Munchkin Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate review: we put pressure-fit baby gate through its paces

Overall rating: 4/5

Price on writing: From £30 | Buy now from Amazon

What we like

• One-handed opening

• Can open in either direction

• Quick and easy to install with pressure indicator

• Additional lock at the base

• Sturdy

What we don't like

• Has a bar to step over, which could pose a trip hazard

• When used with extenders, only the main gate opens rather than the full-width

• Gate needs to be checked and tightened daily

Key specs

Price on writing: From £30 | Type: Pressure-fit | Width: 76 – 82cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 117cm

Our verdict

If you are after a high-quality, budget safety gate, with no-screw installation, then the Lindam Sure Shut Axis ticks all the boxes.

Part of the Munchkin baby safety range, the Lindam Sure Shut Axis is a pressure-fit gate, so installation is quick and easy, and you won’t need to drill holes into your walls to secure it.

Although some pressure-fit gates do tend to shift slightly over time, our product tester Katja found that this wasn’t a problem with the Lindam, which stayed firmly in place.

Spanning relatively small widths of just 76cm to 82cm, this gate doesn’t fit a huge range of doorways. However, there are several extensions available (sold separately) that, when used in various combinations, can extend the gate to fit wider gaps of up to 117cm.

The only thing you should be aware of is the Lindam Sure Shut Axis does have a bar along the bottom, which may prove to be a trip hazard, so take extra care when stepping through the gate and avoid installing at the top of the stairs.

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How do you install the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate?

The U-shaped frame simply squeezes against your walls, holding itself in place through pressure – although you do need to attach some wall cups to your wall using the sticky pads provided. And that’s it. No screws or power tools required.

Munchkin says the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate takes five minutes to install, although our reviewer Katja felt this was optimistic: “It was a straightforward, easy installation, but it took 20 minutes,” she says.

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How safe is the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate?

Often pressure-fix safety gates can wobble or shift over time, which can be a worry if your child is constantly grabbing and pulling on things. But tester Katja found the Lindam Sure Shut Axis gate was “very stable and didn’t wobble” when shaken by an adult or child.  She felt it could easily withstand a toddler’s weight or an enthusiastic pet. That said, like any pressure-fix gate, the Lindam Sure Shut Axis should be checked regularly to ensure that it hasn’t slipped out of position.

A ‘lift and squeeze’ opening mechanism means the gate is easy to operate one-handed, but little ones won’t be able to escape. The Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate has a second lock at the bottom, meaning you can set the gate to open both ways or one way only. 

The manufacturer recommends the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate is used in doorways or at the bottom of the stairs. A bar at the bottom of the gate poses a trip hazard, so the Lindam Sure Shut Axis should not be used at the top of the stairs.

Read next: Best child safety locks for babyproofing your home

How easy is it to clean the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate?

The bar on the bottom of the safety gate can make it tricky to clean off sticky juice or spilled baby food, but overall, Mumsnet tester Katja was impressed by how easy the Lindam was to clean.

She said: “The Lindam Sure Shut Axis is easy to keep clean and it is easy to vacuum around it. It does show obvious mud and fingermarks, but it is easy to wipe clean.”

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Does the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate offer value for money?

Priced at £30 at the time of writing (January 9th, 2024), the Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate is a good budget option, particularly if you don't want to be drilling holes into your walls. Katja added: “I feel it's good value for money and does the job well. I would buy it.”

See how the Lindam Sure Shut Axis compares with other market leaders on our best stair gates round-up, featuring products tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnet users.

How we tested

Mumsnet tester Katja spent several weeks putting a number of popular baby gates through their paces. Afterwards she scored each gate for safety, ease of installation, ease of cleaning and value for money.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on toddler play, child play and outdoor play. She is a mum of two and lives in Sussex.

Laura is a freelance journalist and has written for a range of publications including The Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.