Why are Infant Safety Gates so Important?

The use of safety equipment around the house for baby-proofing space is getting more and more common with each passing day. Parents and other caregivers of little children are now understanding the importance of putting accessories to use so that the babies in the house are able to play around, have fun, explore, discover and learn, and all of it without having to face the risk of injury or hurt. The adults themselves also get to earn their own peace of mind when the children in the house are able to play safely and without getting into the way of harm. While there is an entire range of safety products that parents choose to pick from, the most commonly and effectively used accessory of safety for babies is the infant safety gates. This is a gate that can be put to use in different parts of the house and is used by different sets of parents owing to different reasons.

You are aware that little children are curious about everything in their environment. Infants are the most notorious; once they start crawling, they don’t stop until their desire to investigate their surroundings has waned. However, as a responsible parent, you must be aware that stairs are not suitable for children. As a result, putting a baby gate at the stairwell will assist you in keeping your child secure. It prevents your crawling or walking toddler from falling down the stairs.

However, there are several things to consider when purchasing a baby gate for stairs. So, before you go out and buy one for your infant, read this entire post.

Infant safety gates:

Infant safety gates are barriers that keep your children secure from all of the risks in your home. It prevents your toddler from accessing certain areas, ensuring his physical safety. It protects your kid from injuries and dangers that may be present in your home. The dangers we’re talking about have already been highlighted in the previous paragraph.

Infant safety gates, which can be made of metal, plastic, or wood, let you keep your toddler in the room once they’ve fallen asleep. The side grills around the bed will keep your toddler from tumbling out if he wakes up. You won’t be able to keep your child under safety gates once they start using toilets instead of diapers at night.

Why do we need Infant Safety Gates?

A baby gate is a safety barrier that protects babies and toddlers from potential dangers in the house. Height-adjustable tables, stairwells, kitchens, and roofs are examples of such locations. When you install a baby gate, it prevents your child from accessing certain areas and preventing them from reaching them. As a result, they are protected even when you are not present.

Metal, plastic, or wood are commonly used in their construction. You can buy them and then expand them to fit the width of your steps, door, or other installation location. Baby gates can be used to restrict access to both indoor and outdoor areas, and they can be installed using either hardware or a pressure mount.

Baby safety gates are best to buy if you have kids between 6 months to 2 years of age. It is because, at this age, toddlers don’t know how to climb over them. Thus, you should also remain aware of when to remove these gates. But you must also note that installing the safety gate correctly is also a major responsibility. Once installed correctly, it will keep your toddlers out of harm’s way.

How do infant safety gates work?

You must have heard from parents that, most accidents with kids happen at home only. These risks stay hidden in the living room, around tables, TV sets, and bookshelves, along with loose wires. These loose wires can get tangled around your baby leading to dangerous results. Apart from that, there are many other things also like paper clips, erasers, plastic bags, etc. which children might think of as an item to eat.

Among all these potential hazards that can harm your baby the most dangerous are stairs in your house. Thus, the most feasible solution to refrain from such hazards is to make these areas inaccessible to your baby. This is where the role of stair child safety gates comes into play. You can install them at the top and bottom both as if baby climbs the stairs, he cannot fall.

Bedrooms and bathrooms possess the same danger but not in the form of height. It includes medicines, cleaning items, phenyl etc. Thus, you need to keep them out of reach of kids, so that they don’t consume them accidentally. You can do so with help of child safety gates.

Don’t forget the kitchen area which can threaten your child in its own way. Like, knives, heat, and other kinds of hazardous objects. So while in the kitchen, make your baby stay within the limits of child safety gates. If he is sitting on the chair, make it close with safety gates, so he can’t get out himself.

The Benefits of Infant Safety Gates:

Reading this guide will give you all the knowledge on the benefits of having a baby safety gate. So read the following points :

• Security

Your child’s safety comes for you first and foremost every time. Hence, when you position these gates at important locations, like stairs, doorways, fireplaces, sharp places, etc. you keep your kids away from dangers. With the use of baby safety gates, you keep your child safe without worrying about their safety.

• No Worries

Kids love to grow with a curious mind as they keep exploring the house and its surroundings. So to remain tense-free so that they don’t go to a dangerous area, you need to have a baby safety gate. Thus, you remain at peace of mind, without stopping your children from playing. You just need to restrict their access area with the gates. Gates prevent your kid from accessing dangerous areas so you keep on doing your important work without thinking that your child will go to unwanted areas in your home.

• Safe Play Zones

Installing baby safety gates help you create safe play zones for your kids. You can close off the areas that are unsafe using a baby gate. These areas are the kitchen, bathroom, or any such area that is out of your view.

• Pet limitation

You can also limit the interaction of pets and babies using the gates. Thus, your pet cannot harm the toddler. Many parents feel insecure about leaving their kids playing with pets without their supervision. But as we know kids are curious and do everything to fulfil their enjoyment. Thus, baby gates prove to be the perfect solution for safeguarding your kids when they are with pets. You can restrict your kids and pets from reaching each other.

How to choose the best ?

When you shop for the baby safety gates for your child, make sure to follow the below checks before buying them:

Easy Operation

The baby gate should open and shut smoothly so parents can easily walk through the gate with or without their baby in their arms (but not allow your child to open it on their own). Options for baby gate openings include sliding, swinging and even smaller doorways in the centre of your gate.

Slats Gap

The gap between the slats should be under 3 inches as recommended by Juveniles Product Manufacturing Association (JPMA). Wider gaps could lead to children squeezing between them or even getting stuck. The slats should also always be vertical to prevent climbing.

Height

To prevent extra-adventurous children from attempting to climb over a gate (even one with vertical slats), the one you buy should be at least three-quarters of your child’s height. Any gate you purchase should be a minimum of 23 inches high for safety.

Safety Certification

Any baby gate you buy must be certified by the JPMA or the American Society for Testing. The products certified by these organizations are deemed safe to use.

All North States products are tested by independent test labs and are certified to meet or exceed all juvenile products standards and government regulations set by JPMA.

Size and Adjustability

As mentioned, make sure your gate will not be stretched to its limits to fit the opening. Gates stretched to their max-width might not provide enough security for an ambitious toddler. The gate should ideally expand or contract to fit a variety of openings.

Factors to think about while buying :

Child safety gates are typically used for newborns and children aged 6 months to 2 or 3 years. They’re positioned at the top of the stairs or at doorways to keep the youngster safe from potential dangers around the house. However, you should read our buying guide before purchasing infant safety gates for your child. After reading this, you will be able to determine which baby gate is the greatest fit for your toddler. When purchasing one, keep the following in mind:

• Start with measuring the width of the doorway or the stairway, so that the gate you buy is wide enough to block the gap.
• Don’t buy the accordion-type gate, because the diamond-shaped openings are not safe. It can trap an hour baby’s head which can lead to choking.
• For more safety, check the ASTM/JPMA label on the gate. It means the American Society for Testing and Materials, and Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.
• While buying stair safety gates, always ensure there are no sharp edges and pieces. It could hurt the baby’s hands. If it is a wooden gate, check for wood splinters.
• The height of the gate must not be greater than three-quarters of the child’s height.
• Buy baby gate in such a way that, you can use it both at the bottom as well as at the top of stairs.
• If you are having pressure-mounted stairs, use them only at the bottom of the stairs and not on top. For the top of the stairs always use a screw-mounted baby gate for the safety of your kid.
• Keep the items away from the baby gate which your toddler can use to stand and climb above the baby gate. Like, chairs, stools, ladders, large toys, etc.
• Keep using the gates till the age of your child until you are sure that he can walk safely and properly. Usually, up to 3years of age, children learn to walk properly, so never remove the gates, till your child is 3 years of age.

The greatest way to keep your toddler from reaching unwelcome areas in your home is to use a kid’s safety gate. Because your youngster will be curious to examine everything around him once he begins crawling. And you won’t always be able to keep an eye on your child. As a result, strategically putting gates throughout your home will keep him safe. Stairs, a fireplace, the kitchen, and the bathroom are just a few of the potentially hazardous locations. You may also utilise the child safety gate to keep your pets and your youngster separate.

However, every home is unique, and each parent’s demands are as well. As a result, you should get the children’s safety gate that best meets your child’s needs. This article will provide you with a quick overview of baby safety gates.

When to use infant safety gates?

Babies are innocent and don’t what can harm them and what cannot. Thus, as a parent, you need to take care of the safety of your baby at all times. However, you cannot be with them all the time, thus you must think to ensure their safety every time. The major danger for any baby is they are prone to fall from dangerous heights. Thus, you can install child safety gates to ensure they don’t fall from heights.

With child safety gates, you can do your important work without worrying about your child. This article will tell you more about such safety gates. So keep reading till the end.

It is not necessary to purchase the safety gates right after your kid is delivered. It’s because it keeps your child from wandering into any of your home’s potential threats. And since a newborn baby cannot walk, there is no need to purchase it. However, after your toddler reaches the age of six months, he begins crawling, and you must now be watchful of his movements.

As a result, child safety gates are best used when children are between the ages of 6 months and two years old. Children of this age range are unable to jump over the fence while remaining safe behind it. However, after your youngster has outgrown this age group, he will be able to pass through the gate. As a result, it will no longer be a safe gadget to keep.

There may be parents that may feel disheartened because they think that the gate may not work in spaces that do not have walls or other flat surfaces on both sides. However, the truth is that the baby safety gates can be ideally and effectively used in almost all spaces with the help of accessories such as ‘Y’ and ‘U’ Clips. These are accessories that are attached to the ends of the gates or the gate extensions and are secured against pillars or rail posts. The clips are efficiently designed to fit into the design of staircase posts whether they are rounded or edged. 

The design of the clip in combination with the pressure hold system of the gate helps you secure spaces like staircases with complete ease. You do not have to worry about the gate tipping over with pressure because the ‘Y’ or ‘U’ design of the end clip helps in gripping the surface of the post without giving up. 

Types:

Below are two major types of safety gates available in the market:

• Pressure Mount Safety Gates
• Hardware Mount Safety Gates

If you don’t know about them, keep reading to understand what suits you best.

Hardware Mount Safety Gates:

They are often referred to as the most secured type of kid’s safety gate. Made of wood or enamel-coated steel, it is installed by drilling holes in the door frame or stair walls. The brackets of gates are screwed in these holes and the gate is supported in between the walls. However, don’t screw the gate into a drywall or plaster wall.

When you don’t need the gate anymore, you can unscrew the doors and open the passageway. You can use it at the top of the stairs, as you don’t want your kid to have access to stairs. Further, since it is screwed to the stair walls, the child cannot push the gate and hence has no chance of falling. However, ensure to fix it in such a way that door opens inside the roof landing and not on the stairs opening.

Pressure Mount Safety Gates:

As per its name, these kinds of gates are held with pressure against the door frame or walls between which you are installing them. Thus, you need not drill any holes in the wall keeping your walls intact. They are also made of wood or enamel-coated steel. You can use it the best when using it for temporary blockage. Thus, you can use one gate at multiple locations in your home as per your requirement. Use them to block, bathroom way, kitchen way, doorway, etc. But don’t use them to block the way where falling is a hazard, at such places use hardware mount gates.

Precautions to take:

The points you’ll be reading now are really crucial to consider. These are the precautions you must take and must adhere to. You will be projecting your child down a path of danger if you ignore them.

Many parents are unfamiliar with safety gates and how to utilise them. As a result, people are prone to purchasing anything that is placed in front of them. You should not proceed in this manner; instead, understand the purpose and location for which you are purchasing the gate before purchasing it. So, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when using infant safety gates:

Using Pressure Mount infant Safety Gates:

Thus, if you are thinking to buy a gate for dividing the room, at the room’s gate, at the bottom of the stairs, pressure mount gates will be best. Don’t think of using them at top of the stairs as a stair gate. It is because pressure mount gates cannot withstand much force. Hence if your baby will give a push, the gate will come out and the baby can fall down on stairs. Since they give temporary fixation, you can open the gate, and place it somewhere else for the protection of your child.

Using Hardware Mount infant Safety Gates:

Hardware gates are mounted securely using screws to fix against the wall. It gives permanent fixing to the gate on the walls you are securing. Thus, they are best suited to use at the top of stairs, as they are permanently fixed, hence no matter what amount of force your baby applies it cannot come out. Thus, your baby won’t fall over the stairs. Similarly, you can use hardware mount gates at the places where you need permanent fixation.

Other Miscellaneous Precautions:

• For the top of stairways, you should only use hardware mount gates for securing the stairway.
• Pressure mount gates don’t prevent falls, hence use them as doorway only, and not as stairway protection.
• Use the children’s safety gates only for kids between 6 months and 2 years of age.
• You can stop using the gates when your child has turned 2 years or he has learned to open the gate or climb over it.
• See the height of the gate, it should be less than that of your child’s height. Further use the gates that don’t have notches and gaps, which your child can use for climbing.

The installation:

The process of installation is simple but you need to pay attention to the strength with which it is fixed. In fixing the safety gate you need to:

– Place the gate in the space that you need to fix it. Placing the gate in an approximate centre of the doorway or the opening that needs to be covered, can help in getting a good grip. 

– You then need to simply rotate the knobs provided on both sides of the gate for them to get released towards the fixed surfaces and get latched by pressure. 

– It is important that you go on rotating the knobs until they are tight enough to hold on to the surface and in turn keep the baby safety gates independently standing. 

The key to the correct installation of the gate, irrespective of where it is installed, is in having it put up firmly. If the gate is still moving with pressure after it is installed, you need to rotate the knobs further so that they can press against the fixed surfaces on both sides with better strength. 

Covering Larger Openings: 

The scope of security with the help of the baby safety gates is nearly endless, which is why it is used in covering openings that are larger than the standard doorways or passage areas. When you want to use the gate in a large opening, all you have to do is to opt for a safety gate extension for kids so that a wider opening can be covered with the same trusted and reliable safety gate. In order for the gate extension to work, you need to:

• Attach the safety gate extension to the main safety gate apparatus before you put it up for the final installation. 
• The end of the extension will have the same grip knobs to hold on to a surface so that the gate can stand strong and sturdy. 
• The rest of the installation process can be carried out in the same way as the regular gate. 
• You still need to check and double-check whether the gate is standing strong in the face of pressure. If the gate moves after the installation are complete, it may not be truly safe for the purpose that you are using it for. 

The use of the baby gate extension for kids helps open up the possibilities of using the gate in spaces that you may not have otherwise imagined to be safe enough for your little one. The use of the gate along with the extension also helps institutes such as schools in putting it up in the large school corridors that need to be secured for the sake of little children.

Installing Gates against Pillars and Posts:

While using the gate, it is highly important that you are able to pay attention to the fixing or the installation of the product. When you choose to use a safety gate for the safety of your child, you tend to become carefree and basically free of worry that your child will go into a space that you don’t want them to be in. However, you can reach this stage of contentment only when you know that you fixed the gate correctly and that it functions properly. You need to be careful about the fit of the gate itself and the grip with which it is holding on to the support surfaces so that it does not move from its place. Any gate that is not fit properly in its place and is not standing sturdily can prove to be a safety hazard for the child more than being a safety accessory. It is therefore important that you learn about the way in which the baby safety gates are installed correctly and all the accessories that you need to fix the gate in unique spaces.

However, you need to be careful that the clip has a snug fit and that the clip is strongly held in place with the help of the pressure screw that should be turned adequately for the clip to sit tightly in its place.

It can be surmised that no matter which part of the house you want to secure for the sake of your little one, the baby safety gates can become your go-to tool. However, you also need to ensure that you take complete responsibility for the proper installation and fixing of the gate so that it can serve to its optimum potential.

In order to ensure complete safety for your little one with the use of the baby safety gates, it also helps to make sure that you buy your gate from a seller that you can blindly place your trust in. A good seller helps you make sure that you not only get the best quality in your gate but also get the best fitting accessories and alternatives to cover the unique space around your house.

Baby gates are the perfect option to keep your child out of harm in your home. They are best suited when your child is between the age group of 6months to 3years, i.e. when your child cannot cross the height of gates of his own. So if you have just become a parent there are high chances that you will be using children’s safety gate for sure in future. However, while using the safety gates you need to take care of certain things.

Major Precautions:

As you read above, you need to take care of a few things to make the children’s safety gate more secure for your kid. But before reading these precautions, you must understand, what is the need of taking these precautions?

A study conducted in the USA shows that of all the injuries via baby safety gates, 60% were kids below 2years of age. The most common reason for injury was, that the gate was left open by the parents and kids fell down the stairs. While the kids, between the age group of 2-6years, were injured mainly because they climbed the stairs to cross it.

That’s why safety gates are not advised to sue for kids above 3years of age. This leads to the injury of cuts on their skin, causing irritation to them. While the latter causes injuries like sprain and strain.

Thus you can’t completely leave everything on the gate for the protection of your child. As you have seen, the major reason for injuries is negligence from the parent’s side. If you will not use them properly, it may cause injury to your child.

So, yes children’s safety gate is an essential safety device to safeguard your child and you must continue to use them. But you need to ensure that, your gate meets safety standards. It is the right gate for the place you intend to use it. You also need to ensure that, you are taking proper precautions, keeping proper check of the gate, and your child’s activity around the gate.

Buy the best infant safety gates for your child:

Parenting your child is a blessing and responsibility and every choice you make will have an impact on your child. Thus, you always need to make the right choices for your baby for his safety and well-being. When it comes to buying baby gates for your child’s safety, Safe-O-Kid is the best choice available for you. Here is why?

Run by the people who are themselves a parent, we work as a parent-focused company.  We understand the issues of a parent for their infant and hence provide you with baby products that are healthy and safer for your baby. Before we dispatch it to you, we run multiple and strict quality checks on the product you buy. Thus, we ensure your baby receives the best product in the journey of his development.