Choosing Safe Baby Gates

Gates placed at the top of stairs or in doorways are used to keep toddlers away from hazardous areas of the home.

Parents shouldn't use old accordion-type gates, which open to form diamond-shaped patterns with wide V's at the top. These can trap a baby's head and have resulted in strangulation deaths.

What to look for:

• Check to make sure the gate has an ASTM/JPMA certification (American Society for Testing and Materials, and Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association).
• Look for a hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the door frame without any openings to trap fingers or necks.
• Choose a gate with a straight top edge with either rigid bars or a tight mesh screen.
• There should be no more than 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) between the floor and the gate bottom to prevent a child from slipping underneath.
• Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 2-3/8 inches (6 centimeters) apart.
• Check for sharp edges and protrusions that could hurt a toddler's hands.
• Avoid gates with structures that could give a child a foothold for climbing.
• The gate should be no less than three quarters of the child's height).

SAFETY NOTES:

• Keep large toys away from the gate to prevent kids from using them to climb over.
• Pressure-mounted gates should not be used between rooms of different levels or at the top of stairs; kids can dislodge them and take a tumble. Remember to place the pressure bar away from the child.
• Gates that swing out should never be used at the top of stairways.
• Discontinue using the gate when the child is about 2 years old.

Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: February 2010