When did you stop using baby gates?

Ledabe · September 2012

Just curious when you stopped or are still using baby gates. TIA!!!

XCrissCrossX · September 2012

I've got one blocking my kitchen and one blocking my bathroom (because he can push the door open). I have no intentions of removing them anytime soon.

MIL has one blocking her stairs. It will also be there for a while still.

rosesandpeonies · September 2012

I still use them, even for my 3 yr old.

One blocking the kitchen, one blocking the stairs on both ends and one blocking my older daughter from her sisters room so she doesn't go in there and wake her up.

I also have locks on all bathrooms.

memali26 · September 2012

We still use them. The one blocking off the corner of the kitchen with the garbage can and broom closet will probably stay until they've moved out :P The ones for the kitchen and hallway only get used when I've got daycare kids or if the oven is on and I can't be right on top of them. It's nice to have the option to block off areas of the house even with an older toddler, because there are times I just need them contained in one area or kept out of another.

amberpro · September 2012

Not all the time anymore, but I still block off the kitchen when I'm too lazy to fight over the dog food and make sure he doesn't climb in his high chair.

juliane2004 · September 2012

We have one at the bottom of the stairs and one blocking the kitchen. Still using them! Plan on using them till my youngest is at LEAST 3 years old.

ElatedMom2B · September 2012

I don't have enough! We barely ever used gates for DD#1 - she was just that kind of kid who was happy being plunked down wherever you left her with a book or some toys. I had one that was just placed at the bottom of the stairs (in between the railings of the banister) and she never even tried to get through it even though she could have easily pulled it down. With #1, I really didn't have to baby proof anything!

Completely different story with #2 - she gets into everything and I have one basic tension gate (wooden) that I will use to block the living room from the dining room and kitchen. I have to put it up and remove it every time we need to go through. She can pull that sucker right down. I was just telling DH that I wanted a tension walk through gate - that way it could stay there and DD#1 could get through it too. DH didn't really seem to think it was a good idea - something else to spend $ on (of course I tried the "but its for the kids safety" argument - he just doesn't see what I do every day being home and he doesn't feel that we need to because we didn't with #1). I just get nervous because if I am cooking dinner, I don't want her to be able to get into the kitchen and the basement door is off of the dining room and DD#1 still isn't in the habit of keeping it closed all the time - actually neither is DH! LOL The playroom is down there and DD#2 knows it and goes straight for it.

<<<Sigh>>> I may have to just buy it. DH will have to suck it up.

anneimal98 · September 2012

We still have them at the top and bottom of our stairs. We use them most of the time but if we forget or othewise don't use them its no longer a huge deal since DS can get up and down the stairs safely on his own.

belladonna11307 · September 2012

I hadn't actually thought about when we would stop using them. Probably when she's figured out how to get around them by either knocking them over or being tall enough to step over them. Like others, there are days I just don't feel like cleaning up the cookbooks that will be strewn across my dining room if I don't contain her to the living room! Not to mention I really don't want her in the kitchen - I had a hard time installing latches so most of them are mainly decorative.

tulipblossom · September 2012

Besides having DD we also use them for our dog so maybe never.

CutieBean79 · September 2012

I still use one to block off the room with our cat food and litter boxes. I'm all about limiting their chances to get into trouble.

snowybride08 · September 2012

We still use ours, and I frankly don't see us stopping any time soon. DD is busy and curious, so it's better to have a gate up. Also, our cat needs a way to escape to safety. DD stresses her out.