Baby Gates

Anyone who’s ever cared for a crawling baby or a racing toddler knows how important safety gates are in protecting your young child. These gates often are the primary way parents and caregivers control what areas of the house to which the baby is granted access. They’re even more critical in multi-story homes, where falls down stairs can be potentially fatal. In short, safety gates are one of the best purchases you can make as a parent.

Safety gates fall into two main categories. Pressure gates work by placing them in between two walls or the opening of a door, and then using springs to push them into position. They’re usually the least expensive type of gate, but they’re also more vulnerable to being moved out of position. For best results, install these types of gates with the spring bars on the opposite side of the gate from the baby or toddler.

Mounted safety gates, meanwhile, require you to screw a mount into the actual wall. These gates are more expensive, but are significantly sturdier and harder to move than pressure gates. Some mounted gates also have extra features such as swinging doors, which can be a real plus when you need to get through a gate quickly or accommodate an adult who isn’t able to hop or step over the gate.

Before you purchase a gate, give some thought to how and where you will be using it. Measure the doorway, head of the stairs, or other space, and take the measurements with you to the store, to make sure you buy the proper size. If the gate you select has slats, make sure they’re no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, so the child’s head cannot get caught between them. If you require a gate for placement in a particularly dangerous spot, such as the top of a flight of stairs, make sure it’s designed for that particular location.

Whatever type of gate you purchase, be sure it carries a logo from the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA). Along with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials, the JPMA certifies that products with its logo have met acceptable safety standards. Stay away from old-fashioned, accordion-style gates that expand to form diamond-shaped openings. This style of gate is dangerous, since the child’s head or other body parts can get caught. Manufacturing of this gate style was largely discontinued in 1985, but some older gates can still be found at garage sales and resale shops. Some newer diamond-shaped models do meet safety standards; again, look for the JPMA seal.

Although safety gates provide you with a barrier and some peace of mind, you should not rely on them alone to keep your child safe. Gates are intended as a back-up to an alert parent or caregiver.