Pros: Tall, stylish design, can buy extensions, indicator to ensure safety, 2-way opening, one-hand opening, choice of colours We have the Baby Dan no trip gates on the stairs. My concern with stairs isn't that they may come close but that it's easy to trip over the bottom bar when carrying my baby and other stuff down. No trip ones don’t have the bar and are screwed in. They also come in wood rather than metal so look better!” (Brand recommended by Mumsnet user PeachesandPie) Our verdict Opening mechanism can take a bit of getting used to – our tester often needed to use two hands despite the claim of a one-handed opening

Stair Gates for 2023 UK | MadeForMums Top 10 Stair Gates for 2023 UK | MadeForMums

Ours is a Lindam branded one. The gates are really sturdy and secure, but they do have a bar at the bottom on the floor, which some people don't like in case it's a trip hazard - but we've had no problems." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user muddaofsuburbia) Our verdict To help ensure you use your stair gate in the safest way possible, we asked The Baby Products Association for their best safety tips: The Cuggl Wall Fix Safety Gate is a fuss-free, wall-mounted gate, so it’s suitable for use at the top and bottom of a staircase as well as in doorways. While it may not have the handy features of a retractable or pressure-fit stair gate, it’s a good, sturdy option with a price tag to match its simplicity.

When can you stop using a stair gate?

Make sure that the safety gate properly fits the opening and that there is no 'play' in it when closed. If you’re only planning to have a stair gate in position for a short time, or if you're unable to drill into your walls or bannister, a pressure-fit gate will be the better option. Is it better to put a stair gate at the top or the bottom of the stairs?

Lindam Safety gates | Argos

We also collated expert opinions and scoured the Mumsnet forums - the biggest online network of parents in the UK - to find the best stair gates UK according to the families who use them every day. You can read more about how we selected and tested the best stair gates below. How we chose which stair gates to test Although the Safety 1st SecureTech Flat Step Safety Gate is the only pressure-fit gate that claims to be able to be used at the top of a staircase, we still think it’s preferable to use a screw-fit, wall mounted gate wherever possible. This leaves far less room for error and, once the gate is installed correctly, it won’t shift. There’s also no ground bar to cause a trip hazard.

5. Best pressure-fit stair gate: Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate

An opening mechanism that can be operated with one hand, so that you can safely use the gate while carrying a baby or toddler Both, if possible. Stair gates should be used to close off dangerous spaces. It’s best to use screw-fit stair gates at the top of the stairs where possible. Are pressure-fit stair gates safe? Once we’d selected the 14 best stair gates for our shortlist, our tester, Katja Lakha, installed them one at a time in her home. Katja is a busy mum with three children (girls aged one and four, and a seven-year-old boy), so each gate was put through its paces. The gates were tested for at least one to two weeks each in busy areas of Katja’s home. Which type of stair gate you choose will depend on your home and your needs. Generally, screw-fit gates are more reliable, so if you’re planning to have a stair gate in place for a relatively long time, and you’re able to drill into your walls or bannister, then a screw-fit gate will be the best choice. You’ll be left with a few small holes to fill when you eventually remove the gate, but nothing that a bit of filler can’t fix. Retractable stair gates: formed from a flexible material like mesh that rolls or folds up when not in use.

Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums

The BabyDan Guard Me is the best stair gate to buy overall, but the retractable screen does have a bit of give to it, and it needs to be installed at least 9cm from the top of the staircase. Do not affix any toys or decoration to the safety gate. These can attract your baby to it, or very close to it.We have a Cuggl extending one as we have a larger than usual gap between the wall and last banister of the stairs (the only place to attach it). It's also an unequal shape (think like a vase) and it's worked perfectly." (Vetted by Mumsnetter SnowdropFox) Our verdict The Fred Clear-View is made from an acrylic panel, which creates the see-through window. This means that you could use the gate to segment off your child’s play area in your home and still be able to see them playing through the gate. Hi, our little one has outgrown the need for these stair gates and we’re looking to send them to a new home.