Stair Gates
Stair Gates
We have a large collection of high-quality, safety and stair gates at Safetots designed to fit almost anywhere in the home while offering protection and peace of mind. If you're not sure where to start, our guide to choosing the best stair gate for your home will help you narrow down your options.
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Information
What is a stair gate?
A child safety gate, also known as a baby gate or stair gate, is a protective barrier usually put in place indoors to prevent children or animals coming into contact with any hazards. They are typically placed at the bottom and top of staircases, the entrance to the kitchen, and anywhere a child could potentially come to harm.
Stair gates can be made from a variety of materials including retractable mesh, metal, and wood. They can also be both permanent or temporary, depending on your needs. For example, our screw fit stair gates are fixed into the wall for a secure and long-lasting solution, while our retractable and pressure fit stair gates are perfect temporary options.
Benefits of a stair gate
All parents know babies, toddlers, and even pets don’t know when they are taking risks and can be completely unaware of any danger. The stairs are one of the most hazardous places in the home, especially once babies start to become more mobile. But, by installing a stair gate or safety gate, you can ease the worry of your little ones taking a tumble.
Our wide selection of stair gates means you can not only choose a gate that gives you security but also matches the décor of your home. We have a range of stair gates including pressure fitted safety gates and screw fitted stair gates so you can create a sturdy barrier that will prevent children and pets from climbing the stairs or accessing dangerous areas. We even have a selection of dog gates, designed especially to keep your pets safe.
How to buy a safety gate
Before buying a safety or stair gate, it is important to know where your gate will go and what purpose it will serve.
Location/type
The first thing you should decide is where the gate is going to go. If you are looking for a baby gate for stairs, Safetots strongly recommend that you choose a screw fitted stair gate rather than a pressure fitted option. This is because a screw fitted gate does not have a horizontal bar along the base, which could present a potential trip hazard.
Opening
While this may sound obvious, you must make sure that the gate you purchase is difficult enough for your toddler to open but you must be able to open it with relative ease. Easier said than done with a wriggling child under your arm! You may benefit from a two-way opening stair gate for this reason.
Size & adjustability
Most baby stair gates come in widths ranging from 70–85cm without the need for an extension. If you have a wider space, a gate extension is required. We also have a range of extra tall stair gates suitable for the top of stairs or families with large dogs. Safetots has a width calculator to make sure you get the correct safety or stair gate for your home. You can find this on the lefthand side of the page.
Although a pressure fit gate can be moved around different areas of the home, this is not advisable if the gates are going to be used daily. Over a period, by installing and uninstalling a gate, it may become less stable. If a pressure fit gate was to be used in a grandparent’s home for example, with visiting grandchildren coming once a week, then putting up the stair gate in preparation for the visit and removing afterwards would be perfectly safe.
However, Safetots would still recommend checking the stability of the gate after each installation and the purchase of a gate with an ‘installation indicator’ may be a suitable option.
Certification
It is important to make sure that your safety or stair gate conforms to correct EU legislation EN 1930:2011 and that the gaps between the bars on the gate do not exceed 6cm. All Safetots stair gates and safety gates conform to current European legislation.
Different Types of Safety and Stair Gates
Screw fitting
Commonly used for stairs and doorways, screw fitted stair gates are easy to install but must be fixed to a wall. They are ideal for the top of the stairs and do not have a bottom bar which can often be a tripping hazard. If you have a wider space, then stair gate extensions are available.
Pressure fitting
Pressure fitting safety gates are easy to set up and can expand to fit a range of doorways. Due to the trip bar included on a pressure fit gate, it is not advisable to install at the top of a flight of stairs where a screw fitted gate would be our recommendation.
Auto close
Auto close safety gates will close behind you to allow you to keep your hands free, and they can be easily installed with pressure fittings.
Retractable
Retractable gates are suitable for children up to 24 months and feature a roller-blind like mechanism.
Extensions
Stair gate extensions are additional pieces you can add to your gate to extend the span and provide extra protection. There is a large range to choose from, just make sure you get the correct extensions for your gate.
Accessories
Stair gate accessories are available at Safetots and include items such as extensions, no-trip step plates, extra fixings, spindles, and gate spacers.
Keep your little ones safe and sound and shop for a child stair gate here at Safetots today. The FAQs below should answer any questions you may have when buying and installing your stair gates, but if you don’t see your query here, then our friendly customer service team will be more than happy to help. We also have a handy stair gate buyer's guide that can help you choose the right baby safety product for your needs.
- Stair Gates FAQ Schema
- Which Stair Gate would work for an awkward space?
- How many stair gates do I need and where should I put them?
- What age are baby gates for?
- Which stair gates are the best?
- Why are stair gates important?
- How Can I buy stair gates?
- What is the difference between pressure and screw fit baby gates?
- When to stop using stair gates
- How to fit a stair gate
- Are baby gates safe?
Stair Gates FAQ Schema
Which Stair Gate would work for an awkward space?
If the Safetots stair gate finder is not working for you due to an unusual or awkward space, contact the safety gate experts at Safetots who will aim to make recommendations to you based on your requirements. It is advised to send an image of the space along with dimensions in centimetres and one of our team will call you back. You can email directly to info@safetots.co.uk.
The most common question we get is to install a child’s safety gate into a space where there are no fixing points directly opposite each other. In these instances, we can recommend either a multi-panel gate, which can be angled between panels as you choose, or alternatively a diagonal fitting gate.
It is extremely rare we receive a query to find a stair gate where we are unable to find a solution. So please email us directly and we will aim to be back in touch with you with a solution in the shortest time possible. If you would prefer to speak with someone, do call us on 01438 728 888, but please note we may well ask to see a photo of the space to clarify the issue.
How many stair gates do I need and where should I put them?
The number of child stair gates required will depend on the size of your home and the number of rooms/areas you want to prevent your child from entering. We’d recommend buying a stair gate or safety gate for each area, rather than moving your stair gate around, as this can compromise the safety.
Safety gates are frequently bought for both the top and bottom of each flight of stairs, and for kitchen and bathroom doorways. Baby gates are also a popular option in creating a divide between a toddler’s bedroom and the stairwell. Baby stair gates are often purchased for other family members such as grandparents, ensuring their home is also a safe place for your child to play during family visits. Safety gates can also be installed on external doors to create a divide between the inside and outside of the home.
Stair gates provide instant safety for active toddlers and young children in the home, and they allow you to create an immediate divide between rooms, enabling your child to play freely in a designated area free from harm.
Safety gates can be fitted in your child’s bedroom door frame, keeping them safe from entering other areas of the home and giving you peace of mind should they wake in the night and climb out of bed.
Most parents fit baby stair gates to the top and bottom of their stairs to keep their children free from potentially hazardous falls. Screw-fitted safety gates have no trip bar, frequently making them the preferred choice for the top of stairs. For many parents, they are considered the best stair gate for the top of the stairs.
Pressure fitted safety gates are often the more popular choice for the bottom of the stairs. A pressure fitted stair gate relies purely on pressure for installation so there are no tools or drilling required. For this reason, these safety gates are particularly popular with people in rented properties and families who would prefer not to drill into walls or bannisters.
Safety gates provide the perfect room divide between kitchens and living areas, preventing children from entering the kitchen and being exposed to potential dangers in there.
Safety gates are available in a range of sizes to fit most doorways, they can be used as a divide between any room upstairs and downstairs in the home. Baby gates are also used in nurseries throughout the UK, a popular option for keeping children safe while they learn and play.
What age are baby gates for?
Stair gates are designed and safety-tested up to 24 months, however many families continue to have safety gates in their home once their child is beyond the age of 24 months. Stair gate safety is imperative for young children and baby gates are frequently kept in place for longer to keep babies and toddlers safer in the home for longer. Safety gates are frequently used as a room divide between young children (of all ages) and pets.
Which stair gates are the best?
There is a wide choice of stair gates to choose from, each available in a range of sizes, finishes, and fittings. Safety gates are available in metal, wood, and mesh and can be pressure fitted, screw fitted, or retractable.
For stair gate safety, many parents prefer to install a screw fitted baby gate to the top of the stairs. This is because screw fitted baby gates benefit from having no trip bar, making them an ultra-safe option as there is no bar to physically step over and potentially fall over.
Retractable baby gates are a great safety gate option for parents looking for a lightweight, contemporary stair gate in their home. Fitted with wall mounted brackets, retractable baby gates can be fully folded back and neatly tucked away when not in use and quickly and simply pulled into place when needed.
Auto close stair gates are a great option for busy homes, the auto close system ensures a safety gate with this feature closes slowly and securely behind you. The auto close stair gate is a popular choice for families with older siblings. With a guaranteed close system that doesn’t slam behind you, it gives peace of mind that the safety gate has closed securely.
For families looking for a less-permanent stair gate, there are several options. Screw fitted safety gates benefit from fixed wall mounted brackets, enabling a gate to be slotted in when needed and removed when no longer needed. By keeping the bracket in place, grandparents and carers can pop the safety gate into the brackets when needed and simply remove the gate when children are no longer in their care. Retractable gates are another great less permanent option, as are pressure fitted stair gates.
Why are stair gates important?
With parents and carers becoming increasingly aware and educated on the potential dangers for young children in the home, stair gates are now the popular purchase for nearly all new parents with active young babies and toddlers.
Stair gates create an instant room divide, allowing you to control where your child can and can’t play. By restricting access to kitchens, bathrooms, and stairs with the installation of safety gates, parents can have peace of mind that their child is playing in a room free from potential dangers while they go about their day.
Stair gate safety is exceptionally important for families with active babies and young toddlers where children are still to learn how to use the stairs safely. Stair gates prevent children from accessing the stairs both at the top and bottom and prevent potential life-threatening incidents from happening.
Safety gates provide the ultimate divider between two areas. They keep children safe from pets, act as a divide between the indoors and outdoors, and enable you to create a designated area for your child to play safely.
How Can I buy stair gates?
Safety gates for stairs can be purchased online with Safetots, the UK’s largest shopping destination for child safety products. Safetots supply pressure fitted, retractable, and screw fit stair gates in a range of sizes, colours, and materials. Including stylish white and black stair gates, as well as wooden options.
We also offer baby gates from some of the UK’s most reputable manufacturers, including BabyDan stair gates, BettaCare safety gates, and our own range of Safetots branded baby gates.
Safetots also has a unique stair gate finder that enables customers to key in their exact measurements, the type of safety gate they are looking to purchase, the brand, the gate material, and any specific features. This unique stair gate finder narrows down the search for customers, enabling them to see a comprehensive list of compatible safety gates.
Safetots supply stair gates for most budgets, measurements, and other specific requirements. With expert knowledge in the industry, Safetots are in a unique position to help and guide customers with their stair gate purchase.
What is the difference between pressure and screw fit baby gates?
Very simply pressure fit stair gates do not require the need to drill screws into the walls to install. To install a pressure fit stair gate, the user will insert pressure fit spindles into the four holes at the top and bottom, left and right of the gate. Typically the spindle will be threaded through a handwheel. Once the user twists the handwheel, the thread inside the stair gate will catch on to the spindle, and the pressure fit pad will be pushed outwards away from the gate until it applies sufficient pressures against the surface it is being installed against. It is recommended to try to keep the amount of pressure applied even against each of the four points.
Screw Fit Baby gates will typically come with a template which will highlight exactly where you need to drill holes to attach the the fittings to the surface you are installing the gate against. Typically the fittings will require two holes and the correct screw fittings will be supplied with the gate. If installing into a potentially crumbly surface it is recommended to use raw plugs. Both screw fit gates and pressure fit gates have to undergo the same rigorous safety testing to pass the EN1930:2011 safety standards. Safetots do not advertise baby gates unless they have passed this standard. Therefore there is no difference in the stability of a screw fit gate as compared to a pressure fit gate. However, as with any product which is pressure fit, there is always the possibility that something heavy could knock against the fittings which could cause the fittings to lose alignment. Additionally if a boisterous child were to attempt to swing on the gate, or the gate were to regularly get slammed shut, again the fittings may become dislodged. It is always recommended to check the pressure fitting spindles have not become loose over time, and if necessary to twist the handwheels to tighten the gate again.
The core difference between a pressure fit gate and a screw fit gate is the presence of a trip bar. Pressure fit gates by their nature of design will always have a trip bar (the bar which runs along the floor connecting the gate frame). Obviously this type of gate should not be installed anywhere where it may be dangerous to trip, particularly the top of a flight of stairs. Screw fit gates are designed in a similar way to a barn door (yet with a locking mechanism), and therefore typically they do not have a trip bar. Screw fit gates therefore are considerably safer for use at the top of a flight of stairs
When to stop using stair gates
Stair gates can remain in place for as long as deemed necessary by a parent or carer. There is no set rule as to when a baby gate should be taken down. The development of each child is different, and some parents may feel the need to keep their baby gates in place for a longer duration than others. However, you should remove the safety gate when your child becomes old enough to be able to climb over the gate.
How to fit a stair gate
The method you use to fit your stair gate will depend on what type of baby gate you have.
Pressure fit stair gates
Pressure fit stair gates do not require the need to drill screws into the walls to install. To fix a pressure fit stair gate, the user will insert pressure fit spindles into the four holes at the top, bottom, left, and right of the gate. Typically, the spindle will be threaded through a handwheel. Once the user twists the handwheel, the thread inside the stair gate will catch on to the spindle and the pressure fit pad will be pushed outwards away from the gate until it applies sufficient pressures against the surface it is being installed against. It is recommended to try to keep the amount of pressure applied even against each of the four points.
Screw fit safety gates
Screw fit baby gates will typically come with a template, which will highlight exactly where you need to drill holes in order to attach the fittings to the surface you are installing the gate against. Typically, the fittings will require two holes and the correct screw fittings will be supplied with the gate. If installing into a potentially crumbly surface, it is recommended to use raw plugs.
Are baby gates safe?
Both screw fit gates and pressure fit gates have to undergo the same rigorous safety testing to pass the EN1930:2011 safety standards. Safetots do not advertise baby gates unless they have passed this standard. Therefore, there is no difference in the stability of a screw fit gate as compared to a pressure fit gate.
However, as with any product which is pressure fit, there is always the possibility that something heavy could knock against the fittings which could cause the fittings to lose alignment. Additionally, if a boisterous child were to attempt to swing on the gate, or the gate were to regularly get slammed shut, again the fittings may become dislodged.
It is always recommended to check the pressure fitting spindles have not become loose over time and, if necessary, to twist the handwheels to tighten the gate again.
The core difference between a pressure fit gate and a screw fit gate is the presence of a trip bar. Pressure fit gates by their nature of design will always have a trip bar (the bar which runs along the floor connecting the gate frame). Obviously, this type of gate should not be installed anywhere where it may be dangerous to trip, particularly the top of a flight of stairs.
Screw fit gates are designed in a similar way to a barn door (yet with a locking mechanism), and therefore typically they do not have a trip bar. Screw fit gates therefore are the more suitable safety gates for stairs.