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5 Best Baby Gates of 2019
- Evenflo Expansion Baby Gate – Best Walk Thru Gate
- North States 3-in-1 Baby Gate – Best Baby Gate for Flexibility
- Dreambaby Auto Close Gate – Best Baby Gate for Stairways
- Safety 1st Decor Pressure-Mounted Baby Gate – Best Baby Gate for Style
- Summer Deluxe Stairway Wood Baby Gate – Best Baby Gate with Wooden Design
Compare Baby Gates
| Installation | Hardware mount | Hardware mount | Pressure mount | Pressure mount | Hardware mount | Hardware mount | Pressure mount | Pressure mount | Pressure mount | Pressure or hardware mount | Hardware mount | Pressure mount | Pressure mount | Pressure mount | Pressure mount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gate height | 32 in. | 30 in. | 29.5 in. | 36 in. | 32 in. | 28 in. | 29 in. | 27 in. | 29.5 in. | 31 in. | 32 in. | 29.5 in. | 30 in. | 28 in. | 32 in. |
| Gate width | 24 in. -60 in. | 144 in. | 28 in. – 32 in. | 29 in. – 47 in. | 30 in. – 48 in. | 192 in. | 28 in. – 38.5 in. | 38 in. – 60 in. | 29.5 in – 40.5 in. | 29.5 in. – 40.6 in. | 40 in. – 48 in. | 29.5 in. – 35 in. | 29 in. – 34 in. or 35 in. – 38.5 in. | 29 in. – 38 in. | 36 in. – 60 in. |
| Lock type | One-hand latch | Double lock | Double lock | One-hand with safety indicator | One-hand grip handle | One-touch release lever | One-hand triple lock | No lock | Dual-locking, optional base lock | Double lock with safety release | Single hand | Dual locking handle | One-touch release | Magnetic latch | One-hand lock |
| Auto close | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Material | Plastic, wood | Metal | Steel | Metal | Wood | Steel | Metal | Metal, cloth | Wood, metal | Steel | Wood, metal | Metal | Steel | Metal | Wood, metal |
| Placement | Living rooms, widea reas | In between rooms, wide areas | Top of stairs, wide openings | Doorways, hallways, staircases | Doorways, hallways, staircases | Doorways, hallways, staircases | In-between rooms, bottom of stairs | Wide openings | Doorways, staircases | Doorways, hallways, staircases | Doorways, staircases | In-between rooms, staircases | Doorways, hallways, staircases | Doorways, hallways, staircases | Doorways |
Top 15 Baby Gates
Our take
The Evenflo baby gate is designed for babies between 6 and 12 months old. It includes a gate door that swings in both directions to easily walk through. The baby gate is made with a latch that opens and secures the gate closed with one hand. It can be extended to a range of widths to fit almost anywhere in your home. This baby gate is not recommended for use at the top of the stairs.
Stand-out features include
- 32-inches tall and can be extended between 24 and 60-inches wide
- Made with strong plastic and wood
- Includes a plastic telescopic rail to prevent accidental pinches
- Hardware-mounted baby gate
Our take
The North States 3-in-1 wooden baby gate can be used as a play yard, baby gate or fireplace barrier. It includes a childproof double-locking system to prevent your baby from easily opening. The baby gate is easy to install, even on angled walls. It includes rubber bases on each panel for a sturdy baby gate without slipping or scratching floors.
Stand-out features include
- 30-inches tall and can be extended up to 12-feet wide
- Designed to easily use on carpet, tile, or hardwood flooring
- Hardware-mounted baby gate
Our take
The Dreambaby Chelsea is a safe baby gate for stairs. It includes an EZY Check Indicator that will automatically show a red light if the gate is not properly closed. The baby gate also includes a double locking feature that locks at the top and bottom of the gate to protect your baby. It also includes a Stay-Open feature to keep the gate open for easy pass through when cleaning or using two rooms. It’s easy to open using a one-hand latch button to slide the gate door open.
Stand-out features include
- 29-inches tall and can be extended up to 188-inches wide
- Made with steel
- Designed to be used at the top of the staircase safely
- Pressure-mounted baby gate
Our take
The Safety 1st Decor Pressure-Mounted Baby Gate is JPMA certified, making it a trusted product for parents to use. One of the notable features of this baby gate is the modern design and neutral color, making it easier to blend in your home. An extra wide and tall design also allows for this gate to be installed in wider passageways of your home.
Stand-out features include
- Certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
- Has a SecureTech pressure indicator for baby’s safety
- Extra wide and tall design
Our take
The Summer Deluxe Wooden Baby Gate has a stylish design and oak finish. Made for your doorway, hallway, or stairway, this baby gate has a swing-stop mechanism so that the gate won’t open to swing over if used in your stairwell. The Summer Deluxe Wooden Baby Gate is made to be hard-mounted in your home.
Stand-out features include
- Swing-stop mechanism for stairwells
- Versatile to be used in hallways and doorways
- Can fit openings between 30 inches and 48 inches wide
Our take
The Regalo baby gate is designed for babies between 6 and 24 months old. It’s a 4-in-1 baby gate that can be used as a play yard, fireplace barrier, a stairway barrier or a standard baby gate. It’s compact and easy to install anywhere to protect your baby, even when traveling. It’s designed without toxic chemicals and powders to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials’ standards.
Stand-out features include
- 32-inches tall and can be extended up to 192-inches wide
- Made with sturdy steel and is PVC-free
- 90-day warranty
- Hardware-mounted baby gate
7. North States Easy-Close Baby Gate
Our take
The North State’s baby gate is easy to install and extend to fit many home spaces. It includes tension pads to avoid the baby gate damaging your wall and tension knobs to hold it in place. The baby gate is easy to open and close with one hand. It includes a Hold Open feature to keep the gate open and easily walk through without always opening and closing.
Stand-out features include
- 29-inches tall and includes 2 extensions between 28 and 38.5-inches wide
- Made with high-quality steel to be sturdy
- Includes a double-locking system to securely close the baby gate
- Pressure-mounted baby gate
8. Evenflo Soft and Wide Baby Gate
Our take
This Evenflo baby gate is the perfect traveling, lightweight baby gate. It’s made with cloth and sturdy metal to keep your baby safe from potential home dangers. The gate is also designed to withstand your baby pulling or pushing on the baby gate. It’s easy to install without tools and includes rubber bumpers to avoid the baby gate damaging walls over time.
Stand-out features include
- 27-inches tall and can be extended between 38 and 60-inches wide
- Made with metal and cloth
- 90-day warranty
- Pressure-mounted baby gate
9. Munchkin Auto Close Baby Gate
Our take
The Munchkin Auto-Close Modern Baby Gate is a safe baby gate for stairs. It’s designed for babies between 6 and 24 months old. The gate automatically closes firmly so you’ll never have to wonder if you left it open. It includes a double-locking handle to securely close the baby gate. It can easily be installed with wall-cup mounts to secure the baby gate to your wall or by applying pressure.
Stand-out features include
- 29.5-inches tall and can be extended up to 54-inches wide
- Made with sturdy metal and wood
- Designed to be used at the top of the staircase safely
- Pressure-mounted baby gate with included hardware mounting kit
10. Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate
Our take
This Cumbor baby gate is 31 in. tall and expands to be 40.6 in. wide. The gate door automatically closes firmly so you’ll never have to wonder if you left it open. It’s easy to install with pressure mounting or using hardware. The baby gate stays in place firmly with four wall cups.
Stand-out features include
- Gate automatically closes
- Pressure or hardware mounting design
- Can fit openings between 29.5 inches and 40.6 inches
11. Summer Chatham Post Baby Gate
Our take
With an elegant grey wood finish and metal frame, the Summer Chatham Post Baby Gate stands 30 in. tall and can fit openings between 28.5 in. – 42 in. wide. This baby gate requires hardware mounting and automatically closes to ensure child’s safety. You can install this gate at stairways and in between doorways.
Stand-out features include
- Gate automatically closes
- Requires hardware mounting
- Can fit openings between 28.5 inches and 42 inches
12. Munchkin Easy Close Metal Baby Gate
Our take
This Munchkin baby gate is designed for babies between 6 and 24 months old. It’s a safe baby gate for stairs with a dual-locking system to allow the door to open in both directions freely. It includes an extension for the baby gate to fit larger openings securely. It’s easy to install with pressure mounting or hardware with wall-cup mounts to attach the baby gate to the wall safely and securely.
Stand-out features include
- 29.5-inches tall and can be extended between 29.5 and 37.75-inches wide with an extension
- Made with steel
- Designed to be used at the top of the staircase safely
- Pressure-mounted baby gate and includes hardware mounting kit
13. Regalo Easy Extra Wide Baby Gate
Our take
This Regalo baby gate is compact and lightweight, making it great for traveling or using in multiple places around the house. It includes one 6-inch extension and accommodates more extensions up to 60-inches per baby gate. It includes a one-touch release lock to easily secure the baby gate door closed. Regalo’s baby gate can be installed using hardware mounting or pressure mounting. This baby gate meets the JPMA and ASTM standards.
Stand-out features include
- 30-inches tall and can be extended between 29 and 38.5-inches wide
- Made with steel
- Includes one 6-inch extension and accommodates more extensions up to 60-inches per baby gate
- Pressure-mounted baby gate and includes hardware mounting kit
14. Safety 1st Metal Baby Gate
Our take
This Safety 1st baby gate uses red and green light indicators to signal whether or not the gate is securely locked. It’s a safe baby gate for stairs when hardware mounted. Use pressure mounting when placing the baby gate between doors, walls or at the bottom of the stairs. It’s also easy to clean with a damp cloth to wipe small accidents or dirt away. This baby gate meets JPMA and ASTM standards.
Stand-out features include
- 28-inches tall and can be extended between 29 and 38-inches wide
- Includes a baby gate door that swings 180-degrees in both directions
- Designed to be used at the top of the staircase safely when hardware mounted
- Pressure-mounted baby gate and includes hardware mounting kit
15. Summer Infant Wood & Metal Baby Gate
Our take
This Summer Infant decorative baby gate is designed for babies between 6 and 24 months old. It includes a gate that swings in both directions to easily walk through. It can be pressure mounted for easy installation between doors and walls. The baby gate includes pressure mounted tension bolts to avoid scratching your home’s floors and walls. This baby gate meets JPMA and ASTM standards.
Stand-out features include
- 30-inches tall and can be extended between 36 and 60-inches wide
- Made with wood and metal
- Built with a wide-hinged door to swing in either direction to easily cross between rooms
- Pressure-mounted baby gate
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Showing 15 of 15 products
Baby Gate Safety Tips
- Never climb over the baby gate. Although it may seem easier to climb over the gate, you run the risk of falling or your foot getting stuck in one of the gate’s slats. And remember that your baby watches every move you make. Climbing over the gate may encourage them to try to do the same.
- Always keep your baby gate closed securely. Your baby gate is designed to keep your little one out of harm’s way. Leaving the gate’s door propped open increases the risk of your baby reaching dangerous items and household items. According to a 2017 CDC report, “unintentional injuries are a leading” cause of death in children ages 1-4. To reduce the risk of leaving the door open, consider a baby gate that closes automatically after each use.
- Assemble the baby gate correctly. Remember to refer to your manufacturer’s manual to properly install the baby gate. All baby gates are not made the same. If it includes a mount, remember to use the included tools and brackets for a safe set-up. Lastly, always know where you should and should install the baby gate for your baby’s safety.
- Use two baby gates with stairways. If you have stairs, remember to put a baby gate at both the top and bottom of the stairs. Any baby gate at the top of the stairs should be hardware mounted for secure placement. Pressure mounted baby gates can be installed at the bottom of the staircase.
Installing a baby gate is the first step to baby proofing your home so it’s safe for your little one. Remember to always keep your home’s design in mind before buying a baby gate. You’ll want to install the right one in the right place to keep your baby safe. Start by browsing our top picks, then check out a full list of Amazon’s best selling baby gates to see which ones parents recommend most.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Gates
When should I install baby gates?
Parents should install baby gates once their babies reach six months, or before your little one starts crawling. They should stay installed until the child is at least two years old to keep your baby away from hazardous areas and items in your home. If you have stairs in your home, you may want to consider installing gates at the top of the staircase even earlier.
What are baby gates used for?
Baby gates are used to keep your baby away from hazardous items and areas in your home. They’re often placed in front of fireplaces, the bottom and top of stairways and in between rooms. The best baby gates are designed for multi-use to be structured as a play yard or barrier. Baby gates are made of sturdy materials such as wood or metal to avoid your toddler easily opening the gate or moving it.
Which are the best baby gates for stairs?
If you’re installing a baby gate at the top of your staircase, you’ll want to make sure it’s installed securely. The best baby gates for stairs are hardware mounted using brackets and screws to install into the wall. You’ll also want to make sure the baby gate door does not extend to the steps for your safety. Some of the best baby gates include a door stopper to stop the gate from swinging open over the stairs.
How should I measure for a baby gate?
Start by measuring the width of where the baby gate will be installed. If you’re looking to buy a baby gate for stairs, you’ll want to measure from wall to wall to make sure it fits. The same goes for doorways or walls – measure from wall to wall for the right fit.
