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Original poster

Boring Stair Gate question

29 replies

chocolateshoes · 10/02/2007 13:25

We have really solid 'blue' stone wall which are a nightmare for drilling into. However we need to fit a stair gate for DS. DP is dreading trying to drill but I can't find any wide stair gates that don't require drilling. I know there are the easy-fit gates but am worried about having a bar accross that people might trip over. So...I need a wide fitting, no bar, no drilling required stairgate....does it exist?

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 13:27

it does.... i've seen them somewhere i'm sure... hang on

Flumpytina · 10/02/2007 13:28

I don't think so. I don't think you can have a no drill, no trip up bar option (I wanted the same thing but the Lady in Mothercare said No!!). You can get the pressure ones with extra wide arms (think you have to order them seperately), I'm pretty sure my Lindam one has that option.
HTH

potawitty · 10/02/2007 13:33

i got a pressure fit travel gate from kidicare.com, think it's a babydan one. have a look on there and see if they're wide enough for you.

TheTrollfinderGeneral · 10/02/2007 13:52

how on earth is a pressure fitted gate going to stay up without a bar across? by magic?

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 13:55

ah ha.... there's one from lindam in the argos catalogue 'easy fix flexi-gate' it's called. it's designedas a travel gate.... not sure it would be wide enough though.

btw, the bar across the bottom isn't that bad, we have 2 and no-ones tripped yet!

TheTrollfinderGeneral · 10/02/2007 13:58

can't be a pressure fitted one, PT. it just caaaaan't. it's against the laws of physics, the starboard engine cannae handle it.

SoupDragon · 10/02/2007 14:00

I have put 3 sections of my Babydan Babyden into a Z kind of shape and attached it to the radiator and bannisters with toyties... I suspect it wouldn't pass a health and safety inspection but it does the job! It's on the hall floor and prevents BabyDragon (and DS2 before her) from getting to the bottom stair at all.

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 14:07

i'm not mad, i did see it!

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 14:08

(i have to admit, even seeing the picture i have no idea how it works )

TheTrollfinderGeneral · 10/02/2007 14:16

so judging by what it says you must have to 'lock' it into place every time you open it? Pinktulips, yours is a pyrrhic voctory...

TheTrollfinderGeneral · 10/02/2007 14:16

voctory? victory!

Flumpytina · 10/02/2007 14:18

I thought about the travel pressure gates but they don't swing open. You just have to remove the whole damn thing whenever you want to go through....not v practical if you are going up & down the stairs a gazzillion times a day!

The baby dan play pen in a dismanted state a la SoupDragon is a good idea, that has a door in which is child proof.

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 14:20

lol, i never said it was good, i just said i'd seen one

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 10/02/2007 19:01

Some great replies ladies, thank you - will research your recommendations. Sorry for not replying earlier - DP wanted to follow the footie, then it was tea, bed etc....But am free now, with glass of wine in hand to follow this all up.

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 10/02/2007 19:48

don't go to bloody mothercare is all i can say... they don't stock extensions so unless your doors are 79cm or less you're out of luck.
i really hate mothercare... [sighs at waste of saturday afternoon]

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 20:09

mothercare don't stock a whole lot of things ime.... have to laugh when i read their catalogue

AitchTwoOh · 10/02/2007 20:14

but they're so shameless about it... that's what gets to me. they were all 'well, none of our shops keeps extensions in stock' when i pointed out that the shop is bang slap in the middle of an area of Victorian flats and houses, ALL of which have doors bigger than 79cm she said 'yes, we have to order a lot of them...' AAAARGH!

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 20:15

pmsl... was it a vacant eyed 17 year old chewing gum and looking over your shoulder the whole time she spoke to you?

AitchTwoOh · 10/02/2007 20:36

pretty much, yes... and she stank of fags...

PinkTulips · 10/02/2007 20:40

lurvely

just what you want touching your baby

worzella · 10/02/2007 20:58

we've got one with a bar across that the 3dcs manage without falling over.... i think it's a lindam one

can't see how you can open the other one without the things falling off the wall!

potawitty · 11/02/2007 09:29

the pressure fit ones do work but you do have to remove them every time, but if you've got funny stairs there isn't much choice, but they dooooo work, so ner nernernerner Trollfindergeneral!!

AitchTwoOh · 11/02/2007 11:35

no they don't, they just don't. not if you have to remove them every blimmin' time. (am tfg, btw)

Original poster
chocolateshoes · 11/02/2007 13:23

Have gone for one of those big three sectioned ones that I hope will cordon off both bits of the staircase at the same time. Fingers crossed it'll work.

And yes, Mothercare is a joke. There is such a gap in the market for a decent, fully stocked, informative baby & toddler shop. Anyone here fancy it??

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 11/02/2007 13:29

have you ordered it yet? if you type in 'shopcodes' to the safetots website you get 5% off. i ordered a bettacare one with about fifteen extensions today... as well as 24 SELF-ADHESIVE drawer locks. cost a blinking fortune but if i don't have to perform a contortionists act putting screws into the underside of Ikea drawers then so be it.