To think that I should be able to get a stairgate

[CouthyMow]

That fits on my fucking front room door!!

I have one from my older DC's that fits, but it is essential that I have one on DS3's bedroom door, because of the stairs.

So far, I have bought the same Lindam safe fit gate, but in the intervening few years since I bought my old one, they have changed them - they used to go from 75-85cm doorways, now they only go from 75-81cm. My doorways are 84cm.

So I took that one back to Tesco, and exchanged it for a Lindam extending metal stairgate, which is meant to fit doorways up to 107cm. Oh, yes, it fits, but it is impossible to open due to the design of my chuffing doorframes. I can just about manage it, but 8yo DS2 has muscle problems, and while he can do a normal pressure fit stairgate that no longer fit my bloody doors as Lindam have changed the size, he can't do this one, and is getting stressed and having a meltdown (he has ASD) about not being able to get in and out of the front room.

SO, I ordered a BabyDan travel stairgate that is meant to fit openings up to 91cm. And it doesn't work as my door is fitted on the wrong side of the door frame (to the point where it doesn't open properly, but it's Social Housing, HA won't change it, have told me to put up with it, and it doesn't matter if the door opens and closes properly (it doesn't close either, but I'm not allowed to plane any wood off it, the HA have said...).

So this one doesn't fucking work either. That's 3 stairgates, and not one of them is fucking suitable.

Why the FUCKITYFUCKITYFUCK do they have to change something that worked perfectly well? A 5yr old Lindam Safefit stairgate fits my arse about face back to front doors, so why the CHUFFING CHUFF doesn't the 'new' not so fucking 'improved' version?!!!

I am just about ready to duck tape 16mo DS3's feet to the front room floor and give up on stairgates entirely.

Does anyone know of a sub £30 pressure fit stairgate that will fit an 84cm door frame? (not the BabyDan travel one, as have tried that one)

I am ready to sit and wobble in a corner. I don't have more of a budget than that, I have already lost £20 on the metal extending one, as Tesco's won't exchange or refund as it's been fitted, and Argos have said that even if I return the BabyDan one tomorrow, it could be 10 working days before I get a refund into my bank.

Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhhhh!!!! N

Crazykat is right; Lindam definitely used to send one free extension to your stairgate if you apply for it by post (info should be in box) and a further one for a small amount.

After phoning Lindam, the extensions are a set size, (14cm)...that would make the stairgate too big for the doorway.

Right now, after the shopping trip from Hell, where 16mo DS3 has simultaneously discovered that he can both escape from the pushchair AND the trolley (in the same day!!), I have given up and moved the one from upstairs to the front room.

I'm going to peruse eBay tonight, I have discovered that the ones that fit have a very specific 'handle' that you open it with, so will inspect the photos closely until I find one that matches!

Kiddiguard roller blind one is WAY out of my budget.

Can't take the door off, DS2 would constantly meltdown, doorways should have a door in them, it's taken him months to get used to the folding one on the downstairs loo, he just refuses to use that toilet, no matter how desperate he is!

Got a travel cot to use as a playpen, but he has been able to throw himself against it and tip it on its side so he can escape since he was 11mo yet another bit of useless equipment when faced with tiny terrorist DS3.

I exchanged the pressure fit Lindam gate for the screw in Lindam extending metal one in Tescos, so no longer have it, unfortunately (to the person who offered me the extension bars).

Tescos won't take back the extending one because it's screw in and has been fitted, so that was £20 down the drain.

Will eBay it soon!

Ebay, definitely. And Gumtree/Preloved. And any local FB selling pages.

Or - we have a garden gate (picket fence style) with a bolt fixed over one of our doorways.

But gaffer taping the baby to the floor would be a cheap temporary fix

Can't fit a full size play pen in my front room, it's a lounge diner and has my table in there too. Social Housing isn't big...

Fair enough

Unless you tell him you're replacing the door?

at the gaffer tape, has been seriously considered. Along with staples and superglue! I can't even open any windows as he climbs on stuff to escape, and has worked out the safety latches, so I am having to keep them all locked and hide the key, he can use keys too!!

Are you allowed to tie them to the table/radiator with string or did the Victorian Reformers do away with that one too??

I swear, despite two of my older DC being on the Autistic Spectrum, DS3 is harder work than all 3 of the older ones put together!!!

would definitely suggest you need a stargate not a stairgate....

I've looked at them, but can't find one in budget.

The fabric travel ones = BabyDan Gate To Go = utter crap, wouldn't last 2 minutes with DS3, he would snap the locks on the sides like he has on the travel cot (same style locks). Also = one of the two stairgates currently residing in my downstairs bathroom.

I didn't think I was asking for the moon on a stick! Just a Jeffing stairgate that fits my door and works for less than £30. I just want to keep my mischief maker as safe as possible.

Sorry am on phone, can't copy & paste, any chance of a converted kinky?

ARF at 'converted kinky'. I meant LINKY, obviously! (Epic autocorrect fail).

Thank you! Still sniggering at my own autocorrect fail though!

Looked at it, and again, too small without the extensions, too large for the opening with the extensions.

My doorways must be the most bloody awkward sized doorways in the entire universe FFS.

what about putting the gate at the bottom of the stairs? How wide are the stairs?

could you approach the problem differently and use a playpen for your little one? I got a huge wooden one off Ebay for £27 that was £140 from John Lewis new

Thing is, the hallway isn't safe, step ladder, a pram and his smart trike are stored there as there's nowhere else for them (lack of cupboards!).

Also, the kitchen isn't safe for him, and there's no way to lock the folding door on the downstairs bathroom.

The only way to keep my inquisitive, mischievous toddler safe is to be able to keep him in the front room.

Again, not enough room for a full sized playpen. 10x11ft lounge diner!