As your child grows up and starts to walk, everything in your home becomes an interest to them. While this is good from a developmental standpoint, it's not always a good thing when it comes to safety.
Keeping your child safe is one of the most important things that you can do. Accidents involving children can be far too common and can be easily avoided. In a typical home environment, there are many things that can hurt your baby. Using a baby gate not only keeps them from certain areas they also keep children situated in a specific area.
When you first set out to buy a baby gate, it can be a little overwhelming. What are the best baby gates out there? Are hardware-mounted gates better than pressure-mounted baby ones? Is it easily transported so you can take it with you? What about the stairs?
That’s a lot of questions and we have answers to all of them thanks to the 10 Best Baby Gates in 2020 list.
OUR TOP PICK
Summer Infant Multi Use Walk Thru Baby Gate
Summary
Standing 36 inches tall, Summer Infant Multi Use Walk Thru Baby Gate accommodates 28.5 to 48 inches wide opening and perfect for those parents looking for extra protection for their children. With 6 color options; namely beige, bronze, grey, grey wash& white, slate, and wood, you don't have to worry about your gate's blending into your home decor at all.
You can childproof your house with the Summer Infant featuring a pressure-mounted baby installation in case you’re anxious about your walls getting dirty. Optional hardware mounts are also available for stairways. You don’t have to worry about closing the door as busy parents, so the brand introduced an auto-close feature for the staircase gate.
With the dual locking system now, you can be in peace as the lock will be secured all the time and don’t be worried about your baby falling off the stairs as the door stopper will prevent the door from swinging towards the stairs.
Standing 36 tall, it is ideal for use with toddlers and small pets and tools are required for hardware mounting. Do not forget to check out the manual first before installing it.
Why We Love It:
· Extra tall height
· Suitable for age 6 months to 2 years
· Auto close feature
· 6 color options: beige, bronze, grey, grey wash& white, slate, and wood
· Extra security due to the dual locking system
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: 6 months to 2 years
Product Dimensions: 48 x 0.5 x 36 inches
Material Type: Metal
EDITORS CHOICE
Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Walk Thru Baby Gate
Summary
Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Walk Thru Baby Gate is just the right product for parents who want to secure their stairs as well as doorway hallway. Our Editor's Choice safety gate stands 30 inches tall and 35-38.5 inches wide to make sure that your house stays safe for your baby.
Setting it up is as easy as 1- 2 as the pressure-mounted baby design will solve the hassle for you. Including a 6-inch-wide extension kit and 4 pressure, mount spindle rods, this safety gate is perfect for doorway hallway or stair use. Having the certification of both JPMA and ASTM standards the all-steel design is extremely durable and convenient.
Including the multiple lock features now you can also use it for household pets, as well. As you purchase the product, you will get an installation kit including four wall cups, four spindle rods, and screws for added security. Additional extensions, on the other hand, are sold separately.
Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Walk Thru Baby Gate will be an ideal solution for all your worries. Did we also mention the color options, namely beige, grey, slate, and bronze?
Why We Love It:
· Includes multiple lock safety features
· Extra wide including extension kit
· Can be used for pets too
· JPMA and ASTM Certified
· Durable all-steel frame
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 38.5 x 2 x 30 inches
Material Type: Steel
BEST VALUE
Evenflo Position and Lock Baby Gate
Summary
The Evenflo Position and Lock Baby Gate is a perfect utility to protect your bundle of joy from various dangerous household places such as the bottom of the stairs, kitchen, laundry room or top of stairs and the good news is that all these features have the best value price tag on it.
The installation is simple and easy with Evenflo as no tools are required. Now you can lock your doorways, hallways, stairs, kitchen, and laundry with no hassles at all. The easy to use locking bar will adjust itself with no problem when moving between doorways. Worried about your walls getting dirtied? Well, the pressure-mounted baby rubber bumpers prevent your walls from getting damaged giving you peace of mind.
Available in various color varieties now you can choose the one you desire to match with your babies’ room. The strong wooden frame and the vinyl-coated mesh are both durable so that your baby doesn’t get close to harm at all.
With a little extra height, your kid will have a tough time passing this obstacle and at the same time, it's wonderful to use it with your pets as they can jump over.
Why We Love It:
· Rubber bumpers that won’t damage your home
· Various colors to choose from like tan, pink, blue, and new farmhouse
· Stylish wooden frame
· No tools required for installation
· Suitable for hallways, doorways, the bottom of stairs, and kitchens
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 25.5 x 23.5 inches
Material Type: Wood
Regalo Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate
Summary
If you have a large dining room with items that you want to keep your child away from, Regalo Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate is a great option for you opening up to 192 inches in width and is 28 inches tall. Yes, we are not joking! With its super-wide wingspan, Regalo can open up to 192 inches in width and is 28 inches tall.
You can cater to your baby’s playing needs by converting it into a 4 pack of wall mounts. It's great for any place in your house including the hallway, openings, and doorways. The 192-inch wall mounted gate and 8-panel configurable playard will make sure that your precious one is always safe while playing.
The product is made up of steel and is super durable with a walk-through door with a safety locking feature. You can use it for children up to 24 months as well as along with household pets.
Easily mounting to the wall, the convenient gate features a walk-through door designed with a double lock lever handle allowing adults to easily pass through.
Why We Love It:
· Able to turn into an 8-panel play yard
· Super wide gate with 192 inches wide and 28 inches tall
· For children up to 24 months and for pets
· Folds down very easily in spite of its dimensions
· Encloses 19 sq. feet space
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 192.1 x 0.4 x 28 inches
Material Type: Metal
Toddleroo by North States Wide Baby Gate
Summary
Including 31 inches of height and 28.68 to 47.85 inches of width, Toddleroo by North States Wide Baby Gate is a worry-free safety solution for your child’s security and safety. Made from heavy-duty metal this gate will make sure that your baby doesn’t climb the vertical bars and resultantly trip over.
It's perfect for all types of large openings in your house along with the stairs and surely you don’t have to worry about the gate tripping or swinging over the stairs. The durability is unquestionable as the matte bronze finish and durable steel construction makes it the easiest to use and durable gate.
With its simple and striking design, it will cater to your home décor, as well. It also features an easy to use gate which opens effortlessly with one hand and locks with a gentle push. Now you don’t either have to worry about the danger of swinging over the stairs as the door only swings in one direction.
Why We Love It:
· Easy swing and lock gate
· Functional and stylish
· Superior safety features
· Elegant matte bronze finish
· Closes and locks with a gentle push
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 47.8 x 47.8 x 31 inches
Material Type: Heavy-duty metal
Toddleroo by North States Easy-Close Baby Gate
Summary
Designed to be opened both ways for extra convenience, Toddleroo by North States Easy-Close Baby Gate will give peace of mind with the triple locking system, too.
For babies from 6-24 months old the gate protects your child from reaching the danger zones in the house. Toddleroo Baby gate doesn’t require any additional hardware or tools and with its easy to install functionality you can keep your loved ones safe by using pressure-mounted baby gates for stairs.
The exclusive finish that has been used can go along with any type of home décor so there is no need to worry about fashion mismatch at home.
The brand took care of closing the gate as the door will automatically shut as you swing it in whatever direction. The offers two additional extensions if you want to make it extra wide (up to 62.25 inches). Remember, these extensions are sold separately.
Why We Love It:
· Crisp white finish blending it easily with home decor
· Ability to make the gate wider
· Superior safety features
· Expandable up to 62.25 inches with extensions
· Tension knobs secure walls
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 29.2 x 28 x 2 inches
Material Type: Metal
Summer Infant Decorative Wood and Metal Baby Gate
Summary
For parents who want to protect their children but at the same time do not want to sacrifice the décor of their homes, we have a perfect recommendation and it is none other than Summer Infant Decorative Wood and Metal Baby Gate.
The stylish gate made from superior quality wood and metal opens 5 feet wide allowing for extra security without damaging the walls of your home. One of the best pressure-mounted baby gates on the market, it makes sure that you don’t have to drill your walls, dent or make scratches. You can use it between rooms for your babies ranged between 6 months old to two years. There is no tool required for drilling.
With 32 inches of height now you don’t have to worry about your baby escaping. The easy one-handed operation enables you to operate it without any hassle with just an effortless touch. Available in New Zealand Pine and slate metal, this product is designed to meet and exceed JPMA standards.
Why We Love It:
· Quality wood and metal blend perfect for home decor
· One hand walk-thru
· No dents on the wall
· 36-60 inches wide and 32 inches tall
· Oak and slate metal finish
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 36.1 x 32.9 inches
Material Type: Pinewood and Metal
Toddleroo By North States Extra-Wide Baby Gate
Summary
A 3 in 1 utility, Toddleroo By North States Extra-Wide Baby Gate is able to act like a baby gate, portable playpen and a safety barrier, a remarkable choice for parents looking for practical solutions inside their home.
Do you require a gate that would do it all for you as your baby starts taking his first little steps? Well, this product was made just by keeping you in mind. We have got you covered even with the stretch marks, as the baby gate can work without leaving any scratch marks on the carpet, tile or the hard floor.
Featuring an easy setup, it’ll be in place within seconds and the swinging walk-through door panel allows a double locking system ensuring more safety of your child. Are you a worried parent who is looking to protect his baby at all costs? With the help of mounting hardware now, you can mount it on angled walls and infinitely extend it with the help of extension panels.
Why We Love It:
· 3 in 1 functionality: baby gate, portable playpen, and a safety barrier
· Ultimate security containing your precious baby
· No dents or scratches on the wall or carpets
· Additional 48" in length with separately sold parts
· Child-proof double-locking system
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 33 x 28 x 7 inches
Material Type: Metal
Munchkin Easy Close Metal Baby Gate
Summary
Measuring 29.5 inches tall and is 29.5-35 inches wide, Munchkin Easy Close Metal Baby Gate stands out among its competitors by its light touch closing mechanism. A perfect choice for protecting your baby from the household dangers, this gate for baby is easy to install, open, and close.
Munchkin will be an ideal solution for rooms, top or bottom of the stairs and the dual locking system will guarantee that your child doesn’t open the gate mistakenly while making it easy for an adult to do the same. Closing the door is also simple as a light touch would swing it and close the gate.
Drilling is only necessary while installing it on the stairs where the use of wall cups and screws are necessary. 29.5" tall and 29.5" - 35" wide gate comes in white color to complement the rest of the furniture in your home. If you need a wider gate, you can extend it by purchasing extra equipment.
Why We Love It:
· Dual locking system makes it extra secure
· Easy to close with smart design
· Additional extensions available
· The gap between the gate frame and the handles is not a defect
· Hardworking customer care team
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 32 x 30 x 3 inches
Material Type: Metal
Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate
Summary
Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate is the perfect choice for mommies as the 23.6-inch large walk-thru gate makes it easier to walk while holding your tiny tot. The double lock safety release makes it difficult for toddlers to open the gate. Are you a dog keeper? Don’t worry as the baby gate is made of steel and will stand up to 210 pounds of impact by your household animals.
Now with the easy pressure mounting, anyone can install it within 10 minutes without any external help. You can use it perfectly for stairs, doors, hallways and open spaces.
Use easy all size baby gate and save yourself from the hassle of finding the accessories and extensions. The support team is available 24 hours to help you in case of installation support. With the auto-close functionality, you don’t have to worry about closing the gate as it will close itself automatically if opened less than 90 degrees.
Why We Love It:
· Safe protection
· Sturdy enough to keep your family safe
· Advance auto-close functionality
· Defend up to 210-pound impacts by dogs like Husky
· Great for families with children and pets
MODEL & ACCESSORY SPECS
Age: Toddlers
Product Dimensions: 32 x 28.5 x 2.5 inches
Material Type: Metal
How To Choose A Baby Gate – Buying Guide
Choosing the best baby gate is no easy task. Considering the fact that you will be using a stairway gate every day until your child is 2 years old, it should be a wise investment. With this in mind, when we set out to create our list of the 10 Best Baby Gates in 2020, we wanted to make sure that the ones we recommended met a specific set of criteria. Let's have a look at them.
Height
Having baby gates for stairs that are high enough will help keep your little one from getting a little too adventurous. The recommendation is to buy a gate that is at least three-quarters of their height. Please keep in mind that baby gates must already be at least 22 inches high. If your child is a little taller, there are options out there that are extra tall to accommodate him or her.
Construction
As with any piece of baby furniture, having sturdy construction is a must. While baby gates can come in either wood or metal, make sure that the wood is smooth and splinter-free, while a metal gate has rounded edges instead of squared ones. Other gates will have a support bar that runs along the floor, which can cause a tripping hazard if not looked out for.
Slat Spacing
Your little one loves to touch everything with their hands and a baby gate is going to be no different when they’re standing against it. A vertical slat opening of more than 3 inches could cause injury when they try to stick their head through the slats. If there is a bottom rail, they could try to use it to climb over the gate or even damage the gate. Therefore, control if the slat spacing is done according to universal safety standards.
Hardware
Baby gates can have very different latching releases from one-hand push-down latches to squeezing mechanism or latches that operate with a foot pedal. Please keep in mind that baby gates for stairs should include a latching indicator so that you know for certain it is closed. While many will make a clicking sound to indicate this, there are other stairs gate that come with a color-coded indicator or an alarm when the gate is left open.
Flexibility
Let’s face it; you’re not going to be in the perfect place to put a stairs gate every single time. Houses are built as complete boxes. With houses that may have stair balusters or an angled banister or an odd hallway, gate manufactures have provided their consumers with different types of installation options.
Different Types of Baby Gates
When you start looking around for a baby gate, it’s important that you get the right one for each different area. Choosing one that doesn’t work or fit right in your home could result in damage to your home or worse, an injury to your child. Therefore, choosing the best baby gates for your different needs is the utmost importance.
Hardware-Mounted
Primarily made from wood, aluminum tubing or enamel-coated steel, hardware-mounted baby gates are installed by screwing brackets either to a wall or a door frame, using hardware that comes included with the baby gate. It is not recommended that this hardware is screwed into a plaster or drywall without a stud behind it as it could cause the hardware-mounted baby gate to come detached and not function properly. The hardware-mounted baby gates are considered the most secure type, although no gate is guaranteed to be childproof.
Pressure-Mounted
As its name suggests, a pressure mounted baby gate is put in place by putting pressure against the walls or door frame it is being used in. A pressure-mounted gate eliminates the need for screws or putting holes in your walls or door frames. It can be made from plastic, wire or nylon mesh. These types of gates are a good fit in areas where the risk of falling is low such as between two rooms or at the bottom of stairs to keep your kid from climbing up. Keep in mind that you should avoid the gate from swinging.
Making Your Home a Safe Space
Making your home a safe space overall for your baby is one of the most important things you can do. Of the close to 3 million moderate injuries, more than half of those relate to children under 1-year-old as a result of falling or being hit or struck by an object according to the Center for Disease Control.
Taking the time to childproof your home to reduce the risk of these types of injuries can easily be accomplished with a little planning. While these are just a few tips, they can help keep your child safe throughout your home.
See What Your Child Sees: As an adult, the way we may see a room will definitely be different than the way your child would see it. The best way to do this is to get on your knees to see from your child’s perspective and make appropriate changes based on this view.
Keep Electrical Outlets Protected: Electrical outlet covers may be cheap to buy at any hardware store, but their innate value cannot be measured. Outlets can look like playgrounds to little children and they might want to try to fit anything into one of the slots, from fingers to forks or coins that they might find on the floor. Taking the time to go room to room and cover your outlets help reduce the risk of injury.
Secure Furniture to Walls: It seems like almost every other week, there is a story on the news of a young child who tries to climb their dresser or a bookshelf and ends up pulling the piece of furniture on top of them, trapping them and causing serious injury.
For just a few dollars, many stores offer furniture anchors that, if your little one happens to climb their dresser and it starts to tip, the anchor will “catch” the furniture so that it doesn’t topple over.
FAQ
Q: Do we really need a baby gate?
A: When your child learns to move, they have no real sense of danger, that is why you need a baby gate in your home.
They may be ugly and sometimes a little hard to use however, safety and the wealth of your child should always be the number one priority. Not only they are good for stair safety but also, they can be used to ensure that your child has a safe place to play.
They also come handy if you want to open the door to the garden or the play yard but don’t want your child to go outside or when you want to prevent them from entering the kitchen when you are cooking.
You should also consider a portable gate if you are traveling or visiting friends and relatives. Pressure mounted gates serve perfectly for this cause as they are so easy to install and they keep your child away from rooms that they shouldn’t go in. These gates can also be used for a play yard.
Therefore, choosing the best baby gates for your different needs is the utmost importance.
Q: Do I need a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs?
A: In short, yes.
Babies can go up as well as down. If a baby decides to climb the stairs, they will also want to climb down. Gates at the bottom of the stairs and on top of the stairs ensure that babies don’t have the chance to climb anywhere. Even falling from the third step can be dangerous for a child.
Q: How long do you need a baby gate?
A: This depends on your child.
You can continue using stairway gates until your child is around 2 years old or until he or she is tall enough to see over the top of the gate. Also, once your child has worked out how to open the gate it becomes useless.
Q: Are baby gates safe?
A: Baby gates are meant to protect babies, but that doesn’t mean all gates are safe!
You have to ensure that you choose the right gate for your house and also at the same time make sure it is fitted correctly. The kind of gate you use for the different areas of your house is important. Pressure mounted gates are not suitable for the top of the stairs. Never use accordion styled gates as they cause different kinds of hazards.
Best baby gates have been given a safety certificate and meet the up to date standards. Check if gates are not too high from the floor. If the gap looks big, babies can try and crawl through them and get stuck.
Q: How do you install a baby gate?
A: It depends on the kind.
There are two different kinds of gates. Hardware mounted gate needs screws for installation into the door frame. You will have to drill holes into the door frame and then attach the gate with the brackets and screws. These are the safest kinds of cardinal gates if the installation is right and the best solution for top of stairs and bottom of stairs.
Pressure mounted gates on the other hand usually have sliding panels to fit the opening. A locking mechanism or pressure bar fits the gate into place so you don’t need any screws or brackets.
In both kinds, you should avoid the gate from swinging.
Q: What age do you get rid of baby gates?
A: You will need these gates up until the age of two or as soon as your child is tall enough to rest their chin on the gate.
After this time the gate can become dangerous as your children will try to climb over it. This is of course very dangerous when the gate is top of stairs or bottom of the gate. Also at this age children start to have a sense of danger so they can understand that the oven is hot or that the stairs can be dangerous.
Q: What are the benefits of baby gates?
A baby gate has many benefits for both your baby and your family.
Safety is the most obvious benefit of having cardinal gates in your home. When your baby begins to walk, things that were no longer dangerous around your home become huge concerns.
Being able to move a baby gate from room to room to cordon off an area that you don’t want your little one to have access to is a definitive benefit that comes with owning a baby gate.
When your child reaches an age, many baby gates will fold or collapse for easy storage. Not every parent wants to keep baby gates up all of the time, being able to easily store gates is a welcome benefit.
With the help of a larger gate, you can create a personal play space for your little one. Encircling and giving your children some of their favorite toys will keep them active.
MY BABIES PLANET OVERVIEW
Choosing the correct baby gate for your home is one of the most important decisions that you can make as a parent. As your child grows up, they will start to explore, and as they do, we have to keep them as secure as possible. The best baby gate for your home is never a single item purchase. It is likely you will eventually have to purchase more than one gate for different situations, so knowing what you are looking for before starting can be very helpful.
We hope that our list of the 10 Best Baby Gates in 2020 was able to provide you with some options to consider when first starting out. While there are a lot of options out there, we are confident that our list can help you make a perfect choice.