Baby Gates

A baby gate (or stair gate) keeps crawling babies and toddlers contained: stairs, kitchen doorways, and rooms with hazards inside. Cherry Lane Garden Centres, Robert Dyas and very.co.uk between them cover £29-£156 across the range. Two main install methods: pressure-fit gates (no drilling, hold via tensioned wedges, suit doorways but not stairs) and screw-fit gates (drilled to the wall or doorframe, the safer pick for top-of-stairs installs). Pressure-fit baby gates are NOT safe at the top of stairs; the manufacturer's spec usually says so. Width range: most baby gates fit 75-87cm openings without an extension; extension panels add 7-25cm per side. Auto-close gates close themselves when released (safer for forgetful adults); locking gates need manual closure. Look for one-handed operation (toddler-handed releases require dual action); easy-walk gates have a low threshold for stepping over. BS EN 1930 is the British safety standard.