat childproofing devices on cabinets, drawers, and even toilets). In addition to keeping children safe, baby gates can also be used to corral pets, such as smaller dogs. 

    Safety gates are available at various prices; those tested by Consumer Reports range in price from $25 for a basic wood pressure-mounted gate to more than $200 for a hybrid hardware-mounted gate with easy open-close features.

    The gates are typically designed for children between 6 months and 2 years of age. Once a child learns how to open a gate, or can climb over it, it should no longer be relied upon as a safety device. No gate is a substitute for careful supervision of your baby or toddler. Never leave your child unattended.

    Types of Gates

    Hardware-mounted gates are the most secure safety gate. They’re bolted or screwed to a door frame or to the framing inside the walls of your home with brackets. (They should not be screwed into drywall or plaster alone.) They’re the best gate to use where there’s a chance of your child falling, such as at the top of a stairway. These gates are typically made of wood, enamel-coated steel, or aluminum tubing. They typically have a gate or panel that swings free from the mounting hardware when you want to open a passageway.

    Pressure-mounted gates stay in place by pressing on opposing walls—eliminating the need for installing hardware or drilling holes. They typically fit openings between 26 and 38 inches, but there are wider models available up to 62 inches. Pressure-mounted gates aren’t secure enough to use at the top of stairs, so never use them that way, no matter how much you want to avoid drilling holes into your walls. They should only be used where falling isn’t a hazard, such as between two rooms or at the bottom of stairs to discourage your little explorer from climbing up. A portable pressure-mounted gate or two is a handy way to make a hotel room or a relative’s home safer for your young child.

    Hybrid-style safety gates are essentially pressure-mounted gates that come with optional screws and round brackets (or “cups”) that keep the gate firmly installed. Without cups, this hybrid type performs similarly to pressure-mounted gates.

    Play yards are self-standing barriers that can serve as a recreational play area. The segments of some play yards can also be installed as a traditional safety gate.

    How to Choose the Best Baby Safety Gate

    Whichever style you choose, look for a gate that’s certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which promotes the safe use and selection of juvenile products. JPMA-certified child safety gates have a sticker on the frame or packaging that indicates the manufacturer has met international voluntary safety standards for a specific gate.

    These standards include safety and performance factors like component strength, latch integrity, and size of openings (to prevent head, finger, or toe entrapment). The standards also specify that the gate should be no less than 22 inches tall and that the distance between the bottom of the gate and the floor should be less than 3 inches so that a small torso can’t pass through and there’s minimal risk of a head or neck getting stuck.

    Safety Gate Features 

    Gate safety depends on solid construction, reliable hardware, and the absence of entrapment hazards. Here are some specifics to consider.

    Height

    Any gate you buy should meet the JPMA height standard of no less than 22 inches, with the distance between the bottom of the gate and the floor less than 3 inches. To discourage an adventurous child from climbing over a gate, the one you buy should be at least three-quarters of your child’s height. 

    Construction

    Choose a gate with a straight top edge and closely spaced, rigid vertical slats or a fine mesh screen. If you choose a model with mesh panels, look for a fine weave, because wider holes could provide a foothold for climbing or trap fingers. Wood gates should have a sturdy construction and an even finish with surfaces that are smooth and splinter-free, and with rounded rather than squared edges. Metal might be more durable than wood. Some gates have a support bar that crosses the floor beneath the gate, which could cause tripping when the gate is open.

    Slat Spacing

    Safety gate slats should be vertical slats or bars less than 3 inches apart to prevent head entrapment. But that could still be enough space to let an adventurous toddler get a foothold on the gate’s horizontal bottom rail in an attempt to climb over the gate or go for a ride on the swing-out door. This could lead to injury and could also dislodge and/or damage the gate.

    Latches and Hardware

    Some gates have a dual-action latch, meaning that you have to push down on it to release it. This can be done with one hand. Try different types of latches in a store to make sure they’re easy for you—but not your child—to use.

    A gate with a squeezing mechanism opens by compressing parts of the gate, but this type of latch can be difficult to use, so test it in a store first. Another option is a pressure-release handle, which can be lifted with one hand to open the gate. Some models have a foot pedal to release the latch.

    Latch Indicators

    Many gates click to signal that they’re latched. Others offer a color indicator showing when the gate is latched, and others may sound an alarm if the gate is left open (adults can deactivate these). But priority No. 1 is to make sure any gate is latched after you close it. An alarm or other indicator is a nice feature, but nothing replaces checking with your eyes and hands.

    Installation Flexibility

    Many gates can be mounted to odd areas, such as stair balusters, angled banisters, and drywall with no wood framing behind it. But you might have to purchase an installation kit for these areas. Some gates also adjust to fit irregularly shaped areas or very wide ones. You can slide some hardware-mounted gates out of their wall mountings, which is a bonus when you’re entertaining and don’t want the gate in the way.

    How Consumer Reports Tests Baby Safety Gates

    Regardless of what type of safety gate you choose, it’s critically important to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions to ensure the gate performs as designed.

    CR tests safety gates for ease of installation and use, as well as their ability to withstand lateral forces—that is, their resistance to opening or collapsing when someone or something pulls or pushes it. CR uses a digital force gauge to measure how much lateral force a gate can handle. We install the gates, close them, then slowly pull the force gauge hook harder until the gate opens or the force equals 100 pounds. (As of July 2021, gates certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association must withstand 30 pounds of force before dislodging.)

    Safety Gate Tips

    Measure, then shop: Have width measurements of doors or openings handy when you shop. Try to avoid gates that will need to be extended to their maximum width to fit; they might not provide enough security for an ambitious toddler.

    Try before you buy: If possible, test models in the store to make sure that they’re easy to use. After you choose a gate, don’t forget to show your child’s caretakers and babysitters how it works.

    Don’t buy: Old-fashioned accordion-style gates without a horizontal bar at the top. The gates with diamond-shaped spaces between the slats and V-shaped openings at the top pose safety hazards. Newer gates with a similar look have a horizontal rail or filler bar across the top for safety. You might see open V-shape gates in a secondhand store or flea market, but we don’t recommend them.

    Install and use it safely: Follow the safety recommendations in the owner’s manual for installing and using gates. While installing, be especially aware of the surfaces to which you’re attaching the gate. Is the surface uneven or unsecured? This can affect a gate’s effectiveness. Many injuries associated with safety gates involve adults who trip or fall when trying to step or jump over one. Pressure-mounted gates may have a threshold at the bottom that poses a tripping hazard. Make sure any gate you buy is easy for you to open so that you won’t be tempted to climb over it.

    Know when your child has outgrown a gate: A safety gate should be at least three-quarters of your child’s height. Some gates are tall, but generally, when a child is taller than 36 inches or heavier than 30 pounds (usually at about 2 years of age), a typical safety gate should no longer be relied upon.

    Be vigilant: No gate is a substitute for careful supervision of your baby or toddler. Never leave your child unattended.