Stair gates.

[bayrans]

I'd just like some opinions please.
We've just moved to a new house after living in a flat. My daughter is 16 months and a confident walker and stair climber. She has had the run of the house for the last 4 weeks, happily climbing the stairs with only one minor incident of falling off the last 2. My husband has just bought and installed some gates, little one hates it and I hate how they look and how they seem so restrictive.
Is is not a bit late for gates now? Do you have gates and how old are your children? At what age did you get rid of them?
I really hate them! I watch her all the time but there are times when she does escape me and get up the stairs
I love watching her have a little independence but my husband is terrified of her having a bad fall.
I'd like to remove them, but is like a little advice first. Thanks!

I have to admit that I'm really surprised how many people leave gates up for so long. We took them down as soon as DD was confident going up and down the stairs (around 2).
But then I think it's healthy for children to be given the chance to take risks and learn for themselves. Yes, DD has slipped on the stairs but she quickly learned to slow down.

Don't leave gates up too long - particularly at the top of the stairs.

When I was young, I would climb over the gate at the top of the stairs in order to go downstairs - often at night for some reason. It seemed like a great adventure and an extreme achievement in the face of parental obstacles. My parents never knew about it and would have been surprised I could manage it. I developed quite a technique. To this day, I remember the tricky part was getting a foothold on the otherside on the base of the gate because it was flush with the edge of the top step.

I look back now and think how crazily dangerous that was - climbing over a gate not designed to weight bear AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.

I'm a strong advocate for stopping using them as soon as possible for that reason.