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Baby gates and under 2s

41 replies

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:26

I've got a mum friend who has a 20 month old toddler. He can apparently open baby gates and doors. I guess he can reach doors to open them but I thought baby gates were a lot harder because they require the opener to be slid to the left and lifted up, in that order and without a break?

She's a friend of a friend and find she bends the truth alot. So no sure if it's just my dislike for her picking this up as another lie or not.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 21/12/2024 13:34

We had one which you had to push in a button with your thumb and that would allow you to lift up the handle. If you used one hand it was doable but tricky, with two hands it was really easy. Also you only had to lift the handle slightly to let go of the button as then the fact the handle was up would keep the button depressed. Really easy for a curious and determined toddler to figure out! I just distracted mine if I saw them trying to do it so they would never quite get there, DS2 got it at about 3 but was OK to go in and out of the kitchen on his own by then anyway.

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:34

Wonderingpigeon · 21/12/2024 13:32

Not sure, my friends little boy would climb it, he was an early walker and climbs everything.
My little girl doesn't stand a chance 😂
It depends on your toddler :)

What if it is a taller room divider, 105cm tall. What age do you think it would keep them from escaping? A room divider is a baby gate but just in sections.

OP posts:
Jingleberryalltheway · 21/12/2024 13:33

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:31

That's interesting. Mine is BabyDan/SafeTots. How does your open?

I’m well past baby gates (youngest is 5) I seem to remember a button to press in as you lifted the handle. I had tall children and climbers so not long after they turned 5 I removed them anyway.

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:32

Tooes · 21/12/2024 13:32

Not surprising that a baby can figure out gates, it's not like breaking military encryption systems.

Bit of a weird comparison....

OP posts:
Wonderingpigeon · 21/12/2024 13:32

Not sure, my friends little boy would climb it, he was an early walker and climbs everything.
My little girl doesn't stand a chance 😂
It depends on your toddler :)

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:32

TartanMammy · 21/12/2024 13:31

Really depends on your child and their nature and their gross motor skills. Mine were little escape artists who could get out of almost anything! Even if they could open a baby gate from about 15 month they could climb over it!
I had friends with docile DC who wouldn't even attempt it.

I saw on social media a child climbing over two stacked baby gates lol lol lol.

OP posts:
Tooes · 21/12/2024 13:32

Not surprising that a baby can figure out gates, it's not like breaking military encryption systems.

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:31

Jingleberryalltheway · 21/12/2024 13:30

Different baby gates working if different way. I never had one which works the way described here.

That's interesting. Mine is BabyDan/SafeTots. How does your open?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 21/12/2024 13:31

Some gates are much easier to open.

Also not all DC will figure that kind of thing out.

I don't think you need to change your gates if your child can't open them.

TartanMammy · 21/12/2024 13:31

Really depends on your child and their nature and their gross motor skills. Mine were little escape artists who could get out of almost anything! Even if they could open a baby gate from about 15 month they could climb over it!
I had friends with docile DC who wouldn't even attempt it.

GrumpyCactus · 21/12/2024 13:31

I've known multiple children who could open baby gates at that age, it's not uncommon or unusual and certainly not something a person would lie about.

TickTockPolly · 21/12/2024 13:31

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:28

I will have to rethink my security measures for my child?

If your DC can open your baby gate before they can manage the stairs then rethink then. At worst this is a future problem

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:31

I wouldnt want my child to risk falling down the stairs. So I would buy a taller room divider to keep him safe in the room until he can go down stairs safely

OP posts:
Jingleberryalltheway · 21/12/2024 13:30

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:26

I've got a mum friend who has a 20 month old toddler. He can apparently open baby gates and doors. I guess he can reach doors to open them but I thought baby gates were a lot harder because they require the opener to be slid to the left and lifted up, in that order and without a break?

She's a friend of a friend and find she bends the truth alot. So no sure if it's just my dislike for her picking this up as another lie or not.

Different baby gates working if different way. I never had one which works the way described here.

LoftyTealSwan · 21/12/2024 13:28

I will have to rethink my security measures for my child?

OP posts:
Inmydreams88 · 21/12/2024 13:28

Even if she is lying about it, so what?

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