If you’re only planning to have a stair gate in position for a short time, or if you're unable to drill into your walls or bannister, a pressure-fit gate will be the better option. Is it better to put a stair gate at the top or the bottom of the stairs? Babies don’t always know their own limitations and are often more than happy to attempt stairs on their own, with no idea of the potential consequences. If your baby likes to explore, then a stair gate will be a childproofing necessity. 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. We think the BabyDan Guard Me Auto Retractable Satefy Guard gate is the best stair gate available to buy right now. It scored the highest in our product testing and has received many a glowing recommendation from the Mumsnet Talk forums. The retractable feature offers a neat option for leaving the gate folded away when not in use and it has a simple opening mechanism. About the author

Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums

Within these two categories, there are a few other features that can form part of the identity of a stair gate. For example: We have a pressure fit gate at the top of the stairs with the minimum bottom bar, think it's called the flat step. We also bought rubber cups for the wall and the gate is totally solid, you could never shake it loose. The flat step is great too, not totally flat but flat enough you wouldn't trip on it." (Recommended by Mumsnet user GD12) Our verdict

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Type: Screw-fit | Width: 55 – 89cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 113.5cm What we love

Lindam Safety gates | Argos

Although the Safety 1st SecureTech Flat Step Safety Gate is the only pressure-fit gate that claims to be able to be used at the top of a staircase, we still think it’s preferable to use a screw-fit, wall mounted gate wherever possible. This leaves far less room for error and, once the gate is installed correctly, it won’t shift. There’s also no ground bar to cause a trip hazard. Although the BabyDan Guard Me is safe for use anywhere in your home, the best stair gate for use at the top of the stairs is the Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate, which is also the best screw-fit stair gate we tested. Most commercially-sold stair gates will have been tested to meet safety standard BS EN1930:2011. There’s no statutory requirement to comply with this safety standard, but most gates claim to conform. The Cuggl Wall Fix Safety Gate is a fuss-free, wall-mounted gate, so it’s suitable for use at the top and bottom of a staircase as well as in doorways. While it may not have the handy features of a retractable or pressure-fit stair gate, it’s a good, sturdy option with a price tag to match its simplicity. Cleanliness: Does the gate show grubby fingerprints? Is it easy to clean? Is there a bar that gets in the way when vacuuming?

9. Best mesh stair gate: YOOFOR Retractable Gate for Babies and Pets

Assembly: How easy was the gate to install? Were the instructions clear? Were any additional tools or fixings required? We tested the 14 most popular stair gates on the market, scoring them on six key areas before whittling them down to a final list the nine best stair gates, all of which scored a minimum of 40 points out of a possible 48. Type: Pressure-fit | Width: 76 – 82cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 117cm What we love