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.
