When to remove safety gates

[Mimiandme]

Hi, we have a 2 almost 3 year old daughter and I wanted to try and gauge when is the right time to remove safety gates? We have a playroom downstairs that connects onto our living room and our kitchen on the other side. We have a gate between the playroom and kitchen, then a gate between the playroom and living room. We have always had it as it means she can play in the playroom and we can be in the kitchen cooking etc but still see her. Should we be taking these down? I’ve just noticed that friends often comment on them and now I feel like they are thinking it’s a negative thing like I’m caging our daughter in. We do close them but only if like I said we are cooking or if I need to do a few bits in the house for 5/10 mins, otherwise it’s open for the majority of the time if we are home but most of the time we are out and about. Looking at them now I’m thinking maybe she doesn’t need them? We don’t have them on the stairs as I’d worry about our daughter tripping over them? What have you done / thoughts?

I’ve got a 5 year old and a 2.5 year old and we have one on the lounge door and will keep it until I can trust my youngest to stay in there when asked to or is safely able to navigate the stairs if he tries to follow me up. Based on my DD that’s probably 3.5 at least.

We don't have any between rooms, I actually never thought to have them downstairs but we do we have one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. DS 26months so a little younger than yours.

We didn't have much choice, when my youngest was two years old he managed to break a metal Lindam gate. He actually managed to sheer part of the metal in two with his own strength. He's always been very tall and strong. Luckily he was already navigating the stairs very well.

Our downstairs one went fairly early but we had doors that could be shut. You have to judge your own house layout and risks and ignore others who might have very different set-ups. I can see why you’d want a barrier between a playroom and a kitchen. We kept our upstairs gate until I was confident my youngest would come to us in the middle of the night rather than going wondering.

Ours went when I caught DS2 (at 2.5) astride the top of the one at the top of the stairs…we had them to about 3 with DS1, who was never a climber.

We only have them at the top and bottom of the stairs. Why can’t she come in the kitchen when you are cooking? My 2 year old likes to help with making dinner.

I didn't fit them due to being in a rental. Chemicals etc stored out of reach. We moved when they were 3&5 and didn't child proof that house at all.

I’ve never personally understood keeping children out of the kitchen when cooking. DS was around 18 months when we removed all baby gates.

I'd say when they start trying to scale them. My now 17 year old still has the scar on his cheek from climbing over the one on the stairs <bad mother>

Never had them, my boys were velcro kids, wherever I was they were so always able to watch they were safe and they 'helped' in the kitchen😂

Id only keep the kitchen one (unless it's a pain for you opening & closing all the time). I'd also get rid of all gates when the kids can open them or climb over.
I'm quite looking forward to the day I remove all stair gates!!!