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Original poster

Stairgates

17 replies

cairnterrier · 09/01/2011 21:41

We're going to be in rented accommodation for the foreseeable future and DS has got to the stage where stairgates are now a necessity! Are there any about that don't require some sort of permanent fixing to the walls/newel posts? I've got one via a friend but it has wall cups that have to be either screwed to the wall or stuck with adhesive pads. I'm guessing that when we come to try to remove them, they'll either not come off or leave ugly dints in the plaster work and then it's bye bye deposit. Any thoughts? Thanks

OP posts:
RhinestoneCowgirl · 09/01/2011 21:47

We use Lindam which are pressure fit - they might leave a bit of a mark, but nothing that can't be covered up with a spot of emulsion.

hellymelly · 09/01/2011 21:47

Well I never used them,so maybe they are less of a necessity than they seem? I have loads of friends who didn't have them either,so maybe see how you go and if you can manage without?

Original poster
cairnterrier · 09/01/2011 21:53

Gosh that was quick! Thanks RhinestoneCowgirl, will look at those.

Hellymelly: how did you get on without one? I guess I never considered not using one but I suppose I could start off without and see how it goes. thanks

OP posts:
hellymelly · 09/01/2011 22:15

We just never bothered.I had friends who hadn't used them,and we lived on a boat until dd2 was 7m,so hadn't used them there,when we moved to this house (lots and lots of stairs) we just seemed to get along fine without them.The girls were good at the stairs,showed dd2 to slide down on her tummy if she wanted to come down,until she was big enough to walk down,or to wait for me to hold her hand.(she is three and a half now).The only issue might be that we co-sleep,so i would notice if one of them woke up,no risk of a child going down the stairs alone at night.But my friend with three boys said her sons would always come to her room anyway if they woke up.

moragdingdongbellingham · 13/01/2011 13:14

Lindam here too. We move them round from house to house and are great as long as you don't have strange width/shape stairs(4 so far!).

moragdingdongbellingham · 13/01/2011 13:17

Think it depends on your DCs as to whether you need them.
I have 2 very differently behaved DC. One is naughty spirited and feisty and does whatever I say not too resulting in numerous falls down the stairs from high up when stairgates are accidently left open.

moragdingdongbellingham · 13/01/2011 13:20

Forgot to say - my DC do tend to hang off the gates and this had resulted in ripped wallpaper and it's removed bannister paint too.
Which all needs paying for/repairing when we leave.

Guacamole · 13/01/2011 14:30

We have Lindam and if you can wait for one of Asda's Baby and Toddler events you can get them really cheaply.

MissTFied · 16/01/2011 00:55

Think Asda are doing a baby event next week, 19th iirc.

ascouser · 16/01/2011 01:17

Never had them either and have two very differently behaved DC.
The latest will be 2 in Feb and gets up and down the stairs very confidently on her own (with a careful eye from one of us).
It gives us the opportunity to teach her to listen to our tone of voice when she's at the top and being told to wait for one of us. We insisted she went down 'on your bottom, slide and bump' for the longest time, now she walks down.

Original poster
cairnterrier · 26/01/2011 14:30

Right, quick update. We bought 2 Lindam pressure fit gates from Boots and checked with the lady and she said that they definitely don't need wall cups. (can you see what's coming next?!!!)

got them home, opened the package and of course the first thing that has fallen out is the wall cups along with the warning of dire consequences if they're not used. Sooooo Lindam easy fit gates, do they definitely need wall cups to be safe??

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 26/01/2011 14:45

Are they just provided as an optional extra?

elsiemarley · 26/01/2011 15:42

I,ve never used the wall cups ever, they are fine without. DM has one at thier house that gets used sometimes, she does the same. If you do it tight enough it will be fine.

BelieveInLife · 26/01/2011 15:48

Ours didn't come with wall cups so would think if they're provided they should be used?

Original poster
cairnterrier · 27/01/2011 18:07

Stairgate fixed without wall cups, cannot really see what benefit they would bring other than as a back up to the fixings slipping on the walls?? There's no sign of them on the picture on the side of the box either.

Thanks for everyone's help. :)

OP posts:
northerngirl41 · 27/01/2011 19:05

hellymelly - I'm with you, we never used them. Basically we have lots of traffic up and down the stairs and I figured that the gates were bound to get left open at some point, which would of course end in disaster. So we were really careful about teaching them how to do the stairs. Worked fine!

Rieslinger · 28/01/2011 16:10

Lindam on offer for £15 at Morrisons at the Mo (in Bath anyway) 70-90 Cms I think

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