While her baby-proofing days are now behind her, Lucy used (and reviewed) several stair gates with her two children when they were young, including both metal and retractable designs. The pressure points on this baby stair gate are padded round pads, which will prevent walls getting damaged and requires no drilling. However, if you want to go a step further, extra wall protection is available by using the Wall Nanny System, with gives greater protection for walls and skirting boards. It also features a one handed opening and closing latch, that is easily opened with one hand by adults, using a lift and pull motion to unlatch the gate. The gate itself alos opens both ways, which is extremely handy especioally if you are carrying items or even carrying your child. 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.

Firstly, pressure-fit gates can shift and move around over time. If a child were to push on a gate at the top of a staircase and the gate moved or gave way, they could potentially fall down the stairs. We’re passionate about baby and child safety at home. Using stair gates, baby gates and other child safety essentials, you can create a safe environment, keeping everything harmful and out of baby’s reach. Some of the pressure-fit stair gates that failed our testing have the option of being secured to the wall using screws as well as the adhesive pads.

How we chose which stair gates to test

It is recommended to use a wall-mounted gate on any stairway opening, top or bottom, and a pressure-fit or removable style for doorways. Pressure-fit gates and gates with a step-over bar shouldn't ever be used at the top of stairs. Some stair gates also come with a small door inset into the gate, to let a smaller pet through while keeping large people and dogs out. Within these two categories, there are a few other features that can form part of the identity of a stair gate. For example: Day-to-day use: Does the gate do the job it’s supposed to? Does it withstand a toddler’s weight? Is it easy to open and close with one hand?

This pressure fit safety gate fits openings of 76 cm to 82 cm. There are no extensions compatible with this safety gate. It is important that you measure the opening of where you want to install your safety gate correctly. Always measure from the narrowest point, typically skirting to skirting. However, for safety, I would always recommend a baby gate at the bottom of your stairs and the top of your stairs, but ultimately the choice is yours based on how your home is used. How To Measure Correctly For A Stair Gate If you know you will be in the stair gate phase of life for a while with multiple small children, you may want a more permanent option. This fixed stair gate from Safetots comes in lots of different colour options from white, to natural wood, to grey and more. The width of the gate can be extended by removing and changing the position of the screws.Material A wooden or metal side-opening stair gate will need plenty of room to swing open, so you need to think about potential obstructions and whether it will be awkward to navigate around. However, they are generally not safe for use at the top of a staircase. This is for two main reasons. Peace of mind: You can’t can’t always watch your children every second of the day – it’s almost impossible. Using a stair gate helps provide you with peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that they can’t access stairs unsupervised. Choose from our wide range of safety gates to suit your requirements. Whether you require a wall mounted baby gate or a pressure fit safety gate, you will find the right equipment to make your home a safe environment. Discover our Advice Hub