Safe Baby Gates: A Shopping Guide With Tips From The Pros
Installing safe and sturdy baby gates is essential in any household that has young children. A lack of proper engineering while installing the gates or buying ones that have a weak build could prove to be dangerous and could cause injuries.
As important as it is to buy and install a baby gate for the protection of your child, it is equally important to choose one that has a standard size, is constructed out of toxin-free, safe materials, and has robust and tough hardware with a smooth, seamless finish.
Modernbabyadvice offers some of the most practical, ergonomic, and strong mounted baby gates, a must-have for anyone looking to baby-proof their house. There are abundant good-quality baby gates available with them, so this article comprises a few tips and guidelines one must consider before making a purchase.
Choose The Right Type
There are many varieties of baby gates available, so it is important to choose one that effectively restricts the unnecessary entry of the child and keeps them out of harm’s way. A hardware-mounted gate is always suggested over a pressure-mounted gate as it is more sturdy, permanently fixed, and is designed to be fixed in dangerous places such as the top or bottom of a staircase.
Pressure-mounted gates are not as rigid or secure and are held on by minimal tensile strength. They have the potential to lose tension over time and can also be pushed over. Permanent-mounted gates can cover up a larger space, have smaller openings and well-built bars. This is especially for porches and deck to make sure your baby doesn’t take off without you before it’s time for outdoor activities for your baby.
Verify the Standard Certification
Irrespective of the type of baby gate chosen, the certification of safety is very important. Usually, a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association certified baby gate should be purchased. This guarantees that the manufacturer has put in extra efforts to make the product secure and safe.
A certification sticker is put up on the product, which denotes that the requisite precautions have been taken while manufacturing the product and that it meets the necessary standards of a safe, top-grade baby gate.
Check the Dimensions and Size
A baby gate is placed in a number of locations all over the house. They are placed at the top and bottom of a staircase, near the fireplace, in the nursery to form a barrier and more. To choose the most appropriate and suitable baby gate, it is important to measure the area where the gate needs to be placed so that the whole of the space is blocked.
The gate shouldn’t be so big that the children easily crawl through the spaces left in-between or so small that they climb over it. The gates should also be devoid of any sharp edges and loose screws that could bruise the child.
Upgrade the Gates
Older gates lose their strength, tend to develop sharp edges and splinters, and can be easily pushed over by a child who has grown up and become stronger over the course of time. The same old baby gate cannot fulfill its purpose and will wear-out and become unfit if not refurbished or upgraded to a new baby gate that can withhold more force.
Children become more curious, and their mobility increases as they grow up. Therefore, it is important to replace the old, frail, faulty baby gates with new secure, robust, and sturdy ones.
Other than the safety factor, baby gates are a great tool to personalize a boring, mundane looking baby nursery. Here are some more tips and tricks to modify a child’s nursery with the least effort.
Reviews and Ratings
Checking customer reviews and ratings on a product before making an online purchase validates the quality of the product. If a certain product has received high ratings and positive reviews, the customer is more likely to make the purchase, and the quality of the product and the manufacturer can be assured. Dependable blogs and verified sources can be trusted to avoid any misleading or risky purchases.
Final Word
Safety gates not only create a barrier of protection and guard for the children but also ensures the parents’ peace of mind.
It is highly recommended to thoroughly go through the aforementioned tips before investing in a baby gate and protecting the kids from any peril of injuries or harm.