3 Places that Require a Child Safety Gate and Which ones to Use

As a parent, you know that your home is full of dangerous places, appliances and

objects that you need to keep your little one away from. We often feel so safe in our

home, but there are lots of things you need to do to make it completely safe for your

child.

One of the most important safety accessories you can invest in is a child safety gate. A

good safety gate will keep your toddler in a safe area, prevent her from entering

dangerous spaces and give you peace of mind when you know that she isn’t in danger.

But, don’t just get any safety gate. Invest in a high-quality model that works well, is

secure, is easy for adults and older children to use and can stand up to everyday wear

and tear.

There are three places, at a minimum, in your home that require a safety gate. When

you use the right kind of gate in these places, your toddler will stay safe and you will

know your home is a secure place for your child.

Outside Doors

First, it’s a great idea to use a safety gate to block outside doors. Your front door, back

door or door to your deck is a safety hazard for your toddler, who could easily wander

outside. Your toddler could slip outside when someone leaves the door open, when you

step outside or as you are coming and going. As your toddler becomes old enough to

use the doorknob, a safety gate becomes even more important. Toddlers love to explore

and an open door is an invitation to find out what’s going on outside. When your

toddler is outside and unsupervised, he could easily get into a dangerous situation or

even get lost. Solve this problem with a safety gate.

A pressure mounted gate is a good option for

an outside door because it can easily be

removed when you don’t need it, when you

have guests or as you carry groceries inside.

Look for a sturdy model that has vertical

openings and not horizontal rungs, which are

the perfect ladder for a toddler who will climb

over it.

Stairways

Stair gates are commonly used in front of stairways to

prevent small children from falling down the stairs. This

is a great way to protect a baby who is crawling or a

toddler who hasn’t mastered stairs yet. Unfortunately,

many people accidentally use a traditional safety gate,

instead of a stair gate, so they don’t get optimal

protection.

Skip the Pressure Mounted Models

Pressure mounted stair gates can easily be pushed down

by your toddler, so they aren’t a safe option. A child can

easily push up against or lean on the gate, causing it to

become lose and letting the child fall. Instead, go for a

hardware mounted gate that is installed on your wall or

banister, which is much sturdier for stairways.

Do not Use a U-Frame Model

U-frame models are gates that have a u-shaped frame with a rung across the bottom of

the gate, even when it is open. The problem with using these gates over stairs is that

they are a tripping risk for adults and older children who pass through the gates. Look

for a model that isn’t a U-frame for stairways so that it doesn’t pose a safety hazard.

Choose the Right Opening Direction

Lastly, do not use a stair gate that opens out, over the stairs. If your toddler is able to

unlock it or push it open, the gate will leave the stairs exposed and your child will fall

down them. Always use a stair gate that opens away from the stairs so that your child

can’t push it open or accidentally fall through it and down the stairs.

It’s very important to use a stair gate to keep your child from tumbling down the stairs,

but if you don’t choose the right model, you won’t be providing adequate protection. Be

sure the gate you use is hardware mounted, doesn’t have a U-frame and doesn’t open

over the stairs.

Doorway Between Rooms

Lastly, you should use a safety gate in doorways between rooms wherever needed. The

first way you can use these gates is to keep your toddler out of dangerous areas. For

example, you can keep him out of the kitchen while you use the oven or stove, out of

the bathroom or away from dangerous hobby areas.

Secondly, you can use these safety gates to keep your toddler in a safe area. Use one to

keep him in the living room while you get things done around the house or in a

playroom while you make a phone call. Safety gates are meant to keep your toddler

away from dangerous situations and in safe areas.

You can use a pressure mounted model between rooms so you can easily move it

around the house as you need to without having to uninstall it.

However, keep in mind that a safety gate is not a substitute for your supervision. Even

if you are using a gate, it is never okay to leave your child unattended. One easy way to

keep your baby safe while you do things around the house is to let her play in a safe,

gated area and set up baby monitors to use while you come and go from the room.

Whether you have a baby who is just starting to scoot around the floor or a toddler you

can’t keep up with, safety gates are one of the best safety accessories you can own. They

are ideal for keeping your child safe and preventing accidents, but it’s important that

you use them in the right places and choose the right kinds of gates.

These three places usually call for a gate, but there may be other areas in your home

that require one. Use this guide as a starting point and use safety gates throughout your

home to protect your toddler.

If you’d like to read more on parenting ideas from Lindam then please visit the Lindam

website – www.lindam.com and if you’d like to see the safety accessories available visit

- http://www.lindam.com/range/safety-accessories/safety-accessories.html