Baby gates keep your babies and toddlers safe. But remember that they are not the only ones who will be using the baby gate. Older children as well as parents in the house will at some point need to pass these gates. That is why it is very important that you get a gate that is easy to open and close firmly. Do your best not to step over the gate, particularly when the youngster being protected is watching. You don't want the child to learn a bad habit.

Flexible Baby Gates. When thinking of baby gates we usually imagine wood or metal barriers. Not all safety barriers are made out of these materials. Some are made from Plexiglas or high-strength fabrics. As an example, the Kiddy Guard safety barrier protects children up to the age of two.

Baby Gates can be used in doorways and stairways, and normally expands up to 51 inches. The Kiddy Guard fits inside a doorframe or between two walls and is retractable when not in use, making it quite a flexible barrier.

The hardware-mounted gates are attached with screws to walls and banisters. These gates typically open and close much like a door. This makes them more suitable for areas you'll be walking through frequently. They can be mounted between two walls, two banisters or a banister and a wall. Hardware-mounted gates are intended to be installed into a solid wood surface. If your doorway or opening is already framed in wood you can install the gate without any preparation. If not, youll have to install a Gate Mounting Kit, obtainable where you buy baby gates.

Baby Gate Warning. When looking for the right baby gate, it's vital to remember than some gates themselves are dangerous. As an example, accordion-style baby gates with large V-shaped openings along the top edge and diamond-shaped openings between the slats are a strangulation risk. Children who have tried crawling through these gates have died when their heads got trapped in the V-shaped or diamond-shaped openings. The hazardous accordion-style baby gates have not been sold since 1985, though you may still find them at yard sales or in thrift stores, so be alert!