Do you just have compression gates (haven't read the rest of the replies, so sorry if you've answered this)? If so, I'd suggest getting gates that attach to the walls. You'll be able to use them longer. DS learned to knock down our one compression gate pretty early--maybe at 11 or 12 months old? If he couldn't get it with sheer body weight, he'd use a push toy as a battering ram.
ours are the type that you screw into the walls, we only have a gate at the top of the stairs, it's still there, DD is 22mo old. At this point we don't plan to take it down until DS outgrows it.
sadly, we haven't gotten around to putting them up... sigh.
We never installed them either. We live in a split level so none of the stairs are very high. DD is also very cautious around stairs. She goes up without thinking but rarely goes down without asking for help.
Re: at what age did you take down the baby gates?
At 14 months when he learned to work them.
Do you just have compression gates (haven't read the rest of the replies, so sorry if you've answered this)? If so, I'd suggest getting gates that attach to the walls. You'll be able to use them longer. DS learned to knock down our one compression gate pretty early--maybe at 11 or 12 months old? If he couldn't get it with sheer body weight, he'd use a push toy as a battering ram.
We never installed them either. We live in a split level so none of the stairs are very high. DD is also very cautious around stairs. She goes up without thinking but rarely goes down without asking for help.
Ours are still up and will be up for a long time to come.