Inspired by Ben's baby gate dilemma in trying to manage his critters and babies I thought I should start a new topic specific to baby gates.

Are there any brands/models that work better than others?

I have a unique dilemma.


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The posts at the top of the stairs don't line up.
It's a pretty wide stairway at about 45". My questions are do I buy a regular gate and modify it some how? or Can I find one that will install on a slight angle?

My ideas for modifying it aren't attractive and not supported by my wife. I thought I could cut a couple blocks of wood to the angle necessary to make the post have perpendicular surfaces that line up better. I would either screw them into place or I thought maybe I could use cable ties so the wood would be undamaged.

This has been on the Master Honey Do List since we bought the house last year and knew he was coming. I'm pretty sure I have a few months before my little guy is mobile so it's not an emergency, yet. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I've been seeing this KidCo model online in my research. It seems like it fits the bill.

www.kidco.com/main.taf?erube_fh=kidco&am...=G32&kidco.bc=gc

You definitely can't use the tension models. That plastic one I mentioned would do a good job, too and it doesn't look as bad as might think.

Looks good. Thanks for the tip.

It's going to look a lot better than what I ended up doing. Instead of adding a properly cut wood piece, painted to match the post, I glued 3-4 cedar shims together, haphazardly, screwed them to the wall, and then screwed the gate to the shims. It now looks like crap and swings open across the hallway if you don't latch it.

I'm almost looking forward to the day one of us crashes into it and I have to re-install it properly.

I am about to add gates to the stairs. I don't have the issues the thread starter has. I was wondering what brands and models people recommend.

Dan

Hey Dan,

Not long ago Munchkin acquired British baby gate maker Linham. I'm just back from the ABC Kids Expo, and I was really impressed with the new line of baby gates they have rolled out. The closure is driven by gravity, not a spring, so it doesn't wear out. They have several models that range in price, from economical to downright stylish.

I bet these are available at Target and BRU.

Full disclosure: Munchkin has advertised with us in the past.

We ended up buying a bunch. Three sit in their boxes yet. Two have permanent places. One has one out. It's the Everywhere Gate from The First Years. It can be permanently mounted but it can also work flexibly. The door doesn't need to be hung. It can be compression fit into any door or hallway. Since we are getting close to selling out house, this mas made it easy to be noncommital to the destruction of our century old woodwork. The handle is secure, but can be operated with one hand while carrying a baby. Love it. It's plastic, so it doesn't blend in, but the flexibility, ease of use and the ability to set it high for critter access and low to keep them out really won us over. And it's pretty cheap.

I found comparison shopping at Target to be very useful, by the way.

And while you're at it, get a superyard. (or two) Those things are immensely helpful.

Daddy Clay

Thanks for the referral for the Munchkin gates. I purchased two autoclose and two tall and wide gates for the house. I have one autoclose gate temporarily installed and it works very nicely. It is relatively easy to open, even at 2am when I am 2/3 asleep and need to fetch a bottle.

The tall and wide gates are hardware install only, so I have not gotten that far.

I have one other spot I am not sure if I need a gate. There is a 10" step down from the family room to the hallway that leads to the garage and basement. It is a short fall, but is it enough to warrant a gate?

Dan

@DanM

I'm glad the Munchkin gates have been a good solution for you.

I'm not sure about a gate on 10" step. I'm more worried about a kid thump, thump, thumping down a flight than I am of a single step.

But containment may be more of your issue.

Well i am not really experience in parenting as my son is pretty young. Hope this link will be helpful
www.retractablebabygate.org/

Is anyone aware of a baby gate which has a cat door built into it?

Our cat's stuff (catbox, food, etc) is in our utility room, which is accessible through our family room. We'd like allow the cat access, while not letting our son in there. (I keep hearing stories that toddlers will put anything they can grab into their mouths, and both the catbox and food dish contain items we do not want our son to ingest).

Son isn't crawling yet, but it's an issue I'm already thinking about.

Has anyone else had to solve this problem?

PS - our cat is lovable but very creaky and old, so placing things up high (for her to jump on) is not really an option.

Thanks,

Roger

edit: update Aug 2011 - the baby is crawling now, and getting into everything. Two weeks ago we found him getting into the cat food dish. My solution to this issue was putting piece of plywood in the doorway. Using a jigsaw, I cut an opening in the plywood that is big enough for the cat, but small enough that the baby can't get through. It's propped up with a pair of barbells. It looks a little bit cheap, but who cares, it works.