Baby gates for stairs

amyc216 · June 2013

Our new house has stairs and I want to gate the top and bottom. I looked at BRU a while back and it looked like all the gates for stairs require you to screw them into your banisters is that right? Do you recommend your gate?

missyishere · June 2013

We have this gate: https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-auto-close-metal-gate-safety-gate/-/A-13202372#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

You can mount either by screwing it in or the easy mount.

ellewoodsSC · June 2013

You should definitely use hardware mounted gates for the top of stairs. The tension ones are just not safe in that position. They can become dislodged and allow the child to fall down the stairs. They should be going into the wall studs or wood to be secure, not just the drywall. You can find mounting brackets that go around banisters for anchoring if that's what you have. We have a thin metal banisters that we had to get creative with handmade wood brackets to get the gate to work.

At the bottom of the stairs, a tension gate is fine.

We have the Cardinal Special Gate

https://www.amazon.com/Cardinal-Gates-Stairway-Special-White/dp/B002CGRT1S

LCass · June 2013

Woodsie:
I didn't think tension gates were safe for the top of stairs? Ours screws into the railing on one side and the wall on the other, and it's rock solid. We'll just use wood filler on the railing and drywall mud on the wall when we're done with the gates. Easy peasy.

I'm pretty sure they aren't. We got the Safety 1st Lift, Lock and Swing gate when we moved. Somebody suggested them on this board (can't remember who, but maybe kagl?). It took me a day to get used to it, but it's so easy now and very secure.