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Original poster

Advice on safety gates

16 replies

bunnyrabbit · 20/06/2004 17:54

OK so it's getting close to the time when I will have to start baby-proofing the house, but there are so many baby gates available, i'm not sure which to go for. I'm going to get the Babyden, babydamn as I have a through kitchen/breakfast room that I want to cordon off, but not sure about stair gate/door gates. Any advice?

OP posts:

muddaofsuburbia · 20/06/2004 17:58

John Lewis have a good selection. We were advised to get 2 stairgates - one for the bottom and one for the top. Ours is a Lindam branded one.

The gates are really sturdy and secure, but they do have a bar at the bottom on the floor, which some people don't like in case it's a trip hazard - but we've had no problems.

Some gates need to be screwed into the wall which we wanted to avoid. our gates have little circular cups which stick to the wall and the tension of the gate holds the whole thing up.

Happy proofing!

Original poster

bunnyrabbit · 20/06/2004 18:07

mmm not sure about the bar. I think my friend has this one and I keep tripping over it...

OP posts:

Blackduck · 20/06/2004 18:17

We have a cheapy argos gate in the kitchen with a bar - its a pain in the ar*e as it gets kicked out of place at least once a week. Have a portable travel babydan used to keep ds in one room - v. good...no gates on the stairs as yet.

Original poster

bunnyrabbit · 21/06/2004 15:12

bump

OP posts:

crumpet · 21/06/2004 15:16

We got gates without a bar (think Lindam but can't remember - we got from Toys R Us). You do have to screw it into the wall, but we didn't mind - in fact when we came to do it we saw the holes in the top bannister where the previous house owners had drilled holes for gates. Was the first time we'd noticed (and had only been in the house for 3 years!)

fairydust · 21/06/2004 17:08

WE HAVE THESE \\IKEA
NO BAR AT THE BOTTOM AND HAVE BEEN PERFECT.

fee77 · 09/07/2004 14:03

I have only just seen this message, but am too at this stage. Are the gate openings a astandard width, as we were at a friends yesterday and felt theirs was too narrow for my DH and my great bulk!!

KangaMummy · 10/07/2004 13:01

TOMY adjust-a-width gates do not have a bar at the bottom or top so are great on stairs kitchen etc.

Like the name says you can twist things on the top and bottom to make wider or narrower.

they also open very wide so are easy to get through.

fee77 · 10/07/2004 14:36

Thanks KangaMummy - i am not huge, but found the gaps narrow, which is a problem on the stairs i think! Will look in to it. Also do they do any with cat flaps, as i am damn sure my lazy cats will not jump over them!!!!

daisy1999 · 10/07/2004 14:39

lol fee77 - just picturing baby gate with cat flap! My cat is lazy and won't go through a door until someone opens it to twice her size. But if it's somewhere she isn't allowed (we don't allow her upstairs but that's another story) she will squeeze through where water can't get!

Tissy · 10/07/2004 14:45

our cat will sit by her catflap and mieow until we open it for her! She also would sit the wrong side of the stair gate and mieow until we opened it for her. We have a "roller blind" type gate, which is useful for wide gaps, and has no rail to trip over , but impossible to operate with one hand.

mummytojames · 10/07/2004 14:45

im getting the one from argos its a travel saftey gate which fixes with no screws plus it folds down small for when were out oraway

Furball · 10/07/2004 15:43

Mummytojames - The only problem with the travel stair gate is everytime you want to go passed it, you have to take it down. We bought one for my parents to use at their house, which was great for short visits, but if it was there at your house all day, you'd be fed up with having to dismantle it all the time to get passed it.

KangaMummy · 10/07/2004 18:58

TOMY AAWSG vertical bars can be altered wider so hopefully the cat will fit through.

We have 2 cats and they jump them or go through banisters

CountessDracula · 10/07/2004 19:06

Must say I wouldn't have the ones with the bars for the top of the stairs, far too dangerous. The ones that you screw in that just open with one hand are the best IME.

Have used the others as temp. solutions (for dog) and fine if just used in a doorway.

fee77 · 13/07/2004 12:01

Have decided the cats will probably love the stair gates - at least they will be able to sneak off to somewhere when it all gets a bit much. They will probably start sleeping on the stairs
I was having real dilemas about the stair gates, as i really don't think they are safe if they are on the stairs, and you have to try to open them whilst carrying baby. A friend had the fantastic idea of putting them in the hall and on the landing. That way it blocks of my prized cd collection, the front door, and upstairs the bathroom and cupboard - all of which are danger areas - just thought i would pass this tip on, as obviously common sense is not one of my strong points!!!

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