Having small babies, toddlers and children in your home can be a challenging and often daunting experience, especially for new parents. There’s a lot to think about, like child safety in the kitchen, and generally making your home the safest it can possibly be by making some small changes. When we tested the BabyDan Perfect Close, Dreambaby Chelsea and Dreambaby Liberty with the wall cups screwed into the walls, these gates passed the fatigue test. Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircase

Assembly: How easy was the gate to install? Were the instructions clear? Were any additional tools or fixings required? Lots of people use safety gates as dog gates for stairs and to keep pets in or out of certain rooms.

Best tall stair gate

Space A retracting or concertina stair gate is ideal for areas with restricted space or if you want the gate out of sight when it’s not in use. You can buy wide gates or extensions if the opening you want to cover is particularly big. If you're planning on getting a dog (but a baby could also be on the horizon), you're best off choosing a baby stair gate that holds up in our tests so you can be assured that it will be suitable for protecting both children and animals. Some of the pressure-fit stair gates that failed our testing have the option of being secured to the wall using screws as well as the adhesive pads.

If you own a screw-fit stair gate that has failed our testing, we'd also suggest that you stop using it. If you use your home traditionally (i.e upstairs for sleeping, downstairs for everything else), and your child does not use the upstairs area of your home, then you could probably get away with having a baby gate at the bottom of your stairs. This is another excellent choice of no screw baby gate for stairs or doorways, at a decent price, with lots of size variation, and additional extensions you can buy to ensure it fits even in the widest door frame or stairway. While there's no statutory requirement to comply, most commercially sold stair gates will have been tested to meet safety standards BS EN1930:2011.

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There’s also extra accessories available for this, like Y-sindles for attaching to railings or columns, and extensions to allow the baby gate to fit in wide doorframes or staircases. Ideally, you want your stair gate to be at least 75cm (30 inches) in height. Extra-tall models are available, and range in sizes from 1m (39 inches) and beyond. Where to buy a stair gate Material A wooden or metal side-opening stair gate will need plenty of room to swing open, so you need to think about potential obstructions and whether it will be awkward to navigate around.

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. 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: You can stop using a stair gate when you’re confident that your child can go up and down the stairs safely on their own (which includes the middle of the night). This will depend on the individual child, but this usually happens at around two or three years of age. If your child doesn’t pull or push on the gate, which could cause it to shift or break, and doesn’t attempt to climb over it, you can keep it in place until you feel comfortable removing it. What are the different types of stair gate?However, for those wanting a stair gate at the top of the stairs, this isn’t suitable, as specified by the manufacturer, although this is still a great budget stair gate for the bottom of the stairs and doorways. The Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate is easy to adjust to fit securely at the top of any staircase, and because you don’t need to use any additional extenders, the full width of the gate will open, leaving no obstruction that could cause you to trip. Which is the best safety gate to buy? My walls were plastered and painted. When removing the baby gate for the final time, I discovered that it had taken some of the paint off behind the pressure pads, and it needed touching up with some paint to make it as good as new again. The BabyDan Guard Me is the best stair gate to buy overall, but the retractable screen does have a bit of give to it, and it needs to be installed at least 9cm from the top of the staircase.

Which type of stair gate you choose will depend on your home and your needs. Generally, screw-fit gates are more reliable, so if you’re planning to have a stair gate in place for a relatively long time, and you’re able to drill into your walls or bannister, then a screw-fit gate will be the best choice. You’ll be left with a few small holes to fill when you eventually remove the gate, but nothing that a bit of filler can’t fix. Ways to keep your family living costs down, and kids of all ages happy Get our Family newsletter – it's free monthly. Screw-fit stair gates are mounted onto your walls, screwing into your wall or bannister. The major advantage of this style is that the gate is secure and won’t move around once it’s installed, but the screws will cause minor damage to your walls that will need filling when the gate is removed. Screw-fit gates can be used in a variety of ways: at the top or bottom of a staircase, or in a doorway or other narrow opening. Pressure-fit stair gates

Best stair gates: at a glance

Safety: Children are naturally curious and love to explore. However, stairs can be dangerous for young children who are still learning to balance and coordinate their movements. Falls down the stairs can lead to serious injuries, such as broken bones or head injuries. Using a stair gate can help to prevent these accidents by creating a physical barrier between your child and the stairs. 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? Choose from our wide range of safety gates to suit your requirements. Whether you require a wall mounted baby gate or a pressure fit safety gate, you will find the right equipment to make your home a safe environment. Discover our Advice Hub Wall mounted gates or wall-fix safety gate or stairgate are usually installed by drilling into the surrounding walls One way to ensure your little one is safe, is by using a stair gate. We’ve done the research for you and found the most reliable stair gates on the market. What is a baby stair gate?