Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircase We think the BabyDan Guard Me Auto Retractable Satefy Guard gate is the best stair gate available to buy right now. It scored the highest in our product testing and has received many a glowing recommendation from the Mumsnet Talk forums. The retractable feature offers a neat option for leaving the gate folded away when not in use and it has a simple opening mechanism. About the author

Lindam Stair Gate, Easy Close Extending Munchkin Metal Lindam Stair Gate, Easy Close Extending

Once fitted, to stop our baby grandson entering, the kitchen it felt very secure. It has been in place about 4 months and works well. “ The Fred Clear-View is made from an acrylic panel, which creates the see-through window. This means that you could use the gate to segment off your child’s play area in your home and still be able to see them playing through the gate.Pressure fit stair gates are a good option to take with you when going on holiday. They are less versatile than the barrier safety gates but are smaller being only a gate so are easier to take with you. Because of their method of attachment which doesn’t require tools, they are easy to move from your home to a different house. The pressure fit element gives some flexibility so should fit a variety of different door sizes. The most popular recommendations were pulled together to include in a longlist of approximately 30 stair gates, then whittled down to form our final shortlist. How we tested the stair gates If you’re only planning to have a stair gate in position for a short time, or if you're unable to drill into your walls or bannister, a pressure-fit gate will be the better option. Is it better to put a stair gate at the top or the bottom of the stairs?

Best stair gates 2023 for babyproofing your home | Mumsnet Best stair gates 2023 for babyproofing your home | Mumsnet

Although the Safety 1st SecureTech Flat Step Safety Gate is the only pressure-fit gate that claims to be able to be used at the top of a staircase, we still think it’s preferable to use a screw-fit, wall mounted gate wherever possible. This leaves far less room for error and, once the gate is installed correctly, it won’t shift. There’s also no ground bar to cause a trip hazard. The Lindam Sure Shut Axis Pressure Fit Safety Gate is a really affordable option for a travel stair gate. The pressure fit mechanism on the stair gate makes it an ideal choice for travelling and can be used at home as well.

8. Best stair gate for awkward spaces: Cuggl Wall Fix Extending Gate

Some stair gates boast specific safety features, which can help to ensure your gate is installed and used in the safest possible way. Here are a few features you might like to look out for: The flat step makes this pressure-fit stair gate a good alternative to screw-fit stair gates if you're not able to drill into walls. Retractable stair gates: formed from a flexible material like mesh that rolls or folds up when not in use. Type: Screw-fit | Width: 55 – 89cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 113.5cm What we love Even if you don’t use safety gates when you’re at home, there are still lots of good reasons to invest in a travel stair gate, especially if you’re away from home with your mobile baby or toddler quite often.

Lindam Baby Gates - Manuals - Manuall Manuals for Lindam Baby Gates - Manuals - Manuall

If you want to look at all types of stair gates then head over to our child safety gate guide. Safety Barrier Stair Gates/ Room DividersType: Pressure-fit | Width: 76 – 82cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 117cm What we love The mesh ones that you just need one hand for are better, some gates are ridiculous, we accidentally bought one that takes 2 hands to open so impossible when holding a baby.” (Stair gate design recommended by Mumsnetter, SnuggyBuggy) Our verdict While most stair gates average around 75cm in height, the YOOFOR retractable mesh gate reaches 85cm, making it more suitable for dogs or adventurous children who might try to jump over. Plus, this gate is made from sturdy, yet soft mesh making it a little more forgiving for little ones who may accidently trip or bump into the gate.

Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums

Even going to visit friends or family could pose problems if you’re not able to stop access to certain rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen. If you’re child is still in a cot at home but will be sleeping in a bed when you travel then you need to consider getting a travel stair gate so they can’t go wandering out of their room overnight.We have a pressure fit gate at the top of the stairs with the minimum bottom bar, think it's called the flat step. We also bought rubber cups for the wall and the gate is totally solid, you could never shake it loose. The flat step is great too, not totally flat but flat enough you wouldn't trip on it." (Recommended by Mumsnet user GD12) Our verdict Type: Pressure-fit | Width: 76 – 96cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 124cm What we love Within these two categories, there are a few other features that can form part of the identity of a stair gate. For example: Pressure-fit gates are very safe for use at the bottom of a staircase or in a doorway, as long as they’re installed correctly and regularly tightened as necessary.