Baby Safety Gates

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Buying Guide for Baby Safety Gates

It is unavoidable… at some point helpless immobile newborn babies turn into active youngsters. You can be certain that active youngsters like to get into any and everything humanly possible when exploring their new world!

The best thing you can do to protect your baby is invest in one or more safety gates. Safety gates are a must have item for child proofing your home and ensuring your baby is safe from the moment he or she starts crawling.

Styles of Safety Gate

Mounted safety gates are an excellent selection for protecting children from the top of stairs or other unsafe areas. You need to mount a safety gate permanently to your wall for it to work properly. Most feature swinging doors that click into place when installed correctly.

Pressure gates are less expensive, but worthwhile because they can be moved from place to place easily and conveniently. You can place this gate between two walls or in a door opening. The gate provides suction between the structure and barrier to prevent your little one from squeezing by.

Tips for Selecting the Best Gate

• JPMA (short for Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association) or products with this logo are always a good alternative. The association works with many safety agencies to develop high quality baby products including safety gates.
• Size: you need to make sure you buy a gate that is the correct size for the space you plan to install it in.
• Strength: remember that when it comes to safety gates pricing does relate to quality. You want to be sure to invest in a gate that is sturdy so your baby can’t easily move it out of position.
• Slats: if you opt for a gate that has slats, make sure that they are spaced close together so your baby doesn’t accidentally squeeze a loose limb or head through. Slats should be only 2 to 3/8 of an inch apart.

You should never by gates used at garage sales. Older gates including those made before 1985 were made with openings that may be dangerous for your baby. You should also remember that a safety gate doesn’t guarantee a 100 percent safe environment for your baby.

Always remember to keep an eye on your baby even when he is playing in a ‘safe’ area. Sometimes a safety gate provides just enough time for you to reach your baby and scoop him or her out of harms way.