BabyDan MultiDan, Covers Openings Between 62.5-106.8 cm/24.6-42 inches, Extendable Stair Gate/Baby Gate/Safety Gate, Metal, White, Made in Denmark - (Pet Gate/Dog gate)

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Stair gates can be used at the top of the stairs (to prevent your baby from falling down) and at the bottom (to stop them from climbing up). They can also be used to close off unsafe rooms and to temporarily add additional barriers to your home, whether that’s across a doorway or another narrow opening. When deciding which stair gate is best for you, it helps to work out what’s important to you before you buy. For example:

Once we’d selected the 14 best stair gates for our shortlist, our tester, Katja Lakha, installed them one at a time in her home. Katja is a busy mum with three children (girls aged one and four, and a seven-year-old boy), so each gate was put through its paces. The gates were tested for at least one to two weeks each in busy areas of Katja’s home.Safety and stability: Did the gate shift once installed? Were there any sharp corners or edges? Were there any small gaps that might trap a child’s fingers? Is the gate well made? It’s recommended that you invest in a high-quality stair gate as soon as your baby starts crawling and/or walking, but when it comes to something as important as your child’s safety, how do you know which is the best stair gate to buy? Screw-fit gates are the best type to use at the top of the stairs because they are the most secure and don’t cause a trip hazard. Some stair gates boast specific safety features, which can help to ensure your gate is installed and used in the safest possible way.

The most popular recommendations were pulled together to include in a longlist of approximately 30 stair gates, then whittled down to form our final shortlist. How we tested the stair gates It’s worth bearing in mind that some dog gates are not appropriate for babies, as they have horizontal slats that your baby might use to climb up and over the gate, or small parts that can fall off and be a choking hazard. Pressure-fit stair gates are ideal for use in rented accommodation as installation requires absolutely no drilling. This type of stair gate comprises a U-shaped metal frame, which squeezes against your wall or bannister, holding the gate in place through pressure alone. It often requires a small cup to be applied to your wall with an adhesive, which the bolts of the gate then sit in.While her baby-proofing days are now behind her, Lucy used (and reviewed) several stair gates with her two children when they were young, including both metal and retractable designs.

We put all stair gates through an impact test where they are hit three times with a 25kg weight (that's roughly the same weight as a small female labrador or a large springer spaniel), to see if the gate comes loose or breaks. Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircase Ensure that the gate opens towards the landing, not outwards towards the stairs, or you could fall forward while opening it. Day-to-day use: Does the gate do the job it’s supposed to? Does it withstand a toddler’s weight? Is it easy to open and close with one hand? To pass our testing, the stair gates we review must meet the requirements of the relevant safety standard. This ensures that they're sturdy, and can withstand the shakes and rattles of a determined child.

How we tested the stair gates

However, they are generally not safe for use at the top of a staircase. This is for two main reasons. Cleanliness: Does the gate show grubby fingerprints? Is it easy to clean? Is there a bar that gets in the way when vacuuming? When testing and selecting the best stair gates we considered, safety, ease of installation, suitability, fit and value.

An opening mechanism that can be operated with one hand, so that you can safely use the gate while carrying a baby or toddler

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There is no way to prevent every little bump and a few bruises along the way is to be expected, but you can avoid any major accidents by using a safety gate. If your child were to fall down a set of stairs, this would constitute a major accident. Fortunately, this scenario is preventable with a safety gate at the top of the stairs. Your child will simply not have access to the staircase. All stair gates fit one of two main categories: pressure-fit or screw-fit. Screw-fit (wall-mounted) stair gates