Best baby stair gate

When your baby starts to move around independently, it’s important that they are safe. Areas of your home that were not a problem when you had a newborn, such as stairs, a fireplace or the kitchen, suddenly look very exciting to a crawling or toddling baby. One way to ensure they are kept safe, is by using a stair gate. We’ve done the research for you and found the most reliable stair gates on the market.

What is a baby stair gate?

Hayley Jones, mum of three and blogger at Devon MamaOpens a new window, explains "A stairgate is a safety device that acts as a barrier to stop babies and young children (and pets!) from getting through. A baby gate for stairs usually goes at the top or bottom of a set of stairs, and creates a gated barrier between the two sides of the stairwell, stopping anyone from going up or down. The gate mechanism is designed so that it's not easy to open for young children or babies, but it can be easily undone by an adult to allow them through. It prevents accidental access, reducing the chance of your little one injuring themselves by being unattended on the stairs and falling down them."

What type of baby stair gate should you buy?

There are different types or stair gates and you can tell the difference by the way that they are fitted. "Stair gates come in two main types; pressure fit and screw fit. Pressure fit stair gates don't require you to drill in to the wall, you simply slide them into the gap where you want it fitted and then extend the pressure 'arms' outward until they fit tightly to the walls or banisters on either side. Screw fit stair gates are fitted by drilling in to the wall or banister in order to attach the two sides." Hayley clarifies.

The downside to a stair gate is that they can be bulky and look cluttered, however the safety benefits of them outweigh this massively. There are even stair gates that can divide a large or open plan room, or fit around a fireplace. "A stair gate helps prevent unintended access to your little one, for example, when your baby is crawling, it can stop them from being able to climb the stairs without you around to keep an eye on them. Stair gates are most commonly used at the top of stairs, meaning your child has to wait for you to take them down - great for when they can't do stairs or they're still a bit wobbly. A stair gate is also useful to have in place for older children at night, preventing an accidental turn down the stairs when your child gets up to go to the bathroom or comes into your room. You can also use them in doorways to allow or restrict access, say for example, for keeping dogs in a different room to your child. They're simple to fit, easy to use and provide great peace of mind." says Hayley.

Once your baby starts to move around a stair gate is essential to prevent any accidents. Babies can unexpectedly move a lot quicker than you think in a short space of time. "Even if they can't yet crawl, it's amazing how far babies can go!" adds Hayley. "For that reason, I'd suggest a top of stairs baby gate from when they start moving and a bottom of the stairs one when they start to crawl."

What should you look for when choosing a stair gate?

Hayley suggests "When choosing a stair gate, you'll need to measure the space that you want to gate off. This will guide you as to what might fit. Then think about what your needs are; can you attach to the walls or do you want to go for a pressure fit? A pressure fit stair gate requires a solid bar across the bottom to maintain the pressure when the 'gate' part is open, which can be a trip hazard so you may wish to go for a screw fit at the top of stairs for safety. Finally, consider what style you want as baby gates come in all shapes and sizes, from wooden, to white bars to clear acrylic."

Best baby stair gate

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