Safety using Baby Gates on Stairs

Installing gates that have been specifically designed for the top of stairs, bottom of stairs and in between rooms. Be sure to do this as soon as your child starts to sit up, is crawling, and walking is not far behind.  
 Use hardware-mounted gates at the top of stairs. Gates that only press against walls—pressure-mounted gates—are not secure enough to prevent falls at the top of stairs.

 For gates that need to go around odd-shaped areas, uneven molding, or drywall with no support behind it, you can purchase safety gate extenders or installation kits to get a secure fit.

 Mount gates less than 3 inches from the floor to prevent your child from crawling underneath. Check the manufacturer’s instructions because some gates need to be installed at floor level.

 Accordion-style baby gates are no longer recommended, due to strangulation hazards. Make sure your baby gate is up-to-date, and meets all current safety standards. Check for recalls on products.

 Remove the gate once your child has learned to open it, or tries to climb over it. If removing a gate is not possible because of other children in the home, use a gate that does not have gaps or notches that could be used for climbing.

 Keep gates closed and secured when not in use.