Welcome to Totsafe's Guide to Baby Gates!
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Learn how to choose the right baby gate for stairways, doorways, hallways. This article also addresses installing baby gates in spaces with special circumstances like wrought iron railings, banisters, baseboards, and hollow walls.  

Three Steps to Selecting The Right Baby Gate:
This checklist used with permission by Kelly A. Smith, author of 
Mommy Can Do It: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Baby-Proofing.  
All rights reserved.   Copying, quoting or otherwise duplicating or distributing this article is prohibited.

There is no perfect gate for all situations;  There are several factors to take into account when purchasing a baby gate:

1) Where is it going? If it is going at the top of a stairway, you will want to look for a hardware mounted (screwed into the wall) gate, never use a pressure mounted gate at the top of the stairs*. If the gate will be used to block off a room, or prevent a child from climbing up the stairs, you may be able to choose from hardware mounted and pressure mounted gates.

2) What size is the opening where the gate will go? You will need to measure the opening where your gate will go, both width of the opening, and height of the opening. Child safety gates all have specific dimensions that they will fit. You need to find a gate that will securely fit in your space.  An extension kit may be necessary with some gates to fit larger areas.

3) Are there any special circumstances in the space that you need the baby gate to go?  If you have a banister, molding, hollow wall (drywall or plaster with no stud behind it), or wrought iron railing, you may need the use of a gate installation kit to create a proper mounting surface.  Kits are also available to mount a baby gate to banisters without creating holes.

Using these three factors can help you make an informed decision on proper baby gates for your space.  Please remember that most gates are appropriate for ages between 6 months and 3 years of age.  This may be more or less for certain gates and manufacturers.  As a rule of thumb, if the top of the baby gate is at or below a child's shoulder height, it is time to discontinue use of the gate.

Mounting a baby gate to spaces with hollow walls, wrought iron railings, banisters & moldings/baseboards:

Gate installation kits are needed in almost all gate installations where the gate is not being mounted in a wood framed door opening.  They are installed prior to the baby safety gate and help create a mountable surface in spaces that have moldings, banisters/newel posts, hollow walls, and wrought iron railings.  Most gate installation kits are appropriate for hardware mounted and pressure mounted safety gates.  Kits are also available to create a solid mounting surface on banisters, WITH NO HOLES!

Hardware Mounted Baby Safety Gates.

The most secure baby gates. Great for stairways, to block off doorways or hallways, almost any situation. Hardware mounted (screwed in) gates are the only recommended option for the top of the stairs.  Must be installed into a solid location such as between a wood framed doorway or between a banister and wall with a stud behind it.  If there is not a solid surface where you want to mount a baby gate, please check out our Gate Installation Kits. The holes that are created from hardware mounted gates tend to be small and are easily filled when use of the gate is discontinued.

	Pressure Mounted Baby Safety Gates.
Cushioned pads press against the mounting surface to create a tight fit.  Great for blocking off rooms & hallways,  blocking access at the bottom of the stairs (NOT FOR USE AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS*), these baby gates need to be mounted between two solid surfaces straight across from each other.

*Many people ask us why pressure mounted baby gates should not be used at the top of the stairs, where many people wish not to create holes.  The answer is this: 

Although pressure mounted baby gates create a very strong force on the surfaces that they are mounted between,  the pressure can 'push out' on the two surfaces enough to eventually slip out of place with force.  Pressure mounted gates must be checked frequently to ensure that they are remaining tight in the space,  and manufacturers (and Totsafe babyproofers) do not suggest using this type of gate at the top of the stairs.  Hardware mounted gates are a much more secure option for this location, and can generally hold up to children banging and climbing on them.  Luckily, the holes that are created from hardware mounted gates tend to be small and are easily filled when use of the gate is discontinued.

	Extra-Wide and Irregular Baby Safety Gates.
Baby safety gates to fit extra-wide spaces, and spaces that have special circumstances, like rounded stairway openings, fireplaces, and to surround exercise equipment.

	Travel Safety Gates.
Keep your little one safe away from home, too. These safety gates are made collapsible for easy travel to hotels, bed and breakfasts, and grandparents house!

This checklist used with permission by Kelly A. Smith, author of 
Mommy Can Do It: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Baby-Proofing.  
All rights reserved.   Copying, quoting or otherwise duplicating or distributing this article is prohibited.

View Totsafe's entire line of baby & child safety gates.

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