How to Make a Baby Gate Fit
Baby gates are essential safety devices for your home or travel. Used to keep babies out of areas that are unsafe, to block stairs, or even to keep pets out of the room baby is in, a baby gate has several different configurations. There are portable gates that can be moved from place to place, permanently mounted gates, even travel yards that can be set up to enclose baby in a smaller area. Whatever the type, they need to be installed properly and fit well for them to operate as the safety device they are intended to be.
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Instructions
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Measure the doorway or location where you will be installing the gate. Standard baby safety gates come in adjustable sizes and are made to fit the widths of most standard doorways. The range is usually from 24 inches all the way to 72 inches.
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Determine if you need an adjustable tension type of gate or a permanently mounted gate. Tension gates are fine for level room-to-room doorways where there are no stairs or major hazards. Permanently mounted gates are necessary for outdoor areas such as pool enclosures, stairwells or entry to areas such as a garage where hazardous items may be stored.
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Stretch your adjustable baby gate to fit the doorway so that it is firmly placed between the door jambs. If it has a permanent setting that locks this measurement into place. then utilize this according to manufacturer instructions. Tighten the gate tension mechanism until the gate is firmly in place and does not move. Some of these gates have latches to allow the gates to open and close like a partial door once the settings are made to the correct tension. Others have latches that swing up, releasing the tension and the entire gate, making it necessary to remount it each time it is removed from its spot.
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Purchase a gate extender for the brand and type of gate that you have, if you have a doorway or entry that is excessively large or wide and the gate does not fit snugly without an extension. These extensions are specifically designed by brand and type, so be sure to get the correct one. Attach it per the manufacturer's instructions and lock the gate into place with the tension mechanism.
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Select and install a permanent gate with hardware for difficult areas or stair entrances. These are screwed directly to the banister or wall and have locking latches rather than being installed with tension. There are a variety of styles and types of these permanent gates from wood to metal, and they come in a variety of sizes. These can also be adjustable to make installing easier. Measure the area carefully before choosing the gate to get the size closest to the space you will be installing it in. Attach the hardware to the banister or doorway and attach the gate. Extend the gate if it is adjustable and lock into place. Close the gate and latch the lock firmly in place.
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Tips & Warnings
Tension-mounted gates can slide out of place if weight is placed against them and should never be used at the top of a flight of stairs. Never adjust a tension type of baby gate by adding a piece of wood or other object between it and the opening as this is not a secure fit and the closure could fail.
