Top Tips
- Safety gates can help children under 24 months of age stay safe. However, they are not recommended for children over this age.
- Placing a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs, across the landing or a child’s bedroom doorway, and across the kitchen area will help keep a young child from harm.
- Always accompany your child when they navigate the stairs until you are sure they can manage on their own.
- As soon as your child shows signs of moving, you may wish to consider buying child safety gates to help keep them safe.
Buying Guide
- Before buying, work out where you want a gate and how many you will need, and measure carefully.
- Check the safety gate conforms to safety standard BS EN 1930:2011. It should be marked with the standard’s number and the name or trademark of the manufacturer, distributor or retailer.
- The gate should also be marked with the maximum and minimum width of the opening for which it is intended to block.
- There are different types of safety gates to buy. Pressure safety gates usually have a bar at the bottom of the gate which can be a trip hazard. This type is not advised for the top of the stairs but is fine for the bottom of the stairs – or across a kitchen doorway.
- If you are purchasing a second-hand/used product, ask questions about its history, it age and look for the safety marks listed above.
- If you are buying online check the seller’s rating or reviews and their location. Goods sold online may well be cheaper but beware of inferior or even fake products. The picture and description may say it’s a brand you recognise, but what is delivered could be something else. Make sure the goods you receive match what was advertised online – if they don’t contact the website. Sites like eBay have teams dedicated to resolving cases where the sent item doesn’t match what was advertised. The most important thing is to make sure your purchase doesn’t put your child at risk!