Baby gates are suitable for many different parts of the home including passageways, doorways, decks, and stairways. Some are wall-mounted, others pressure mounted, and some are expandable. Some designs have optional extensions to be used across wider widths. But which baby gate is best for stairs?
Baby Gates for Stairs
Cardinal Gates has four baby gates designed for use at the top or bottom of stairs. These are the:
- Outdoor Safety Gate – Model SS-30OD
- Stairway Special Safety Gate – Model SS-30
- Wood Safety Gate for Children – Model WG-35
- Wrought Iron Décor Gate – Model WI-30
Stairway Special Baby Gate
While all of the gates listed above are 100 percent fit-for-purpose, the Stairway Special Safety Gate (SS-30) was picked by the New York Times’ Wirecutter as the best kiddie gate – and not only for stairs. After testing 20 baby gates recommended by “childproofing professionals,” Wirecutter’s Doug Mahoney decided that Cardinal Gates’ SS-30 was the best baby gate “for most situations.”
Ideal for use both at the top and bottom of stairs, as well as any other place where a baby safety gate is needed, this gate is 29.5 inches tall and has an adjustable width of between 27 inches and 42.5 inches. Optional extensions are also available. It can be mounted at any angle up to 30 degrees and can be removed easily without unscrewing the stainless steel wall-mounted hardware (just four screws) that is supplied to install the gate. The gates feature lightweight aluminum that is powder-coated in black, white, or brown for ease of maintenance. One of its top features is a unique latch system that baffles toddlers but allows adults to open it with one hand.
The Stairway Special was the only baby gate tested by Wirecutter that was made entirely of metal. This immediately put it on top of the list regarding durability. Mahoney also found that it was one of the easiest and quickest baby gates to install (less than 20 minutes). Mahoney also liked the swing stop that prevents the gate from swinging over a stairway. The fact that it is mounted using hardware (rather than pressure-mounted) was also a decisive factor.
Wood Safety Baby Gate
Like the Stairway Special, the Wood Safety Gate for Children (WG-35) is for use at the top of stairs, but it works equally well at the bottom of stairs or in most indoor spaces. It features the same latch system as the Stairway Special and offers an optional stop bracket that prevents it from swinging open over the stairs.
The Wood Safety Gate is 29 inches high, and although it doesn’t offer extensions, with an adjustable width of between 29.5 and 49.25 inches, it is wider than the Stairway Special.
Outdoor Baby Gate
The Outdoor Safety Gate (SS-30OD) features a combination of stainless steel (for the hardware) and lightweight aluminum (for the frame) and is weatherproof. This means it is suitable for use at the top or bottom of stairs that are inside or outside. Like the other baby gates sold by Cardinal Gates, it is also great for use in other areas of the home.
This 29.5-inch high baby gate is powder coated in white, brown, or black, and it is suitable for openings that range from 27 inches to 42.5 inches. Extensions measuring 10.5 inches and 21.75 inches add to the versatility of the design.
Wrought Iron Decor Baby Gate
Stylish yet safe, the Wrought Iron Décor Safety Gate (WI-30) is ideal for stairs but may be used anywhere else in the home – as long as it’s indoors. The WI-30 is available powder coated in black or bronze, and like the Stairway Special can mount at any angle up to 30 degrees. This is particularly useful when installing on drywall where a stud is not right next to the stairs.
Manufactured from steel, it also features Cardinal Gate’s unique toddler-baffling latch system and has the option of a stop bracket to prevent the gate swinging over the stairs.
This baby gate is also 29.5 inches high, and it is adjustable from 27 inches to 42.5 inches. A 10.5-inch extension is available to accommodate openings from 42.25 to 53 inches.
Cardinal Gates has several other baby safety gates as well as gates that are designed to keep pets inside or outside.
If you are in the market for a baby gate for stairs, you won’t go wrong with a safety gate from Cardinal Gates.
Both pet and baby gates are made from a variety of materials, primarily metal and wood, and both may be equally acceptable for either use. While durability may be affected, the design is more important than the material. Also, manufacturers will generally specify the primary use of all their safety gates, for instance, whether it has been designed for use above or below stairs, for indoor or outdoor use, and whether it is a baby or pet gate.
Have you ever heard people say that most accidents happen in the home? While the bathroom and kitchen are known to be hazardous, there are a host of other dangers that face babies and toddlers in different rooms. For example:
Whether you have steps that lead from a deck to your backyard or a low-level deck that provides access to an outdoor area, a weatherproof outdoor baby gate will give you peace of mind that your little one will not get out unless you allow him to. Of course, if the deck does not have a railing, then you will need to position the gate so that access to the deck is restricted. If the area is accessible via stairs, then a barrier designed for a stairway is the best solution.
When your baby starts to become mobile, whether crawling or walking, you need to ensure that your home is as baby proof as possible. In a nutshell, all this means is that you need to make sure your child can’t get into trouble, generally between the ages of six months and two years. And baby gates are a great solution!
There is no debate that more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else. In addition to hot water burns and electrical injuries, people trip and fall, and stumble down steps and stairs, both indoors and outdoors. Young children open drawers, cabinets, and medicine cupboards and try tasting things that turn out to be potentially lethal. If children or pets manage to get out of the yard they are even more vulnerable, particularly if you live on a busy road. And there’s no doubt that after winter, when children and pets are more likely to want to play outdoors, there will be risks and hazards they may have forgotten exist outside of the coziness of indoor living, even within a fenced property.
US-manufactured outdoor safety netting as well as heavy-duty outdoor deck netting that fits on decking and could be used to secure more “open” designs of perimeter or deck/patio fencing. Cardinal Gates’ UV-protected 
Unless you have your baby gates and pet gates specially made, you will need to choose a gate with a suitable height from what is commercially available. Your choice will be based primarily on the age of your child, or the size – and breed – of your dog.
Research indicates that more than 40 percent of accidents happen in the home. Some leisure activities can also be dangerous, so it probably won’t be a surprise to learn that about 25 percent of injuries are due to incidents during leisure activities. Only about 15 percent of accidents happen on the road, which might be a revelation. The rest happen at work or in educational settings, often during some sort of sports activity.
Essential elements that ensure 
