Now that your toddler is becoming more mobile and is more curious of exploring his environment, you have to put boundaries on where your toddler can and cannot go. To help make your job easier, you need to buy a child safety gate. Safety gates for toddlers are an essential childproofing gear you must have in your home. Here are safety gate buying tips that will help you figure out how to buy the best safety gate that will offer your toddler protection around the house.

Assess Your Needs

The first thing you have to consider when buying safety gates for toddlers is your needs. Do you want a safety gate for the stairs? Or are you looking for one that can prevent your little one from accessing the bathroom or kitchen? You can choose from two types of child safety gates – hardware-mounted and pressure-mounted safety gates.

A hardware-mounted safety gate is permanently secured to the walls with screws. This is ideally used at the top or bottom of the steps in your home. Hardware-mounted child safety gates are pricier and harder to set-up than pressure-mounted gates but they are durable and gives better protection. On the other hand, a pressure-mounted safety gate can be moved from room to room and relies on pressure to stay in place. This gate is more affordable and is best used for less hazardous areas such as doorways, not the staircase.

Think About Height

Height is another important consideration when choosing safety gates for toddlers. Look for a safety gate that is short enough so you can simply get over it without having to take it down each time you need to get by but at the same time, tall enough to so your little one cannot get over it or climb over.

Check The Spacing of The Bars

Go for a child safety gate with vertical slats or one with a fine mesh screen. Vertical slats and mesh screens are more effective in preventing a toddler from climbing over. In addition, see to it that the bars are set close enough together, no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. This is to keep your little one from placing his head in between the slats and avoid getting trapped. If you prefer a child safety gate with a mesh screen, make sure that the holes are not small enough to keep your toddler from poking through the holes and trapping his tiny fingers.

Get The Right Size

Another point parents should keep an eye out when buying safety gates for toddlers is the size. Look for a safety gate that is wide enough. Opt for a gate with an extension so it can secure a larger area or a gate with interlocking sections to enclose a bigger hazard.

Choose One That Opens Easily

Pick a child safety gate that is easy to open. Choose a door that you can effortlessly open with one hand but automatically locks behind you, restricting your toddler from following you. This way, you will not have to worry if you or other family members latched the gate behind them.

Make Sure It Has The Seal

Safety gates for toddlers should bear a seal that they are JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) certified. This seal serves as a guarantee that the safety gate has passed current safety standards.

Try Before You Buy

As much as possible, test a few models in the store before heading to the cashier. This way, the sales personnel can show you the proper way of installing the safety gate and to make sure that the safety gate you choose is in excellent condition and is safe and easy to use.

To maximize the effectiveness of your child safety gate, always keep a close eye on your toddler. Remember, no gate can completely safeguard your toddler from mishaps.

Making sure toddlers’ stay safe around the house is no easy task. Toddlers are naturally curious and even if they still have a wobbly walk, this does not stop them from exploring their environment. The kitchen, stairs, garden, balcony and swimming pool all pose threats to a toddler’s security around the house. Because it is almost impossible to keep them away from these areas, using a child safety gate is the best solution.

Child safety gates allow you to work around the house without having to constantly worry which area of the house your toddler has wandered off. It is an essential tool to help protect your most precious gift – your child.

Types of Child Safety Gates

There are different types of child safety gates. To help you determine which safety gate is perfect for your little one, refer to this guide:

1.) Mounted Gates

Hardware Mounted Safety Gates

Hardware mounted gates or permanent safety gates are most often used at the top of staircases. It is intended to stay within the house to close off all areas of the house that may risk your little one’s safety. Also called as a stairway gate, they are permanent fixtures around the house since these are not movable. Hardware mounted safety gates are more reliable to use since installing them requires proper tools. These gates are fastened using bolts and screws mounted to the wall or to the wall posts. But, they can also be easily removed when a hardware mounted gate becomes inconvenient. It can be installed in wider openings or at an angle since these gates have an extension and special mounting feature. They come in different designs, colors and sizes that can blend in with your home decors.

Pressure Mounted Gates

Pressure mounted gates or temporary safety gates are very convenient to use as the gates can be removed and re-installed in the different areas of the house. Or, you can also bring these gates when traveling. These safety gates have a two-sliding panel that is very easy to install and are made from different materials such as aluminum, steel, hard plastic and wood. You only have to adjust the tension between two walls or the doorway. However, since these gates are not permanently fastened to the wall, you have to constantly re-adjust the tension. Hence, pressure mounted gates are best situated in less dangerous areas of the house (e.g. bottom of the staircase).

2.) Playpens

A playpen is a lighter and more child-friendly alternative for child safety gates. Generally, playpens are best used if your toddler is between 10 to 15 months old or until such time he learns how to unlatch the lock. This type of child safety gate is best used for only a short span of time, approximately not more than 20 minutes. There are playpens that have an extension feature that are made from tubular steel that provides 100% security and durability.

3.) Pool Safety Gates

If your house has a pool, it is best to safeguard your toddler from getting near the pool and prevent drowning by attaching pool safety gates.

Standard Pool Gate

A pool fence is made from polyester mesh materials that are installed using aluminum support poles. The pool fence is situated into your pool’s exterior and the bottom part is used to flush your pool’s surface to stop your toddler from pushing under the fence. This type of safety gate can be easily removed whenever there are occasions.

Self-closing and Self-latching Pool Gate

This pool safety gate has an automatic closing and latching feature which is more recommended for families with a swimming pool. This gate is taller than most child safety gates so your toddler cannot easily access the lock especially if there is no adult supervision around. Opting for this automatic safety gate is perfect for people who always forget to close the gate behind them.

4.) Walk-through Safety Gates

This tool allows adults to walk through it, but not your child since it is a solid gate with a hinged barrier built into one of its ends. However, you must always make sure you keep the gate locked or otherwise your toddler can still get through it.

5.) Child Safety Gates For Irregular Areas

Wide and irregular areas of the house are tricky to secure. You need to use special child safety gates with extensions that can adjust with the area. In this way, you only have to open the entryway inside the gate to pass through instead of swinging the entire gate.