Although a pressure fit gate can be moved around different areas of the home, this is not advisable if the gates are going to be used daily. Over a period, by installing and uninstalling a gate, it may become less stable. If a pressure fit gate was to be used in a grandparent’s home for example, with visiting grandchildren coming once a week, then putting up the stair gate in preparation for the visit and removing afterwards would be perfectly safe. The most popular recommendations were pulled together to include in a longlist of approximately 30 stair gates, then whittled down to form our final shortlist. How we tested the stair gates

Within these two categories, there are a few other features that can form part of the identity of a stair gate. For example: The core difference between a pressure fit gate and a screw fit gate is the presence of a trip bar. Pressure fit gates by their nature of design will always have a trip bar (the bar which runs along the floor connecting the gate frame). Obviously, this type of gate should not be installed anywhere where it may be dangerous to trip, particularly the top of a flight of stairs.Safety gates provide the perfect room divide between kitchens and living areas, preventing children from entering the kitchen and being exposed to potential dangers in there. text": "The number of child stair gates required will depend on the size of your home and the number of rooms/areas you want to prevent your child from entering. We’d recommend buying a stair gate or safety gate for each area, rather than moving your stair gate around, as this can compromise the safety.

The BabyDan Guard Me is the best stair gate to buy overall, but the retractable screen does have a bit of give to it, and it needs to be installed at least 9cm from the top of the staircase.

There were no safety issues with this screw-fit Baby Dan stair gate, which is available in beechwood as well as metal.

Stair gates provide instant safety for active toddlers and young children in the home, and they allow you to create an immediate divide between rooms, enabling your child to play freely in a designated area free from harm. We also offer baby gates from some of the UK’s most reputable manufacturers, including BabyDan stair gates , BettaCare safety gates , and our own range of Safetots branded baby gates . The number of child stair gates required will depend on the size of your home and the number of rooms/areas you want to prevent your child from entering. We’d recommend buying a stair gate or safety gate for each area, rather than moving your stair gate around, as this can compromise the safety. text": "A pressure fit stair gate works by applying pressure to four spindles, two at the top and two at the bottom of the stair gate. No tools are required to install a pressure fit safety gate and no drilling or screwing into walls, doorways, and bannisters is necessary. This makes a pressure fitted stair gate the ultimate fuss-free option for installing a safety gate in any home or nursery. Retractable stair gates: formed from a flexible material like mesh that rolls or folds up when not in use.The aim of Which? stair gate testing is to highlight potential issues and encourage manufacturers to take another look at their product and ensure it's the best and safest it can be. In their research into ' Can The Home Ever Be Safe?', the publication looked at the need to improve safety in the built environment of homes and gardens. We spoke to home safety expert Roger Cheetham, from Clippasafe, in one of our Safety Q&A sessions. Here's one important question he answered about stair gates: Q: "My little girl is fascinated by our stairs. We have stairgates but I'm not sure when and how to teach her how to go up and down safely - any tips?"

Stair gate accessories are available at Safetots and include items such as extensions, no-trip step plates, extra fixings, spindles, and gate spacers. Auto close safety gates will close behind you to allow you to keep your hands free, and they can be easily installed with pressure fittings. We spoke to Selina Russell, from safety products brand Fred UK, about the importance of stair gates; who said: "Stairways, kitchens, bathrooms, fire hearths to name but a few, are areas of the home that pose potential risks for older babies finding their feet and confident toddlers on the move. Ways to keep your family living costs down, and kids of all ages happy Get our Family newsletter – it's free monthly.

Screw-fit stair gates are mounted onto your walls, screwing into your wall or bannister. The major advantage of this style is that the gate is secure and won’t move around once it’s installed, but the screws will cause minor damage to your walls that will need filling when the gate is removed. Screw-fit gates can be used in a variety of ways: at the top or bottom of a staircase, or in a doorway or other narrow opening. Pressure-fit stair gates The first thing you should decide is where the gate is going to go. If you are looking for a baby gate for stairs , Safetots strongly recommend that you choose a screw fitted stair gate rather than a pressure fitted option. This is because a screw fitted gate does not have a horizontal bar along the base, which could present a potential trip hazard. Ensure that the gate opens towards the landing, not outwards towards the stairs, or you could fall forward while opening it. An opening mechanism that can be operated with one hand, so that you can safely use the gate while carrying a baby or toddler