Thursday March 11, 2010

Baby Gates For Stairs Reviews and Picks

Product
Review
Advantages:
-The hands-free step pedal making the totally hand free
- Good height.
- Very sturdy.
- Ramp feature for the bar to help minimize tripping factor.
- Fits only up to 34″ stairways (possibility of having to purchase an extension)
Disadvantages:
-Narrow opening (17″ wide), making it difficult to not bump into the gate
Conclusion: – If you are looking for a real hands free gate, and do not mind the narrow width of the gate opening, try this one

cost of gate: $59.99 $50.16
cost of extensions: $15
dimensions: 32″ Tall -fits 29″-34″ stairway width ; 1.5″ bar to step over ; gate opening 17″
Other: Pedal to easily open the gate

Advantages:
- Wide gate opening (about 22″).
- Extra secure latch feature so kids can’t open it.
- Adjustable widths to fit in most doors. Also comes with end pieces and spindles to provide more width flexibility.
- High rating from Consumer Reports. (Child safety gates 8/04)
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- More difficult to install than other baby gates for stairs (although still very feasible)
- Short height gate
Conclusion
- In the end, if you can afford to pay the price definitely worth it!
cost of gate: $119 $83.01
cost of extensions: $24
dimensions: gate is 29.5″ Tall ; fits 29.25″ to 37.5″ stairway width ; 1″ bar to step over ; gate opening 22″
Advantages
- Good quality/price.
- Extremely tall
- Come with extensions in 5″ and 10″ to fit more easily wider stairways and doorways.
- Gate opening ok – 19″
- Nice look
Disadvantages:
- Latch mechanism very easy to operate. Although it is possible that kids can figure it out easily, height of the gate would make it very hard to reach
- Can sometimes be an odd fit to the doorway/stairway because the 33″ gate can be too small while the 5″ extension can be too big to add.
- It does have the highest bar across the bottom to step over 2″.
Conclusion: – Probably the best value for your money, as long as it fits well in your doorway/stairway
cost of gate: $59.99
cost of extensions: included
dimensions: gate is 36″ Tall ; fits 28″-48″ stairway width ; 2″ bar to step over ; gate opening 19″

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Find further reviews below.

Our top three picks!

We compared parents reviews, here are the three preferred parents baby gates for stairs. Those three gates received extremely good reviews from our parents, but also received high ratings overall. After trying 3 different gates (that all had high ratings on Amazon) some parents felt that they preferred some of the features of one specific gate over the others.

The three baby safety gates for stairs tested were sturdy and compliant with safety standards, although some gates came with more interesting features than others. However, remember that your choice in baby gates for stairs can also depend on the type of stairs, houses or situation you encounter. In the end, the key features that ended up making a difference to the parents were both the width of the baby gates for stairs opening and the latch mechanism.

Note : gate opening refers to the space your walk to and not the stairways/doorways it fits into

Conclusions about the three different models of baby gates for stairs.

-The three baby gates for stairs fit pretty tightly in the doorways/stairways after being adjusted properly. Depending on the walls, the moldings, etc, you might need to take an extra 5 to 10 minutes to adjust them and get them straight and hanging correctly.

- The three models of baby gates for stairs have the same type of post for the pressure-mount. They are covered with a rubbery material which helps them not slip on the wall.

- The three models of baby gates for stairs are fairly easy to set up.

- On a quality point of view, all parents seem to think they looked good.

Hardware mounted gates are considered safe and stable enough to be used as baby gates for stairs. However, in some newer house or townhouse, where the wall next to the staircase doesn’t have any studs in it, and the stairs can easily move from a pressured gate, it is obviously almost impossible to use of a hardware mounted gate, therefore you can use instead a sturdy and good quality free standing stair gate. Do not use other types of gates other than the hardware mounted types or the quality free standing stair gate. Before purchasing a baby gates for stairs, think sit down and think about how and where you will use the gates in your house and also what features is important to you. Answering all those questions before purchasing your baby gates for stairs will help you pick the baby gates for stairs that will fit your house and lifestyle the best.

Happy shopping!

Kidco Safeway Gate

Kidco Safeway GateGreat nice looking gate 4 stars

The KidCo Safeway Gate is the number one choice of many parents who want safety for their young kids. A top rated brand by many, including a leading consumer organization. The KidCo Safety Gate is known to be easy to adjust and install and features a great directional system that prevents the safety gate for stairs from swinging out over the staircase. The KidCo Safeway Gate is a hardware mounted gate which can be permanently mounted, and the hardware can be installed in a way that will not damage your house. This kid gate is fast and truly easy to install at the top or bottom of any stair case. And for a limited time, get a 36% discount off the gate! (more…)

KidCo Configure Gate

KidCo Configure Gate

Simply fantastic expandable gate 4 5 stars
The KidCo Configure Gate is large, very large, and can be custom to accommodate different parts of the house. This safety gate is will let your little one roam free in a large section of the home or at the top of the stairway, away from the dangerous areas. The safety gate includes three interlocking sections, each one of them is 29 inches high by 24 inches long. How it works : the three sections can be locked together in a bendable configuration that fits any area of the house. And if you need a larger gate, no problem, you can can add more sections to the gate. This is a wall-mounted gate, and is extremely secure for any parts of the house. The wall fixtures are included. Perfect for toddlers age 6 months to 36 months. (more…)

KidCo Angle Mount Wood Safeway Gate

KidCo Angle Mount Wood Safeway Gate

The Angle-Mount Wood Safeway Child Safety Gate is an elegant and sturdy baby gate for stairs. You will love the wood look that will perfectly fit in your decor. Ideal for parents who are looking for safety, but also for the look. The KidCo Angle Mount Wood Safety Gate look nice, swing nicely, and latch firmly. They are hardware mounted for maximal safety and the angle mount allows the gate to be installed in places more difficult to install standard gates, including angled banisters and walls. This baby gates for stairs features a one-hand-adult-operated walk though gate Angle-Mount hardware system, a quick-release hardware for easy gate removal, a furniture grade wood construction that stands 31″ high making it safer with less tripping for taller parents, and will stop even the taller kids. For $89.99, this handsome and sturdy gate is all yours.  (more…)

Evenflo Top of Stair Gate, a video review

Evenflo Top-of-Stair Plus Gate

Evenflo Top-of-Stair Plus GateReliable and affordable   4 5 stars

The Evenflo Top-of-Stair Gate is wide and tall, to increase protection! The four-point hardware mount plus a swing control excellent security for top-of-stair mounting. The gate can be set to swing right or left, or 180 degrees. This gate can be use for children ages 6 to 24 months, but also with pets. Evenflo takes your baby’s safety seriously and makes sturdy and reliable baby gates for stairs. When it comes to protection from accidental tumbles, you can put your mind at eas      (…Read More…)

Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate

Cardinal Gates Stairway Special GateFor maximum Baby Safety Gate for the top of a stairway.
The Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate offer extra safety for the top of a stairway. The latch system baffles children, even the smarter ones! Yet, the gate is easily operated by adults, even with only one-hand. Stop bracket prevents opening over a stairway for safety. This baby gates for stairs is particular good for house with drywalls, as it can be  mounted at angles up to 30 degrees to allow location of a stud when mounting on drywall. All Aluminum construction, lighter weight than steel, rustproof. Fits openings 27″ to 42 1/2″ wide   (…Read more)

KidCo Safeway Gate – White

KidCo Safeway Gate - WhiteKidco, The #1 baby gates for stairs for many parents 4 stars
KidCo is a leading when it comes to Safeway Gate and have been rated best baby gates for stairs by a leading independent consumer organization. The well constructed baby gates for stairs has a sturdy and tubular steel frame and is non-toxic. The hardware mounted gate has extra safety and is easy to install and easy to remove for parents. The one-hand operation facilitate the passage between rooms. An exclusive, easily adjustable feature prevents the gate from swinging open over the stairs. It fits openings from 24.75″ to 43.5″ wide, and also works with most railings and a   (…Read More…)

Baby safety gates : all the models

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR Baby Gates For Stairs PICKS  shopping

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Babies are curious little creatures. It’s a known fact. A baby on action will try to reach for everything that can catch their attention. Whether it is in the kitchen, in the garden, down the stairs or up the stairs. Therefore, using baby gates for stairs and baby safety gates can make your life much easier by keeping your child safer from stairs and hazards when you are not watching. Moreover baby safety gates and baby gates for stairs can also be used to separate your child from the pet (or vice-versa). Because children can be rough on your animal, it can be a good idea to keep them separated when you are not around. Baby gates for stairs and child safety gates are intended for children less than 6 24 months of age because older children can easily figure out how to escape from the gate.

To be safe, baby gates for stairs and baby safety gates should be user friendly for an adult but should also be designed to prevent children from opening them. There are two basic types of child safety gates and only one type should be used as baby gates for stairs. The two basic types differ on how they are installed.

BABY SAFETY GATES HARDWARE-MOUNTED

Baby safety gate hardware mounted are permanently mounted and should be the only type of gates to be used as baby gates for stairs. They require screws to be installed in the stairway or the doorway. Holes are drilled in the door frame, stud behind the wall or on the stairway ramp. Then the gate is attached with brackets and screws. Because they are sturdily fixed, hardware-mounted gates are considered the most secure choice. Those  baby gates often come in enamel-coated steel, vertical wood or aluminum tubing slats with top and bottom rails.

Use.Where you should use baby hardware mounted gates: As baby gates for stairs, at the top of the stairs. Because they are safer, those models are mostly intended for stair locations, although you can use it anywhere else in the house. Some baby gates for stairs will swing open one way (away from the stairs) and other will allow you to choose in which direction the door will swing in case you intend to install the gate at the bottom of stairs.

Installation. Holes are drilled into the door frame or through the drywall or plaster into the wood framing. Baby gates for stairs can be removed when you need the opening free.

BABY SAFETY GATES PRESSURE-MOUNTED

Unlike the baby safety gate hardware mounted gate, the  baby safety gate pressure-mounted needs no screwing and drilling to be installed. The baby gate is held by pressure against the door frame or the walls. Those baby safety gates sometimes have two sliding panels that allows you to adjust the gate to fit the opening or sometimes come in a swing-style with gate door that swings open. A pressure mechanism then keeps the children pressure-mounted safety gate in place, therefore no drilling is necessary. That type of kids safety gate often come in vertical wood, enamel-coated steel, aluminum tubing slats, but also can be made of plastic, wire, or nylon mesh or plastic-coated wire. Some models are even made of a transparent plastic so you can watch your baby through the gate.

Use: IMPORTANT: Not to be used as baby gates for stairs. This is serious. That type of gate is not considered safe enough to be used on top of stairs. However, pressure-mounted gates can safely be used in less hazardous locations, such as between rooms.They are use to separate two areas with same-level flooring; for example between the kitchen and the dinner room to avoid baby crawling baby under your feet when cooking.

Installation. Simply adjust the baby safety pressure-mounted gate to fit the opening and squeeze it in place with the pressure or locking mechanism wedges. This type of gate obviously leaves no permanent damages.

Features to consider for children safety gates

Gate safety depends on solid construction, reliable hardware, and the absence of entrapment hazards.

Height. A minimum of ¾ of your child’s height is recommended to discourage the child from climbing over the gate.

Installation flexibility. How odd is the area where you are going to install the gate? Stair balusters, angled banisters, drywall with no wood framing is all places you might have to deal with in your house. Sometimes you may need to purchase a specific installation kit for these areas and adjust the gate to fit the wide openings.

Latches. Many gates have a dual-action latch that can be opened with one hand by an adult and some models have a foot pedal that requires strong pressure to release. This last model of baby safety gates and baby gates for stairs is fully hand-free and can be very useful when carrying groceries or other packages.

Evenflo SimpleEffort Plus Hands Free Electronic Gate

The Evenflo SimpleEffort Plus Hands Free Electronic Gate will make your life easier, in a click, the gate will open for you.

Moreover, some models such as the Evenflo SimpleEffort Plus Hands Free Electronic Gate, a pressure-mounted gate that can be safely used as baby gates for stairs can unlock at the push of a button on a wall console or remote control, though with the Evenflo SimpleEffort Plus Hands Free Electronic Gate model, you may need to wait about 6 seconds to be able to relatch the gate. To open the gate, you won’t have to put your baby down. Batteries are required in order to use the hand free option.

North States Auto-Close Metal Gate - Pressure Mount

This nice and sturdy babies and toddlers safety gate from North States does close on its own.

The North States Auto-Close Metal Gate – Pressure Mount, which is a pressure-mounted type of gate, closes and locks automatically with a little shove and can be opened by an adult with one hand.

Sound and color. Several toddlers safety gates have an audible click when they shut, telling you that the door has been properly closed. The Safety 1st Perfect Fit Gate and the Evenflo SimpleEffort Plus Hands Free Electronic Gate both have a color indicator that shows that the gate is locked.

Lights. The Safety 1st Smartlight Stair Gate, features a motion sensor night-light. Hence, this baby safety gate glows when you approach it ! A convenient feature for many parents at night.

Travel. Some pressure-mounted models can be use for temporary situations to increase safety around your child. Those models, such as travel models come with a carrying case. The Evenflo Crosstown Soft Portable Travel Gate is a good example. They can be used in a hotel room, when vacationing, or in a relative’s home, making the place more child-friendly.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

The major brands of child safety gates are, in alphabetical order:

Cardinal Gates (www.cardinalgates.com)

Evenflo (www.evenflo.com)

GMI (www.gmigates.com)

KidCo (www.kidco.com)

Lascal (www.regallager.com)

North States Industries (www.northstatesind.com)

Regalo (available at www.amazon.com)

Safety 1st (www.safety1st.com)

Summer Infant (www.summerinfant.com)

The First Years (www.thefirstyears.com)

Their prices range between $15 to $200.

Keep your child safety and stair free with Baby Gates For Stairs.

Major baby safety gates brands

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

The major brands of child safety gates are, in alphabetical order:

Cardinal Gates (www.cardinalgates.com)

Evenflo (www.evenflo.com)

GMI (www.gmigates.com)

KidCo (www.kidco.com)

Lascal (www.regallager.com)

North States Industries (www.northstatesind.com)

Regalo (available at www.amazon.com)

Safety 1st (www.safety1st.com)

Summer Infant (www.summerinfant.com)

The First Years (www.thefirstyears.com)

Happy shopping at Baby Gates For Stairs!

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