Best baby stair gate

Reviewed by Sophie Bell, Digital content manager

Written by Gemma Brushneen | 16 Feb 2024

BabyCentre selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCentre Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

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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 your little one is 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 an 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."

Our picks of the best baby stair gates in the UK 2024

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Best overall stair gate

Munchkin Lindam Sure Shut

Photo credit: Amazon

Buying Options:

£29.99

AmazonOpens a new window

Easy to install with no drilling and ‘no screw’ pressure fit rubber pads, this baby gate from Munchkin Lindam can be purchased with additional extensions in different widths to suit the space you need it for.

This gate was popular amongst parents in our BabyCentre community for this reason, with a parent saying "We have Lindam pressure fit gates as I didn’t want to drill into our hall and landing walls and you can use the extensions to help it fit your stair openings."

It features a handle that you lift and squeeze. This can be a little tricky for an adult to master at first, so your child will be unable to open it easily. It also features a second safety lock at the bottom which can be adjusted to allow the gate to open either in or out if needed. The gate itself is wide and easy to walk through, and can be extended up to 117cm with extension kits (sold separately).

Specs

Width: 76cm - 82cm
Material: alloy steel

Best fixed stair gate

Safetots chunky wooden screw fit

Photo credit: Amazon

Buying Options:

£46.90	AmazonOpens a new window
£39.95	SafetotsOpens a new window

If you know you will be in the stair gate phase of life for a while with multiple small children, you may want a more permanent option. This fixed stair gate from Safetots comes in lots of different colour options from white, to natural wood, to grey and more. The width of the gate can be extended by removing and changing the position of the screws.

This stair gate is mounted on the wall so you’ll need someone who is handy with a drill to make sure it is safe with the correct fixings for your wall type. Once attached it has quick release fittings that allow the gate to be taken down and put back up if needed. The gate can be opened either way and operated with just one hand. It also doesn’t have a bottom bar like pressure fit safety gates so you won’t stub your toe or trip over it.

Another popular choice amongst parents in our community who said "I went for grey to match in with my hallway decor - it’s easy to fit and open and close one handed."

Specs

Width: 63.5cm - 105.5cm
Material: wood

Best retractable stair gate

BabyDan Guard Me

Photo credit: Amazon

Buying Options:

£65.00	AmazonOpens a new window
£70.00	ArgosOpens a new window
£82.99	BabyDanOpens a new window

The auto-foldable safety gate from BabyDan automatically folds back when opened, fitting back to the wall. It can be fitted at the top or bottom of the stairs or in doorways. It's ideal for tight spaces, can be fitted straight or at an angle, and is easy to close one handed.

Favoured amongst parents in our community for how neat it looks when not in use, one parent said "It's great - very secure (it baffles lots of adults) and there’s nothing to trip on. It does fix to the wall so I got a handyman to do it as neither me nor my other half are any good at DIY!"

Specs

Width: 55cm - 89cm
Material: PVC-free plastic, PA6, TPU and steel

Best multi-use stair gate

BabyDan XL Fire Surround

Photo credit: John Lewis

Buying Options:

£102.95	AmazonOpens a new window
£143.99	BabyDanOpens a new window
£105.00	ArgosOpens a new window

Stair gates also have other uses - like this BabyDan XL Fire Surround. It can be used as a hearth guard for a fireplace or a room divider to section off an area of a bigger room. For example, if you have an open plan living area or a kitchen-diner you can use this gate as a divider to suit your space.

It comes in five sections which include the gate, two large and two small panels that can be customised and attached to suit your requirements. There is also the option to buy extra panels if you need it to be bigger.

Parents in our community liked this as a room divider saying "We've got the BabyDan XL. We use it as a room divider and it's really sturdy and the gate is easy to open."

Specs

Width: 90cm - 278cm
Material: PE (Polyethylene) and powder coated steel

Best aesthetic stair gate

Fred Safety Pressure Fit Acrylic Clear-View

Photo credit: Amazon

Buying Options:

£180.00	AmazonOpens a new window
£180.00	John LewisOpens a new window
£190.00	JoJo Maman BébéOpens a new window

If you are looking for a modern stair gate to fit in with the style of your home, this pressure fit bottom stair gate from Fred Safety is made from clear acrylic for a minimalist look. It has a press and lift handle to stop your child being able to open it. It fits an opening 76-96cm wide and you can buy additional extensions if you’d like it to fit a bigger area. It is easy to attach and comes with adhesive wall cups or the option to screw them in to the wall for additional safety. It has ‘accu-fit’ indications so that you know it is installed correctly. The downside is the price which is higher than your average stair gate.

One BabyCentre parent said "its pricey for a stair gate but it fit the stairs perfectly - I was able to install it myself easily."

Specs

Width: 76cm - 96cm
Material: Acrylic

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Best flexible stair gate

Looxii retractable

Photo credit: Amazon

Buying Options:

£39.99	AmazonOpens a new window
£27.10	OnBuyOpens a new window

This baby gate from Looxii is space-saving and made from mesh that you can see through. It installs close to the floor so your baby can’t get under, but is soft enough to avoid any bumps. It is suited for the bottom of the stairs and doorways but not for the top. This gate is easy to open and close one handed, using the handle at the side and the push and twist button on the top. Fixed to the wall, when not in use it retracts back. It's available in various sizes, in either grey or white.

A parent in our community recommended it saying "We have a mesh retractable gate at the bottom of the stairs, it works really well as it's an awkward place that we wouldn't have been able to use a rigid gate for. They aren't safe for the top of the stairs though and we have a standard extendable one there."

Specs

Width: up to 140cm
Material: ABS Plastic

Best tall stair gate

Safety 1st Simply Close Extra Tall (91cm)

Photo credit: Amazon

Buying Options:

£41.24	AmazonOpens a new window
£43.99	VeryOpens a new window

If you need a taller stair gate, perhaps because your child is great at climbing, or you want to keep jumping pets out, this stair gate from Safety 1st is a great choice. Easy to open one-handed and with a push click shut feature, it requires no drilling and has four pressure points to keep it secure. It fits openings between 73 to 80cm, but you can buy additional extenders to fit a wider area. It also has a red and green visual indicator to show that is shut properly. The secondary locking system at the bottom also allows the gate to open one or both ways.

A parent in our community that recommended it said "We have a climber and this gate is tall and secure enough that he hasn’t been able to get over it."

Specs

Width: 73cm – 80cm
Material: Metal

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Gemma Brushneen

Gemma is a BabyCentre writer who shares the world of her large family from her home in Wiltshire, along with her unique buying expertise as a mum of four.

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