11 Best Child Safety Gates Reviews-Buyer Guide 2021

Tips for Buying Safety Gates

Once your baby starts to crawl you are going to need at least one safety gate. You can get standard gates which can be adjusted from 30 to 45 inches, extra-wide ones which are just wider, and specialty gates which can be used in irregularly shaped areas or around a hearth for example.

Choose from gates which are screwed to wall studs or pressure gates which work like tension rods.

Permanent gates are the strongest, but they leave holes behind which you will need to fill. The pressure gates are not quite as sturdy so get a permanent one for the top of the stairs and consider pressure gates for other areas perhaps.

You can take the pressure gates off easily, which means you can take them to grandma’s or wherever you are visiting with your child. Different parents will prefer different types of gate, and it also very much depends on the style of your house.

Perhaps you live in an apartment or bungalow. A safety gate is still a good idea, even if you do not have stairs. Keep your child in one room and out of the kitchen when you have pots bubbling away on the stove. Enjoy a fire but put a childproof gate around it first to keep your little one safe.

Fortunately these days you are not limited to those old accordion-design gates which used to catch little fingers, and there are lots of excellent modern child safety gates to choose from.

Photo Credit: All product images are credited to Amazon

Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Gate

Regalo Easy Step 38.5-Inch Extra Wide Walk Thru Baby Gate

This gate is a sleek metal walk-through gate that expands from 29 to 40 inches wide and includes an extension kit of 6 inches. You can even purchase additional extensions to use this gate for a wider opening. It is a pressure mounted gate with a durable steel structure. It is extremely easy to install and remove this gate. It features a lever style handle with a single touch release safety lock for easy adult operation.

Safety Tip: Use wall cups (included in the package) for additional security when installing these gates on the Top of the stairs. Wall cups are drilled into the wall or banister.

It is a 31-inch tall pressure mounted gate.
It is suitable for babies from 6 to 36 months old.
It can be expanded to fit wide spaces from 29 to 40 inches. Additional extension kits are sold separately to customize the width of this gate to meet any openaing size up to 60 inches.
It is extremely portable, easy to install and take down.
It can be used on the staircases, provided that the wall cups are fitted with strong support.
The gate is made up of steel for durability and strength, providing ultimate security for your baby and pets too.
The lever style handle offers an easy one-touch release, which makes it easy for adults to open and extremely tough for children.
It is PVC-free and certified by Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).
Box includes the Regalo Gate, Manual, one 6 inch extension kit and four pressure mounted rods with four wall cups.

Safety 1st Wide Doorways Fabric Gate, Natural

Safety 1st Wide Doorways Fabric Gate This affordable, pressure mounted gate stretches easily from 38 to 60 inches and stands 27 inches tall. This gate is made up of natural transparent fabric that is baby-safe, durable and also washable. The transparency feature is popular among the customer as you will be able to see the little ones through the fabric of the gate. It is extremely light weight, easy to travel and includes a storage bag. This fabric gate is ideal for wide doorways and open spaces that are not protected by ordinary gates.

27-inch tall and fits an opening from 38-60 inches wide
Pressure mounted fabric gate, very easy to install & dismantle
Super light Plastic construction with strong adjustable design
Ideal to use between rooms and hallways
Easily washable in machine
Features drawstring bag to make it portable

Summer Infant Multi-Use Deco Extra Tall Gate

Summer Multi-Use Deco Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate This attractive bronze extra tall metal gate is adjustable to fit an opening from 28 to 48 inches wide and stands 36 inches tall. Two 4.5 inch & one 9 inch extensions are included. These extensions allow for more accurate and secure fit. It is mostly used as a pressure mounted gate; however hardware mounts are also included that makes it also usable at the top of the stairs. It also boasts an Auto-Close feature that allows the door to close automatically without any push.

Good looking metal bronze finish that blends with the home furniture
Both pressure & hardware mounts are included. It is a highly versatile product, as pressure mounting can be used for passages & doorways, whereas hardware mounting could be used for stairways.
36-inch-tall gate fits openings 28 to 48 inches’ wide. To securely fit a wide space, it includes two 4-1/2 inch extensions & one 9-inch extensions.
Pressure mount does not leave marks
The walk through gate closes and locks itself automatically.
Walk through gate opens in either direction and can be operated with only one hand
What’s in the box: Gate, one 9 inch & two 4-1/2 inch extensions, manual, pressure mounting equipment & hardware mounting equipment.

North States Supergate Easy Close Metal Gate, White

This gate comes with a couple of extensions so it can fit into an extra wide space if need be. It is very easy to install; you just need to insert a couple of rods on either side of the gate, insert the tensions rods and extensions (if using) and then tighten the rods to the doorway.

The gate has an 18-inch doorway which is a good size, and it is 29 inches tall. This one opens in both directions, and it is either fully opened or closed. You just need one hand to open it.

There is a 2-inch tall rail at the bottom of the gate which might be a tripping hazard to any guests, but you will get used to it. This gate is robust, pleasant looking and it has a door which is easy to open.

Whether you want to keep your kids or pets in one particular area or seal off another area, this child safety gate will do the job just fine.

How Many Places Do You Need a Safety Gate?

A Good Gate Will Be ¾ Or More Of Your Child’s Height

Choosing the Best Child Safety Gate Baby gates can be made from clear or colored plastic, metal or mesh, so choose something you like because you will be living with it for a couple of years.

A two-way child safety gate is good if you are going to have to walk through it often, and a hands-free gate or one which will automatically close is a good idea if you are going to be walking through it carrying laundry or bags of groceries.

A good gate will be ¾ or more of your child’s height. Although you can get second-hand child safety gates, be careful when buying these. Avoid anything with slats more than 2½ inches apart, because these can trap small hands or feet, and do not get an accordion-style one with diamond openings because these can trap little fingers too.

The Carlson 0930pw Extra-Wide Walk-Thru Gate is often searched for, and is a great option for a pet gate but not so good for toddlers because there is too much space between the slats. Modern child gates are much safer and better-designed than the older ones, so choose carefully because of course, you want the best for your toddler.

An Important Investment

A child safety gate is one of the most important purchases you will make, and anything that protects your child is something you need. Because there are so many different brands and types available though, you do need to shop around and see what would be a good fit in your home, what kind of gate you have the budget for and personally prefer, and which one is going to do the best job.

Perhaps you had a gate for your eldest child, and you are now looking for a new one because you did not like the old one or it is no good for your new home. Today there is more choice than ever for you to consider.

Regalo Easy Open 50 Inch Super Wide Walk Thru Gate, White

This gate is cheap, but it still offers high quality. It is easy to install and should only take 5 or 10 minutes to put together. It comes with extensions which you might or might not need.

It is sturdy enough for kids or pets, and the opening mechanism is very simple to use. It is a locking pin on a sliding plastic piece. There is a 1-inch bar to step over when you pass through the gate, and the walkthrough width is fine.

Something a lot of reviewers like is that the gate stays open when you open it. This is nice if you are carrying a basket of laundry or a toddler and do not want to have to open and close it each time you go by.

The gate opens in both directions. The bars are narrow so not even a puppy could get through. It would be very difficult to beat the price if you are looking for an extra wide child safety gate.

Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Gate, White, Fits spaces between 29″ and 39″ Wide

This gate are very affordable, and it is very simple to put together. It attaches securely and is very robust. Some people are worried when they first take the gate out of the box because it does not look straight.

It is supposed to be like that though and will straighten up once it is mounted. The gate is 31 inches tall, and you can use it in an opening between 29½ and 34 inches. It comes with an extension which you might or might not need.

The gate is pressure-mounted, so it is really easy to take down if you want to take it with you to Grandma’s house or somewhere else your toddler is going to be visiting. This is a good value child safety gate.

Child Safety Gates Videos
YouTube Videos for “How to Install a Child Safety Gate | Cincinnati Children’s.”

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Summer Infant Multi-Use Deco Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate, Bronze

If you do not want a white plastic-looking safety gate, what about this more elegant option? The gate is pressure-mounted and hinged. It swings closed automatically and will fit any opening between 28 and 48 inches wide. This model is 36 inches tall and looks great with any decor.

Wooden gates often fall apart, and plastic ones can be ugly. This one is very modern and classy. Obviously, the most important factor when buying child safety gates is the safety aspect, but this one offers safety as well as an attractive appearance.

This one has a lot of positive reviews because it works very nicely. The opening mechanism is easy, and the gate itself is durable and does its job well.

The 3 Main Types of Safety Gates

Although there are plenty of different brands and models of safety gates, you can categorize them in 3 main ways. First, you have the pressure-fit type of baby gates. These used to be barriers wedged in a doorway or between 2 walls.

You would need to remove them or step over them to get past. Modern pressure gates have a walk-through gate, so the gate itself stays in place, and you just use the convenient door in the middle to get through without having to take the whole thing down or have to climb over it.

If you are considering a pressure-mounted baby gate, you will need 2 flat surfaces opposite one another. Pressure gates cannot be mounted at an angle. A wood-framed doorway is best, but be careful if you have a hollow wall because the pressure pads might make a hole in it. They are not usually designed for staircase-mounting.

If this gate does not suit your requirements, you might want to think about a hardware-mounted baby gate. Also known as stairway gates, these are ideal for staircase mounting, but also good for other areas of the home. This type is the simplest to open, and some can be mounted at an angle rather than on opposite walls.

The third type of baby safety gate is the kind for wide or irregular openings. If the opening is very wide, you might need to fit extensions to the gate, but other kinds are specifically designed for wide spaces. An irregular opening might be small or large but either way, you will need a versatile gate.

Some of these come with different panels, and you can use the right number of panels to fill the space. If you have a large space, such as 10 feet, you might like to fit a curved 12 feet gate to make it stronger and more rigid, for example. Although it can take longer to choose and plan a baby gate for a large or irregular opening, you can hopefully find one which is quite simple to install.

Baby Safety Gate Installation

Once you have chosen the right gate, you will need to mount it. The first thing to do is to read the instructions and ensure you understand them. Read the instructions when your baby or toddler is sleeping, so you can concentrate. Remember you will need to make or buy gate mounts to install the safety gate properly.

The most popular kinds of baby gates are pressure-mounted and hardware-mounted walk-through kinds, so you can fit the gate in place and not have to swing the whole thing open to get through, but it depends on the type of house and door opening you have, as well as what you prefer to have.

Carlson Extra Wide Walk Through Gate with Pet Door

Are you are looking for a pet gate rather than child safety gates? Although many gates are dual-purpose and can be used for either, you do not necessarily want a brightly colored toddler-friendly gate if you are simply using it to keep your Labrador out of the kitchen.

Although this one would work for a toddler, it was designed for pets. There is a small flap on the front of the gate so your cat or small dog can get through and any larger child or animal stays behind it.

Use this one to keep your toddler out of the cat food or to allow your cat to freely roam while keeping the baby on the other side of the gate. This is a great idea if you have pets and kids and want to limit them to various areas of the house.

How to keep adventurous babies and toddlers safe…

As you probably already realized, your little boy or girl is probably the Indiana Jones of the house. Always looking to slide down the stairs, to run outside if a big sister or big brother forgets to close the front door, to climb up a shelf…

To resolve this problem, you probably need a baby safety gate, to keep your baby in an area free of danger. However, some houses, especially newer houses, have openings that the standards baby safety gates can’t fill. In this case, you will need an extra wide baby gate.

Why an extra baby gate

While you can get around most of the time with normal size baby gates, sometimes an extension (or two… or three) is simply not enough. You sometimes need to install a baby gate in an odd opening, a wide opening or to create play areas for your child. This is where extra wide baby gate can come in very handy.

3 extra wide baby gates

Before purchasing a baby gate, it is important that you decide which area you want to keep baby off. Then measure the opening. If the opening is larger than 44 inches wide, the following gates may be more suitable to your needs.

Summer Infant Sure And Secure Custom Fit Gate

– Probably our favorite because it is highly customizable. Many new houses have an open floor plan, and parents have to block huge space to keep baby in a secure environment.

The Summer Infant Sure and Secure Custom Fit Gate can easily customize to fit any floor plan or size. A great option for huge spaces extremely very easy to install.

Dreambaby Pressure Mount Hallway Gate

The Dreambaby hallway gate comes with a 3.5″ extension as well as a 7″ extension. While the gate fits a maximum of 53″ with the included extensions, larger extensions can also be purchased. Pressure mount, the gate also comes with mounting cups for optional use. And is very easy to install.

Summer Infant Sure and Secure 6 Foot Metal Expansion Gate

Toddler tested and approved! This extra wide baby gate is easy to install and works great in any wide openings. Easy to use with one hand, the gate swings in both directions.

The Summer Infant Sure and Secure 6 Foot Metal Expansion Gate is sturdy and hardware mounted, for extra protection. A good looking gate with high ratings.

Hardware or pressure mounted baby gates

Many pressures wonder what they should choose between hardware or pressure gate. Here are some facts for you.

The Facts

– To install hardware mounted gate, you will have to make holes in the wall, the door frame or the staircase
– Pressure mounted gates are great in the fact that you won’t leave any holes or scars behind, once the gate is removed
– Hardware mounted gates ARE ESSENTIAL when a gate is used a the top of a stairway.
– Pressure mounted gates can be easily moved from one room to another, or one house to another.

The decision will depend on a few factors

* are you using your gate at the top of a stair? (Yes-mounted No-mounted&pressure)
* Are you okay will drilling holes in the wall? (Yes-mounted No-pressure)
* Are you renting an apartment (drilling many holes for mounted gates may be out of question for some landlords)
* Are you planning on reusing your baby gate in different rooms? (Yes-pressure No-mounted&pressure)

Answer these questions and you will probably find your answer. Find more information about oversized baby gates on Extra Wide Baby Gate

Why You Need A Baby Gate For Stairs

This is why you need a baby gate for stairs: I got distracted one day, and my little explorer decided he wanted to discover some more of the house on his own. By the time I found him he had somehow managed to maneuver himself up to the middle of the staircase. I found him quickly because he was scared and howling. He wasn’t sure whether to carry on up the stairs but had no idea how to get down again.

That was a major accident waiting to happen, and I felt terrible. According to CBS News, a report found nearly 932,000 children younger than 5 were sent to the emergency room between 1999 and 2008 – that’s nearly 100,000 kids per year treated for falling down the stairs.

Get a retractable baby gate before your child becomes a statistic. My son is so active I had to buy two, one for the top of the stairs and one for the bottom.

What To Look For In Your Baby Gate

When you shop for a baby gate, you will have to measure the distance it needs to span and decide how you can best attach it. The gate isn’t safe until it is solidly affixed on both sides. Toddlers seem to love grabbing onto bars, and if those bars are part of a baby gate at the top of the stairs, you’d better make darn sure it isn’t going to budge with some persistent shaking!

A baby gate should be adjustable to fit tightly into the space you want to block. Don’t worry; you won’t have to drill holes in your walls, the majority of baby gates work with pressure, sturdy pads protect the walls from damage. If space is small enough – just the width of a normal staircase – the whole gate will swing open allowing you access. If space is a larger, then you can find many gates that include a smaller gate in the center. Make sure the catch cannot be opened easily by small hands!

A baby gate doesn’t have to be an eyesore. Years ago there wasn’t much choice, but now there’s an enormous variety, and you should be able to find something that fits in with the look of your house. Even if you can’t find a design that you like – remember it’s the safety of your child that’s most important here.

As your child gets older, it’s inevitable he will want to go upstairs on his own. Just because he’s over 5 doesn’t mean he’s out of danger on the stairs. Teach him to always hold onto something as he goes up and down and never run to or try to go up more than one stair at a time.

So what to do with the gate when he gets older? I use mine when the weather’s nice and I have the back door open. My baby gate keeps the dog from going in and out and constantly tracking dirt everywhere!

Important things to know about Baby Gates (FAQ)

Baby gates are available in various sizes, material and mounting methods. To completely understand which baby gate will suffice your requirements, you need to fully understand the below mentioned factors in order to take a well informed buying decision

What types of mounting system is available in the baby gates?

There are two types of mechanism available to mount the baby gate in the home. It is important to understand the pros & cons of both of them.

Hardware Mounted baby gates are drilled firmly into the wall, door frame, or banister. These gates are the safest, as they can support the infant’s weight without falling over and must be utilized in risky areas such as staircase. The installation of these gates is more time-consuming and leaves holes in the walls when removed.

Pressure Mounted baby gates take advantage of the pressure to hold the gate in place. They’re most commonly available gates since it is simple to install, less expensive, and you do not need to screw the walls. These gates are not recommended for high risk areas such as stairs, as they are less stronger than hardware mounted baby gates.

Why do we need a Baby Gates for Stairs and which kind of gate is idea for it?

If you are living in a multi-story residence, then installing a baby gate on the top of the stairs must be the very first step towards child proofing your house. Top of the stairs are undoubtedly the most unsafe place for the baby, as the youngster could accidentally tumble down leading to an awful situation. It’s also wise to put a gate at the bottom of the staircases, because your young one could climb up the stairways and risk falling down.

The gate surrounding the stairs must be exceptionally strong to hold the child body weight with absolutely no risk of falling over. Hardware mounted metal gates are far more secure as compared to the pressure mounted gates and for that reason hardware mounted gates are recommended for stairs. To assist you in your research, we have put together a detailed list of the safest baby gates of 2020 for top & bottom of the stairs available at Amazon.

I want to cover wider area with a gate, which gate is suitable for me?

Ordinary baby gates are roughly 34-inches wide, but often you will find much wider passages in your home. For such scenarios, extra wide baby gates are the perfect choice. It is best suited for chimneys, passageways, unusual door ways and kitchens etc. Extra wide gates is available in wide variety of widths starting from 50 inches to 192 inches. Here are the best extra wide baby gates of 2020 available at Amazon.

I want a gate that I could conceal whenever it is not used?

Retractable baby gate is getting increasing popular in the modern homes. It is extremely convenient because you can take advantage of the baby gate whenever need and you can fold it neatly when you do not need a baby gate. Retractable baby gates are usually more costly than even heavy duty metal baby gates, but to a lot of people the additional cost is worth the ease and aesthetic of being able to conceal it when not needed. Also, since they are usually composed of mesh and is simply expanded to the other side of the mounting equipment, therefore, retractable baby gates can be used for extra wide spaces.

My baby is a perfect climber or my dog can jump a 31 inch tall gate easily, what to do?

Extra tall baby gates are generally 5-inch taller as compared to the ordinary baby gate. This additional height assures that your pet dog doesn’t jump or your little one won’t climb over the baby gate. So, if you’ve got a baby who can climb up like a monkey or possibly a dog who could effortlessly jump over the buildings, then extra tall baby gate is perfect for you.

I need a good looking wooden gate that matches my furniture?

Wooden baby gates are preferred by some people over the metal ones, as they blend in with the furniture and give a warmer feeling. However, if you have a dog or any pet that loves to chew, stay away from the wooden gates, because they will consume these gates for break fast.

Is Metal gates safe for the baby? are they PVC free?

Metal gates are more commonly available in the market. They are created from the best quality steel and are mostly available in the white color. The steel construction ensures a strong, scratch resistant surface for the safety of your baby. The are PVC free and mostly certified by the JPMA and meets ASTM safety standards.