Is Your Baby Gate Dangerous? Here’s How To Ensure its Safe
Last Updated on May 30, 2022 by babygatesplus.com
Baby gates prevent your baby from going to off-limit areas in your house. This includes places like your kitchen, the stairs, and the bathroom. However, research shows that about 2794 injuries in the US are caused by baby gates accidents ranging from sprains and brain injuries.
Baby gates can pose a major safety risk when misused. This is because children are curious, and they will always find a way to get out of their determent. They end up climbing the gates and falling down.
That baby gate can be dangerous for your baby. But you should not give up on using baby gates. This is because they are essential safety equipment for kids, and with them, parents are less worried.
You should, therefore, continue using your baby gate as long as it has the right safety standards. Here is how to ensure your baby gate is safe for your kid.
Get The Right Gate
Make sure you get the right gate for your baby. Baby gates have recommended guidelines that explain the starting age of use for a baby gate. The gates should be used by babies starting from the age of six months to two years.
Also, ensure that during this time, your baby is not in a position to reach the latch. Once your baby can get up, and down the stairs safely, you can remove the baby gates to prevent any hazards.
Put The Right Gate At The Right Place
There are different types of baby gates, and putting a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs is a very big mistake parents do. This is because pressure gates can be pushed over, causing an accident to the baby.
Also, these gates have a bar at the bottom, which is a tripping hazard for parents and can cause severe injuries. Parents also have a tendency to put baby gates at the top of the stairs and to get the bottom of the stairs. Both places need baby gates.
And the best baby gate for the two places is choosing a hardware-mounted baby gate. These can hardly be pushed by the baby ant; therefore, they pose a minimal risk to your baby. It may be much difficult to assemble since it requires drilling some few holes in the wall, but it is much safer for you and your kids.
Follow Manufactures Instructions To The Letter
Putting together a baby gate may look like a cinch, and parents forget to read the manual and end up appropriately assembling the gate. Reading the baby gate manual should be key. Also, follow all instructions to the letter. Remember that your first priority is your child’s safety.
Therefore, assembling the gate the wrong way may pose a threat to your child. For example, manufacturers recommended that fabric gates should be set back at least six inches from the top of the stairs.
This is to prevent kids from pushing against them and slipping underneath. If you do not follow the manufactures instructions to the letter, you will end up setting the gate wrongly, and such mistakes may render the baby gate useless.
Frame Your Baby Gate
You will probably purchase a bay gate with plastic plugs to screw your baby gate on a dry wall. However, expert advice that the plastic plugs are not safe and strong enough. You are therefore advised to screw your baby gate into solid wood.
Therefore the plastic plugs will be of no use. In case you don’t have a wall stand where you want to install your baby gate, you will need to build a frame. Mount two pieces of wood vertically on each side of the gate and attach the frame to a dry wall using bolts.
This will ensure that the baby gate is safe for the kids. Don’t be bothered by the holes you drill on your drywalls because you can easily fill them later when the baby gate is removed.
Call a Professional
If you doubt your capacity to install the baby gate safely, you can call a professional to help mount the gate for you. Some experts even offer free advice and tips, and it is good to engage them to ensure you set up your baby gate safely.
Don’t Make Your Own Baby Gate
There are pleasing homemade baby gates in the markets out there, but they may not meet child safety standards. It is therefore advisable to purchase your baby gate from trusted manufacturers who know the child’s safety standards. A safe baby gate should include an automatic lock and a two-step opening.
Consider the Height and Weight Of Your Child
Remember to keep an eye on the height and weight of your kid. This is because the baby should not be in a position to push the baby gate over or even climb over it.
Don’t install Your Gate Too High
You might be tempted to install your gate too high off the ground to prevent your kid from climbing up the gate and leave space for your cat. You will, therefore, end up leaving a gap under the baby gate, and this is an opportunity for your baby to crawl under the gate, which is very dangerous.
When it comes to the safety of your kid, stop considering the cat because it is capable of jumping over the gate. The bottom space between your baby gate and the floor should be less than three inches to prevent and hazards.
Avoid Stacking Two Baby Gates Together
Once your baby learns how to climb over the gate, you might be tempted to stack another gate on top of the other one to increase its height. If the gate is not specifically meant to achieve this, don’t do this because it is not safe and can lead to serious injuries. If the baby can walk down the stairs safely, you can comfortably remove the gate.
Over the years, serious injuries have been associated with baby gates. To avoid this happening to your dear baby, apply these tips to ensure that your baby gate is safe for your kid.