Baby Gate : What is it?
| Baby gates keep babies and toddlers away from dangerous areas such as staircases, windows, and fireplaces. They are usually small enough for adults to step through, but tall enough to keep babies from climbing them. They are sometimes used for household pets as well.
Baby gates are typically installed before the baby becomes mobile, and stay in place until the baby is able to unlatch or walk over the gate. Most gates are made up of slats of wood, plastic, or metal tubing, and are locked with bars or bolts. Vertical slats or solid surfaces are required in all gates, because mesh or horizontal styles provide footholds for the baby to climb. |
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Kinds of Baby Gates include the following: |
Hardware mounted gates
These baby gates are screwed onto fixed solid surfaces, such as walls and banisters.
They cannot be mounted on hollow walls because the screws can damage the wood.
They are the safest type of baby gate and are ideal for stairways and separate rooms.
They also include extensions that allow them to fit over wide spaces.
Some also come with hardware mounting kits for installing in spaces without wall studs.
Pressure mounted gates
Pressure mounted gates have corner hooks that attach to slats or other narrow fixtures.
They are usually folding or expandable and can be stretched across most entry points.
They are easier to install because they require no mounting or hardware.
There are also portable models that can be folded and packed for long trips.
They are commonly used on hallways and doorways. They are not advisable for stairways because they can easily be unhooked.
Walk-through gates
Walk-through gates consist of a swinging door and two fixed side sections.
The fixed sections are mounted on each side of the opening. The door is hinged to one of the sections and closes with a latch over the other.
Most models have bottom thresholds and can be unlatched with one hand.
They usually come with modular extensions and can extend as long as 20 feet.
They are available in pressure mounted and hardware mounted varieties.
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Materials: Choose a baby gate made of thick, sturdy slats. Look for those made of solid hardwood, thick ABS plastic, or high-grade aluminum or steel tubing. Make sure the slats will not bend nor break easily. Choose only metal gates for fireplaces because the heat can easily damage wood and plastic.
Slat size: Choose a baby gate with closely spaced slats. Make sure there is no space between each slat for your baby to slip through. Check the slats at the edges and make sure the gate cannot be unlocked from the other side. |
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