5 Top Tips to Buying a Safety Gate

The day has arrived, baby is on the move, leaving a trail of sticky hand prints in her wake as she sets about exploring the home around her. A very exciting time for both baby and parents, it is also time to ensure baby is safe with our incredible selection of market leading baby safety gates. But what gate would be most appropriate? What are my options and what features are available? Here’s the low down on the baby safety gate mystery.

What are my options?

There are two main styles of safety gates available on the market today, offering both a range of material and fitting options.

• The Pressure Fit Gate : Featuring suction cups to secure them into position, the pressure fit gate is ideal for those who don’t want to damage walls and doors with screws and tools and the flexibility of being able to move them around frequently from room to room as required. Be sure to check the security of your pressure fitted gate on a daily basis.
• Fixed Fit or Wall Mounted Gates: Securely fastened to the wall or door frame with the use of a drill and screws, a fixed or wall mounted gate is recommended as the safety
  gate of choice for the top of the stairs providing maximum security and strength. Also wall mounted gates do not feature a bottom support rail which is a feature of pressure fitted gates, which may be a potential trip hazard.

What to look for when buying?

• The gate opens easily: The majority of hardware wall mounted gates swing open, however, many pressure mounted gates do not (this is usually the basic models). BabyDan Gates offer a one-handed operation for extra security particularly when removing baby out of the area, which is paramount as hopping over a gate isn’t particularly safe when your hands are full and you’re in a hurry. Safety is all about limiting obstacles.
• Slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart: The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) recommends that that a gate featuring vertical slats have a spacing of no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. A child’s head could easily get wedged in a larger gap leading to strangulation.
• Gate Fit: The majority of baby safety gates will block the average doorway, but it’s vital to use common sense by choosing a gate that stretches further or has the capacity for extensions to be added to create a gate that suits the individual space and need.

Which features are available?

• Alarmed pressure fit gate: These safety gates offer optimal peace of mind as an alarm sounds if the gate is left open or is not installed correctly.
• Auto-close pressure fit gate:A brilliantly reassuring feature, as the gate is designed to close automatically behind you whenever you pass through it.
• Fabric and Lightweight gate: Ideal for holidays, travel, or when visiting family a lightweight, folding or horizontal rolling gate is a convenient alternative to the more traditional safety gate. Offering security and convenience in one.
• One-handed functionality: Provides extra security when carrying your little one or picking your baby up out of safety gate feature such as the BabyDan BabyDen Playpen.

What to remember

• Staircases and doorways come in a variety of shapes and sizes so measure carefully every opening where you want to use a safety gate. Consider the doors of the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom as well as the stairs making sure to measure accurately both the bottom and top. When measuring be sure to allow for skirting board width!