In some houses (particularly older ones built before more stringent building control), the gaps between stair rods will be wide enough for a baby or toddler to fall through. This could lead to an awful accident if your child happens to slip through when not closely attended. A good solution is to buy this mesh net which can be fixed using ties to the banisters. The mesh is strong enough to stop your child from falling through the gaps. You can stop using a stair gate when you’re confident that your child can go up and down the stairs safely on their own (which includes the middle of the night). This will depend on the individual child, but this usually happens at around two or three years of age. If your child doesn’t pull or push on the gate, which could cause it to shift or break, and doesn’t attempt to climb over it, you can keep it in place until you feel comfortable removing it. What are the different types of stair gate? Day-to-day use: Does the gate do the job it’s supposed to? Does it withstand a toddler’s weight? Is it easy to open and close with one hand? 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. Pros: Fairly simple to install, extra safety features, fits around skirting boards, crystal clear window, one-handed opening, slam-shut closing, stylish and elegant, gate opens both ways

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

Is your product defective and the manual offers no solution? Go to a Repair Café for free repair services. 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? Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircase 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.Screw-fit (wall-mounted) stair gates screw into your wall or bannister. This has the major advantage of ensuring the gate is secure and won’t move around once it’s installed, but the screws will cause minor damage to your walls. Screw-fit gates can be used in a variety of ways: at the top or bottom of a staircase, or in a doorway or other narrow opening. Our recommendations are always made entirely by our journalists without input from our commercial team, and our writers are never made aware of any business relationships. 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. Babies don’t always know their own limitations and are often more than happy to attempt stairs on their own, with no idea of the potential consequences. If your baby likes to explore, then a stair gate will be a childproofing necessity. Stair gates can be used at the top of the stairs (to prevent your baby from falling down) and at the bottom (to stop them from climbing up). They can also be used to close off unsafe rooms and to temporarily add additional barriers to your home, whether that’s across a doorway or another narrow opening. 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.

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Pros: Made from FSC-certified wood, stylish, no trip hazard bar at the bottom, sturdy, secure, one-handed opening, affordable Once fitted, to stop our baby grandson entering, the kitchen it felt very secure. It has been in place about 4 months and works well. “ 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? 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 openingThe 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. Pros: Tall, stylish design, can buy extensions, indicator to ensure safety, 2-way opening, one-hand opening, choice of colours 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 Type: Pressure-fit | Width: 76 – 96cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 124cm What we love Within these two categories, there are a few other features that can form part of the identity of a stair gate. For example:

Best stair gates 2023 for babyproofing your home | Mumsnet Best stair gates 2023 for babyproofing your home | Mumsnet

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.

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Although the BabyDan Guard Me is safe for use anywhere in your home, the best stair gate for use at the top of the stairs is the Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate, which is also the best screw-fit stair gate we tested.