When you have a little one in the house, your main concern is always their safety. You want to make sure your infant and/or toddler is protected from dangerous situations at all times, and a painful tumble down the staircase is an incident you’ll definitely want to prevent. To do this, you’ll need to invest in a quality safety gate that blocks off access at the top of your stairs. Every staircase is different, and not all safety gates will fit universally, so you need to be sure you’re selecting the best baby gate for the top of stairs to accommodate and secure your own staircases at home. The following will assist you in determining the best safety gate for top of stairs.
Hardware Mounted vs. Pressure Mounted
There are two main categories for safety gates: pressure mounted baby gates and hardware mounted baby gates. When it comes to the best gates for top of stairs, hardware mounted baby gates are highly recommended and encouraged over pressure mounted baby gates. This is because parents have found that gates that are pressure mounted tend to fall over if enough weight is pushed against them, such as a toddler climbing or pushing on the gate, creating a serious safety hazard when used at the top of stairs. Although more work is required to install, and the gate will need to be screwed into your walls and newel posts or baluster, hardware mounted baby gates are the most secure and best safety gates for the top of stairs.
Recommended Height for Safety Gates
Infants and toddlers are curious by nature, and to them a safety gate is just another mysterious item for them to attempt climbing over. This is why gates, especially those installed at the top of stairs, need to meet certain height requirements in order to keep your child safe from falling over top of it. The best safety gates for top of stairs are at least 22” in height or taller. Ideally, you should select a gate with a total height that is at least three-quarters of your child’s height. For instance, if your child is 32” tall, you’ll need a safety gate that has a minimum height measurement of 24”. Making sure the gate is high enough to prevent injury to your child is key when selecting the best safety gate for top of stairs.
Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate
Superbly designed to block off the top of a stairway, the Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate is the best safety gate for top of stairs. Extremely sturdy and durable, this safety gate works best when properly attached to a flat wall surface on one side and a flat newel post or baluster on the other. Able to mount up to an angle of 30 degrees, this gate allows for convenient installment into the most ideal flat surfaces of your choosing and the ability to locate a stud when installing into drywall for added stability. If you’re trying to avoid having to drill into your posts, you can purchase Cardinal Gates Clamps as well to ensure secure mounting without damaging your staircase. Manufactured out of heavy-duty aluminum, the Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate is guaranteed to provide excellent, long-lasting security to keep your staircases secure from unwanted traffic.
Another feature that makes the Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate the best safety gate for the top of stairs is because it can also be mounted to rounded newel posts, rather than just flat surfaces. To transform the safety gate, simply purchase a separate mounting kit that allows for the gate to be attached to rounded posts. The KidCO Stairway Gate Installation Kit is a fantastic mounting kit that is compatible with both round and square posts.
The Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate is equipped with a specialized latching system and an optional stop bracket that infants and toddlers are incapable of unlocking, while parents can still open the gate with ease. This baby gate is 29.5” tall and can safely block off stairways that have openings ranging from 27”-42.5”. Two different extension can be purchased for an additional cost: a 10.5” extension that fits openings ranging between 42.5”-53”, and a 21.75” extension that fits openings ranging between 42.5”-64”. JPMA certified, you can rest assured that you’re using the safest and best safety gate for the top of stairs.
Safety gates are essential once your child becomes mobile, and crucial if your house includes staircases. The last thing you want is for your child to take a sudden tumble down the stairs, leaving them in pain and possibly suffering from serious injuries. Now that you know the best safety gate for top of stairs, you can keep your little ones safe and secure at all times.