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How To Choose The Right Safety Gates

When it comes to childproofing your home, safety gates are one of the most powerful tools available. And these days, you have more choices than ever, so there's a gating solution for virtually every space. However, all these options make it harder for parents to choose. But it's not as complex as it first appears. When you break it down, there are just four major factors to consider: gate size, installation method, construction materials, and design features. Here's what you need to know in order to choose wisely.

Get the Right Size Gate for Your Space

Generally speaking, safety gates can be divided into three classes, based on the size (and shape) of your space:

Standard Gates are designed to fit regular doorways. With some exceptions, standard gates generally adjust to fit doorways 30"-50" wide.
Extra-wide Gates are designed for the open floor plans found in contemporary homes, such as L-shaped rooms and great rooms. Many of these gates consist of a basic unit, plus extension panels to add as needed.
Specialty Gates are versatile enclosures designed to barricade specific or unusually-shaped spaces, such as a fireplace, office area, or hot tub.

The single best piece of advice we can give you?based on more than 20 years of experience with parents and safety gates?is to measure each space carefully before you buy. Learn how to do it right: watch our How to Measure video. By investing just a few minutes upfront, you can save yourself a world of aggravation later.

Installation Methods

When it comes to installation, gates fall into one of two classes:

Hardware-mounted Gates are permanently screwed to the walls, and therefore offer the greatest stability. They are crucial for areas such as stair tops. However, they do require more complex installation and may leave holes behind when eventually removed. (The holes, of course, may be spackled and repainted.)

Pressure-mounted Gates can be installed and removed in minutes, without tools or drilling. They rely on spring mountings, like tension rods, that exert pressure against the walls. They are highly convenient, but generally not considered as sturdy as hardware-mounted gates. They are best used for barricading rooms on the same level.

Some doorways and spaces?including those with unevenly angled walls, moldings, and banisters?present unique mounting challenges. Standard mountings aren't designed for irregular surfaces, but there are solutions, including gate installation kits and adaptive fixtures, which you can find on our website.

To learn what installation involves, watch our step-by-step videos on Hardware-mounted Installation and Pressure-mounted Installation, as well as Specialty Gates.

Construction Materials: So Many Choices

Safety gates are available in a wide variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and mesh. From an aesthetic viewpoint, gates have come a long way from what you may remember.

Want a gate that complements with your décor? Try furniture-quality hardwood or sleek metal. Want an unobtrusive gate? Consider transparent plastic or a mesh retractable gate. We offer a wide variety of gates to complement virtually any decorating preference.

Design Options

In addition, you can find safety gates with many neat features. There are gates with doors that swing two ways (for high-traffic areas) or one way (for stair top use, since you would never want a gate to swing open over a staircase.)

Furthermore, you can find gates that are hands-free, that close and lock automatically, and are extra-tall (ideal for big dogs and little daredevils). We offer gates designed for travel and even for outdoor use. When weighing design features, think about the space your gate will guard and how you use it from day to day.

Tips for Choosing Safety Gates

Make sure your gates are certified by the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association). All One Step Ahead gates have earned JPMA certification.
Avoid gates with slats more than 2⅜" apart. Little hands and feet can get trapped between wider spaces.
Check the base of the gate; it should offer no toeholds.
Avoid hinged joints that can pinch fingers.
Avoid using secondhand gates made prior to 1985. Old, accordion-style gates with large, diamond-shaped openings may pose a strangulation risk.

Tips for Gate Installation and Use

Always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. (We co-developed our how-to videos with the gate manufacturer, so you can be sure they are accurate.)
Check your mounting hardware frequently to make sure it's secure.
Don't leave more than an inch or two of space below the gate, or your child may try to squeeze underneath.
Keep toys and chairs away from gates: enterprising climbers may use them as step stools.

We offer one of the largest collections of safety gates, pre-tested for quality and performance. In addition, our customer service representatives receive training on the safety gates we carry, so if you have questions, please contact us.