Read on to find out what are some of the better products out there when it comes to making sure the stair area is as safe as possible.

1) KidCo Safety Gate Our Rating:

KidCo Safeway Gate – White

Click to View Product Details

$28.99

KidCo are one of the top manufactures of safety gates and have a solid track record of producing well made safety products at an affordable price. This safety gate is one of the best top-of-stair safety gates on the market, and it is very solid. The gate itself is mounted on brackets that screw into the wall, and assembly is very straight forward.  You can also extend it with the extension kit if the stock gate is not quite long enough, and it mounts onto angled walls as well. Probably the only minor blip against the KidCo is that the supplied screws are a little on the small side, but you can use your own if need be, so this is not a major fault. The best value for money safety gate out there.

2) EvenFlow Stair Safety Gate – Top of Stairs Model

Evenflo Top of Stair Plus Gate

Click to View Product Details

$54.95

The EvenFlow is a little pricier than the KidCo offering, but for the extra cost you get an extremely sturdy safety gate that is very easy to open with one hand. For you at least, and not your toddler! The intuitive on-click safety button system ensures that even your mini-Einstein will be unable to figure this one out. The main selling point of this model is that it is made of wood rather than plastic which means it is impossible to bend out of shape and much more difficult to climb over. The 4-point mount system is another plus point. Finally the EvenFlow has a toggle switch setting on it that can restrict the gate to move either both ways or fixed to just swing inwards depending on whether you want to fit it at the top of the stairs or in a doorway – this added flexibility is welcome.

If you are looking for a gate that fits in with the rest of your home surroundings with a wood look and don’t mind paying a little extra this is one of the strongest gates on the market.

3) KidCo Top of Stair Gate for Right Angled Stairs

Kidco Wood Safeway

Click to View Product Details

$74.79

Another KidCo gate but this one is able to be fitted in awkward areas where you don’t have a wall on either side of the top of the stairs. This added flexibility means that this product may be the only option for some people with older homes. However, the angled KidCo gate is a good gate in its own right with many of the benefits of the regular version. One downside about this gate however is that it has a very “plastic-y” look and feel to it which some people may not like, but as a safety gate it fulfills its intended purpose and works well. A great gate that may be some people’s only option.

KidCo Safeway Gate – White

List Price: $93.00

Sale Price: $28.99

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

View Product

Evenflo Top of Stair Plus Gate

List Price: $39.99

Sale Price: $54.95

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

View Product

Kidco Wood Safeway

List Price: $140.00

Sale Price: $74.79

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

View Product

Stair safety gates are a great investment that the whole family can benefit from. Installing a stair safety gate allows a parent or caretaker peace of mind since the child cannot climb up or down the stairs with the gate in place. A stair safety gate gives a parent or caretaker the ability to inhibit a young child’s movements, thus establishing better parental or caretaker supervision. Most gates are durable and reusable; even when a child has outgrown the need for a safety gate, it can be turned into a pet blockade. Many small animals can become injured if they fall down stairs; therefore, a stair safety gate is an excellent way to keep pets safe.

Other reasons why a safety gate should be purchased is night time safety. Toddlers are notorious for waking during the night, and staircases should be blocked off with a gate to prevent injuries. People who sleepwalk could also benefit from the extra protection of a stair safety gate. Pet owners can keep animals corralled to one level of their house with a gate on the stairs; this barrier will ensure animals don’t become a nuisance by scratching at bedroom doors. Another night time bonus the gate exhibits is its possible ability to trip people who are trying to sneak in, or out of the house. The gate may alert the homeowner to a possible home invasion, or allow a parent to catch a teenage sneaking out.

Most injuries occur in the home, and many on staircases. Adding stair safety gates to a house protects its occupants against potential falls. There are several styles, but for the best protection purchase a safety gate that is mounted right to the wall or stairs. This will guarantee the gate doesn’t mistakenly fall down. These gates are sold at most home improvement stores, and are fairly easy to install.

Top Brands and Models On the market

Evnflo has a home décor line that comes in a wood finish and is tall enough to prevent climbing.

Kidco Safeway carries a line of tension-mounted gates that are known to be strong and supportive.

Kiddy guard removed the railings entirely and features tough nylon cloth gates tension mounted with strong internal pipes.

Installing a Stair Safety Gate – Tension Mounted

Place the hinge side of the gate towards the strongest wall or on the wall near the top or bottom of the stairs. If the bottom of the gate has a separate tension bar, tighten this against the opposing wall, stair railing, or doorframe. If it does not have a separate tension rod, place the other end of the gate against the wall, stair railing, or doorframe. Either way, you will need to screw the two pipes apart just like a tension curtain rod until sufficient force is applied to the wall from both ends of the tension rod to prevent it from moving with any amount of applied force.

Installing a Stair Safety Gate – Screw or Clamp Mounted

If you have purchased a screw mounted stair safety gate, refer to the manufacturer’s instruction in detail. Ensure that the screw holes are properly drilled deep into the wood stud below the outer wood frame, and not just the façade wood surrounding the doorframe. Often the package does not come with long enough screws to reach far enough into the stud to securely mount the gate, take the screws and replace with a longer version of the screws at your local hardware store.

If installing a clamp mounted safety gate, be sure to inspect the frame around the stud of the door to ensure that it is securely installed and will not give way to pressure should someone pull at the gate.

Finally, choose a brand that is sturdy, opt for one with lattice like cross beams or bars space close enough apart so little pets and babies can’t get their heads, hands, feet, or bodies stuck between. Look for one too tall for the child or pet to climb or reach the top. Also, choose one either that can screw into the stud of the doorframe, or that has a cross beam on the bottom that screws the frame into place. Avoid those with metal edges and that have parts not coated by rubber or plastic.

Puppies like little kids have a tendency to trip and fall over their little feet, adding that with stairs can really be hard on a little puppies body, they can wind up with broken bones just like a child could from tripping down the stairs. A stair gate safety is sure to help keep your puppy safe.

One gate that is also a space saver is the Retract-A-Gate, this gate is made of mesh, which is giving so if a child or puppy falls into the gate, they will not get hurt. With normal gates, you feel like the gate is a huge eye sore and you would much rather not use it all the time. But, with this gate, if the puppy and kids are asleep, you can easily retract the gate into its housing unit to hide it away. This is absolutely great when you are entertaining friends and family in your home.

A lot of people feel you have to have 2 gates, one for the top of the stairs and then one at the bottom of the stairs. With this gate, the gate comes with a really neat extra bracket, so you can install one bracket at the top of your stairs and the other at the bottom, then simply move the gate to where ever your puppy will be at. All you have to do is simply shift the gate to the location of your choice.

At first this looked like it would be a pain to install, it really wasn’t, the Retract-A-Gate only took a few minutes to install. All you need is a screw driver, a drill and knowing how to use both items. If you aren’t handy with tools, be sure you have someone that can help you.

The latch system looked a little thin and thus unsafe, until it was tested. The latching system holds very well, little fingers can’t get through it, neither can those cute little puppy noses. The little guy can push and push on the gate and not get through, simply sit and cry about not being near by.

One scary feature for this Retract-A-Gate is actually the price, it is a lot more costly then many gates that are on the market, but if you consider the advantages you will have with this gate, it is well worth it. This is certainly a great safety gate that should be recommended to any one who has puppies running around their home.

First off, when choosing your safety stair gate, pick one that will not allow your little one to get their head stuck in, or one that will allow your little one to climb up and stand on the top. You also need to find one that fits the width of your stairwell. This is very important. However, if you find that you purchased a gate that is too slim, there are kits available to add width.

Secondly, consider the type of fastening you want. There are those gates that are screwed into the wall. There are also those that are pressure mounted, meaning that with the turn of a handle the gate can go anywhere. For those who may have issues with drilling holes into their walls, the pressure mounted gate is the best option. However, a gate that is mounted to the wall is a little more safer. Also, look to see if the gate you want has been safety rated. Most stores do their own testing as well, so feel free to ask questions to the salespeople.

When it comes to the material that the gate is made of, its easy to see that metal would be the strongest. However, with new toddlers they have a tendency to bump their heads from time to time. So, keep this in mind and make the best decision for you and your little one.

Choosing a gate that fits with your child is important. Its main function is to protect your little one, so be cautious and do your research.

Stair Gate Safety Buying Guide

When purchasing a gate, it is essential that you buy one that is solid in construction, has reliable hardware, and does not have any entrapment hazards. These are the features that you should consider when shopping for the safest gate, height, installation flexibility, latches, sound and color, and possibly even light.

In order for the gate to stop a child from crawling over it must be a minimum of three-quarters of the child’s height. Gates typically measure from 22 inches to as high as 39 inches.

Many gates have the ability to be installed in odd areas of the house. Some examples would be angled banisters, stair balusters, and even drywall that doesn’t have a wood stud behind it. You can even find a gate that can slid out of the wall mountings, which is a convenient feature to have when you don’t want the gate up all the time.

The gate latches can be a pain, so make sure that you test out the latch and it is suitable for your needs. Different latches available include a dual-action latch, a pressure-release handle, and even a foot pedal that when given strong pressure releases. These are convenient latches that you can do one handed, so you wouldn’t have to set your baby down.

It is good to have a feature that assures you the gate is locked. Some gates click when they are shut, and others sound an alarm if they are tampered with. Other gates even have a color indicator on it to show when the gate is locked.

A feature that all may not need, but is useful to have is a motion sensor night light. This is just an added safety precaution to know when you are approaching the stairs when you are sleepy and groggy in the night.