Best Baby and Safety Gates

With over 40,000 ratings on Amazon, this Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Baby Gate is a favorite of parents everywhere. Our research found the hardware-mounted baby gate expands wide to fit entrances up to 38.5 inches wide, keeping your baby safely corralled in baby-proof rooms.

The Regalo Easy Step also features a safety lock that's easy for parents to use, even with an armful of laundry or toys, but tricky for toddlers and babies to figure out. The slats are small enough to avoid little legs and arms from getting stuck. It makes a great pet gate as well.

As noted in its name, this gate features a convenient walk-through door, but the gate is fairly narrow, which makes the door a tight (or impossible) squeeze for a large number of users.

This baby gate has a 6-inch extension to fit wider doorways. It works for openings from 29 inches to 34 inches and others 25 inches to 38.5 inches. However, it doesn't work for those between 34 and 35inches.

The one-touch safety latch is great for parents who’ve got their hands full. Unfortunately, as kiddos get bigger and brighter, many of them are able to figure out the latch, which means this gate may only work for a year or two.

The biggest complaint about this gate is its width. Most users needed to buy the optional extenders to make the gate fit across an average-sized hallway. And, because this baby gate includes a bottom bar that stays in place when you open the walk-through door, it can be a tripping hazard for adults passing through.

It has an easy, one-touch release that makes getting in and out a breeze—even with an armload of groceries or a squirmy two-year-old. Keep in mind that the bars on this gate are wide-set, which means that smaller pets and kittens can make it through even when the pet door is closed.

Also, because the pet door is made for animals to access at will, you’ll need to lock it down when you’re using the gate to corral your baby.

Best of all, the whole thing folds up flat for easy storage when you don’t need it. Unfortunately, the very thing that makes this gate so customizable also makes it less stable. Only the very end portions of the gate are secured to the wall, which makes the middle panels a little wobbly.

It is made of steel, but the joints that hold the individual panels together are made of plastic. Not only does this make the connections somewhat flimsy, but many customers have had the plastic split or break after repeated use.

When it comes to choosing the right safety gate and installing it correctly, these are the tips you need to know.

Most baby gates are adjustable or expandable. This should make finding the perfect fit easy, but it can actually make things trickier.

Before buying, measure the height and width of the area you want to block. 

If you’re using a pressure-mounted baby gate, be aware that many appear to be warped or curved. But this is an intentional design feature that ensures a proper, solid tension fit.

To install retractable baby gates on banisters, hollow walls, or iron railings, purchase a special gate installation kit to ensure a safe, sturdy fit.

Make sure the slats on your gate are less than three inches apart to prevent little arms and legs from getting stuck. You can avoid this concern altogether by purchasing a gate without slats, like our number three pick above.

And don’t forget about your four-legged family members. Pets can also get stuck in an opening between slats, so keep their heads and legs in mind when measuring as well.

Beware of unusual spaces in decorative baby gates. Users of this gate report rambunctious puppies and kitties getting their heads stuck in the bottom of the gate where the bars stop.

Before you leave your baby to play near a safety gate, give it a test run to ensure everything is working properly—especially it's guarding your fireplace or Christmas tree.

After the gate is installed, test how sturdy it is. You want it to remain firmly in place no matter how much pressure your child places on it.

Check all locks and latches to make sure they work correctly. If you have older children in the home, teach them how to properly lock and unlock the gate so that no one accidentally leaves it open.

If your gate has a self-locking latch, test it to make sure it securely locks each time.

Many baby gates include walk-through doorways that can swing both ways. This makes it easy for grownups to seamlessly move from room to room, but it can present a hazard for babies and toddlers—especially if the gate is used by stairs.

Gates placed at the top of the stairs should only swing away from the stairs. Child stair gates that swing out over the stairs can lead to an accidental spill if your little one somehow gets the gate open.

If you have a baby gate with a walk-through door that swings both ways, make sure you can lock it into the appropriate swinging position before placing it atop the staircase.

To be extra safe, only place gates with doors that swing one way at the top of the stairs.

Nothing’s more important than keeping your child safe, but knowing which products to trust can be difficult. That’s why for our baby gates review, we dug into the top-selling baby safety gates on the market to find the best ones for your family. We picked our top ten baby and safety gates from more than twenty gates initially considered.

Each gate was evaluated for durability, strength, ease of installation, multi-use functions, and price to make our list. We also looked at JPMA safety regulations and certifications and expert and parent reviews.

• 18 hours researched
• 22 products researched
• 500+ customer reviews
• 9 coffees consumed

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