So what should you know about baby gates in order to choose the best one for your house?

Tips

Avoid Rough/Sharp Edges
Irrespective of what type of gate you decide on you should ensure it has a flat top edge to stop injury if baby makes an attempt to climb over. Likewise make sure that there are no sharpened edges or places the baby could make contact with that might cause cuts or other injuries.

Locate the Risks
Before you know what size, style and make of baby gate you need you have got to assess the potential dangers for baby in your home. Take a walk around and look for steps, drops, places where there may be hot surfaces or sharp items, things to be swallowed, for example. The 1st place you’ll need to place a barrier is at the very top and bottom of any steps the baby may encounter. Remember that for gates placed at the top of the stairs it’s essential to have hardware mounted into the walls. Employing a pressure mounted gate can cause accidents as it could become loose and fall down the steps.

Get the Size Right
Take measurements of doorways and staircases to see what size gate you need. Gates can be purchased in many different sizes, widths and heights. It is necessary your gate fits superbly. Many gates have extension kits available for a particularly wide space. Be aware of the surface the gate will be mounted to. Is it secure? Are there studs in the wall? You may need to get a wall mounting kit to guarantee a stable installation.

Prepare for Baby to Grow
It’s also a smart idea to take into account your kids growing progress and choose a gate that compensates for the height they could be 6 months down the road. It is important to choose a gate that there’s no possibility of your youngster climbing over or on top of. Gates can be expensive to replace and you don’t want your kid to overgrow the gate.

Look for Reliable Locks
Before you buy a baby gate check its locking mechanism. You’ll be looking for reliability, simplicity of use and child proof systems. A double lock is better. Some gates have auto-close locking systems so that you do not need to second-guess yourself over securing the gate.

Resist Second-hand Gates
It’s not unusual for new parents to get hand-me-downs from helpful buddies and family but one hand-me-down you might want to avoid is any safety device, like a baby gate. The reason is that you will need your gate to be secure, reliable, an ideal fit, and in excellent shape. Usually previously used items do not fit these criteria. Even if a second user gate appears in fine condition it might have hidden points of weakness or issues from previous use. It is also outdated in safety standards. If you are likely to accept a gently used gate, ensure you test it totally for any issues before use. It is a good idea to get information on the brand and manufacturer and research the model before setting it up to confirm it is up to today’s safety levels.

Install Properly and Test Test Test

You have selected the right gate, it fits, it matches all the above standards and it looks great in your home. Great job! Not all you have left to do is install it and make sure it works. Read thru the directions thoroughly, making certain you do not miss any details. If you ge a pressure gate, install it so taht the bar is on the other side of the kid so that it can’t be used as a step to climb over the gate. Install it scrupulously and test it out. Don’t go easy on it. It should be built to take quite a lot of pressure from your growing kid.

Pamela Noble enjoys writing about useful household topics for BabyandPetGates.com. You can go there for more information about the different types of baby and pet gates available.

The Right Way To Choose The Right Baby Gate is a post from: WiredWriter