How to Install Your Baby Gate Correctly

According to statistics released by the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of baby gate injuries in homes for the last decade. Preventing the ever curious toddlers could be a daunting task given that kids are exploratory by nature. It is for this reason that the need to have child safety gates in place becomes necessary.

However, baby gate installation is not just about denying the young one access to certain areas. It is about getting it right the first time. Here are a few considerations to make when installing child safety gates.

Go Round the House Making Measurements… Go round your house to determine which areas need installation of security gates. Be on the lookout for the areas that would mean disaster if your child gained access to them. Don’t forget that the bottom and top of stairs need to be sealed for safety.

Consider installing a baby gate for stairs at the top most part of the staircase. Other places such as the fireplace and doorways leading the kitchen or exercise room have to be blocked as well. While taking a tour around the house, take measurements, so you know precisely the type of gate to install. It is important to mention that the more fit the gate is, the safer it is.

Establish Whether You Need a Mounting Kit… There are some openings that have odd or irregular shapes. Baby gate installation in such areas would require extra care to assure your baby’s safety. Cylindrical or curved openings would require an installation kit to ensure the fit correctly. Most baby gates come with mounting kits and even when they are not provided you can always buy them from local baby stores. The kit has clamps, vertical and hardware mounting wood to create a surface for mounting the gate.

Consider the Gates Opening Direction… Baby gate installation should be done is such a way that its opening doesn’t interfere with the human traffic. In order to make sure that the gate opens in the correct direction, you need to mount brackets into either side of the opening. The position of these brackets should match with the gate type for it to open and close correctly. After you have installed the brackets, you may find snapping the gate in the brackets necessary.

When the gate opens and closes in the right direction, the incidences of accidents are minimized and by extension the gate’s efficiency is increased. Besides, the direction of opening, you need to ensure the security features are in place and functional.

It doesn’t take a lot for your child to get injured at home. In fact, a small safety lapse is all it takes, and before you know it, your child is nursing injuries. Before it happens, head to the stores and make inquiries on what’s the safest baby gate and have it installed in your home. When unsure, you can read baby gate reviews to get an idea of which gate addresses your child’s safety needs as per your liking. Finally, ensure that the baby gate installation process is done correctly.