As parents begin the process of shopping for a child safety gate, the most common question is… "What features should I be looking for to ensure I purchase the right child safety gate for my situation?" This article will help provide guidance to purchasing child safety gates.

Parents are so proud of their new baby and cherish the first smile, giggle, and first words.  We marvel as our baby learns to turn over, sit up and crawl.  However, the transition from a stationary to mobile baby is sometimes a bigger adjustment to the parent than the child!  I remember the first time I looked to my beautiful baby daughter playing on her blanket on the floor and my state of shock when she was not there, but had crawled to another part of the house. Most parents go through this state of shock at one time or another.  This is a great time (or probably earlier), to install child safety gates in your home to keep your child confined to safe places and out of harm's way.

Now you are probably asking, "Okay, I get that I need a child safety gate, but where do I start?  What should I look for?  Where do I need the safety gates?  Below are some suggestions on where to start:

Conduct a Child Safety Audit of Your Home - Child safety gates should be placed on the top and bottom of all stairways.  Do you need a gate to separate your baby from your pet?  Are there specific rooms in your home that have been child proofed and are designated as child areas, i.e. playroom, living room, den, or are there areas that are off limits to your baby i.e. office?  The doorway/entryways to these rooms are typically where child safety gates are installed.

The location of the gate determines the type of gate you will need. Depending on whether you are looking for stairway gates, hallway gate or doorway gate, there are different features to consider. Child safety gates come in Hardware mounted or Pressure mounted. Let's discuss the stairway gate first.
 
Stairway Gates
•    Determine how many stairway gates you will need - recommended two per stairway.
•    Measure the width straight across.  Precise measurements are recommended before selecting and installing any child safety gate. Child safety gates are adjustable to fit a range of widths and can be lengthened further using extensions.  Some gates also come in extra tall or have height extensions.  
•    Hardware mounted is recommended for stairway gates.  Hardware-mounted child safety gates attach directly to the wall or doorway using screws. You drill holes in a door frame or stud behind the wall and attach the gate with brackets and screws. These are the safest, most secure baby gates and should be used for dangerous areas such as stairways - especially at the top. If properly secured to the doorjamb or between two walls, hardware-mounted gates are the most secure choice, although no gate can be guaranteed to keep a child in or out.  Most will swing open only one way--such as away from the stairs--for maximum safety.  Many hardware-mounted gates are made with vertical wood, enamel-coated steel, or aluminum tubing slats and top and bottom rails.  
•    Determine the type of hardware that will work for your stairway and review what type of hardware comes with your stairway gate to determine if you will need to purchase an alternate mounting kit.
o    Stud and screw mounted to the wall
o    Banister clamp mounting "no hole" round or square post kit
o    Hollow drywall mounting (with no stud behind the sheetrock) kit
o    Wrought iron post mounting - kit designed to safely mount safety gates while not damaging the wrought iron

Hallway Gates or Doorway Gates
•    Determine how many you will need.
•    Measure the width straight across.  Precise measurements are recommended before selecting and installing any child safety gate. Child safety gates are adjustable to fit a range of widths and can be lengthened further using extensions.  Some gates also come in extra tall or have height extensions.  Also, some gates allow for angle mounting for those tough or irregular spaces.
•    Determine the type of mounting you require or prefer.  The same hardware mounted options listed above (under stairway gates) are available as well as pressure mounting.
o    Pressure mounted child safety gates stay in place using pressure applied to cushioned pads against the walls instead of screws. A pressure bar or some other locking mechanism then wedges the gate into place without hardware. A swing-style pressure-mounted gate, which has a gate door that swings open, is also an option. Pressure keeps it in place and installation doesn't require drilling. Pressure-mounted gates are suitable for less hazardous locations, such as between rooms. They're useful in areas where falling isn't a major concern, such as in a doorway separating two areas with same-level flooring; you might use one, for example, to cordon off your kitchen so you can make dinner without a crawling baby underfoot, or at the bottom of a stairway to discourage your little climber from venturing upstairs. Pressure mounting is NOT designed for the top of stairs.
•    Determine whether a wood, metal/steel (generally white or black), or clear gate will match best with your home décor or situation.  Also, think about height, strength and durability if you are using your safety gate for pets.
Regardless of the type of gate you choose, insure that the child safety gate is certified through the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA), AND there have been no recalls on that particular gate.  Always follow the complete manufacturer's instructions for installation.

I hope this information has been useful as you begin your child safety gate purchasing process!  For detailed information regarding Child Proofing Your Home , click here: Checklist for Child Safety Proofing your Home - Keeping Your Active Baby or Toddler Safe! and to review a wide selection of affordable, JPMA certified Child Safety Gates, visit our www.ActiveOneSafetyGates.com, Child Safety Gates page.