How to Install a Baby Gate

When babies begin to crawl, it is important to install baby safety gates throughout the house to keep them safe. Baby safety gates that are improperly installed pose a safety hazard and can cause harm. Safety gates are not meant as a substitute for adult supervision. Infants and toddlers should be supervised at all times.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Locate the areas where a baby safety gate is needed. Is protection needed in a doorway to prevent entrance into a room? At the top or bottom of the stairs? Around a fireplace?
2. Identify the type of baby safety gate that is needed. Safety gates can be pressure-mounted or hardware-mounted. Pressure-mounted gates are best installed in doorways or areas where a solid surface exists. Use a stud-finder for surfaces that are drywalled to ensure that the gate is mounted against a stud. Hardware-mounted gates should be installed at the top and bottom of stairways.
3. Measure the distance between walls to determine the size of the safety gate that is needed.
4. Purchase the appropriate baby safety gate for the area being secured. Purchase a gate that fits the measurements of the area being protected. Check to make sure the gate follows the U.S. standards for child gate safety.
5. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Install the gate according to the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Test the baby safety gate regularly to ensure that all parts are in working order and secure. Check wooden gates regularly for splintered parts.

Tips & Warnings

• A pressure-mounted gate should be installed with the locking bar away from the protected area and away from a toddler's access.
• Do not use pressure-mounted gates or gates with a bottom bar on stairways. These gates compromise safety when used on stairways.
• Hardware-mounted gates must be installed with a mounting kit if no stud is available.
• Never leave an infant or toddler unattended. Safety gates are not a substitute for supervision.

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