Baby Gate for Stairs

Updated on July 22, 2009
K.K. asks from Saint Louis, MO
12 answers

Hi, I'm looking for a baby gate that will work well with stairs that have a banister on both sides. I've found tension-mounted gates for doorways, as well as some that work for a banister on one side and a wall on the other, but nothing that works with stairs that have railings on both sides. Since this is for my parents' new house, I'm hoping for something that looks nice (wood, or white-painted metal would probably be good) and will last (my son is the first grandkid, and I have no doubt that there will be more eventually). Any ideas? Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everybody for the great suggestions. My parents found something at Babies R Us, I don't know the brand, but it looks nice and is high enough to block off the stairs. My dad had to put a couple pieces of wood in to make it wide enough, but it looks like it will work pretty well.

Thanks again!

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E.K.

answers from Lawrence on

It looks like you got a lot of good suggestions. We have a safety first gate. We had to screw in the sides. We took 2x4's and used plastic ties from home depot to attach them to the railings so you can screw in the pieces and you don't have to screw them into the railings.

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S.L.

answers from Wichita on

Hi K.,
I got a beautiful gate from onestepahead.com. I had the same situation with banisters on both sides, and I went with the "furniture" gate they have, but I also saw they have a new one that is "angled gate mount" for asymmetrical situations. The gate was easy to open, even for my Dad who has arthritis. You definitely don't want to do a tension mount on the top of the stairs. My kids no longer need the gate, and I just put wood putty in the holes where it was mounted...you can't even see it. Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Kansas City on

We have a great one made especially for stairs. It's white metal and has a stop so it doesn't open over the stairs. I think it is a safety first brand around $50 at Target. Make sure to get one approve for stairs, I don't think tension mounted ones are a good idea for stairs. Good luck finding one, we had a hard time finding it.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi K.,

We chose the following gate because our bannisters were not symmetrical. http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

We love the gate, however, if that is not what you are looking for their website has a lot more to choose from.

S.

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L.N.

answers from Kansas City on

We had the same problem with our house. With the way our stairs are set up, and us not wanting to drill holes into the bannister...we ended up buying a Six Panel Superyard (we got ours from toys r us). We have it wrapping around the stairs and the other side slips behind a bench...so it's pretty secure for our set up. One Step Ahead has lots of gate (they can be pricey) and someome suggested I look at pet/dog gates. The superyard works for our setup...and was MUCH cheaper. Good luck...I've thought to myself...I should invent something for this problem that would work universally..I know there is a need!

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K.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I would look at gates by Kidco. We have two that we used on the stairs as one side had a banister. I think the gate is called the Kidco Safeway gate. The attachment used to secure it swivels so the gate can be hung anywhere to anything. They are very sturdy gates and are easy to hang. They are about $60.

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A.F.

answers from Kansas City on

We just installed 3 of these gates (bannisters on both sides) and they are awesome! They are the Kidco gate (check the width of your opening to see which gate works - we got our from Babies R Us) and you'll need to get what's called the "installation kit" - GET ONE KIT FOR EACH BANNISTER (there's only one in each box). We used the same "installation kit" (this is what secures - and it is SECURE! - to the bannisters) for 3 different gates... 2 with extensions and 1 without. They are wonderful, and VERY sturdy!

So just look up Kidco gates at babies r us online, and the extension kits are what secures to the bannisters without screwing into the wood, etc., and the gates secure to those - by screws, but saves your bannisters.. and they look nice!

Good luck!

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A.K.

answers from St. Louis on

We have the Kidco gates also (purchased from Babies R Us). They have been great! And you can easily take them down, when needed, and put them back up for the next grandkid.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

my handy-dandy husband made our gate! This attaches permanently to the sidewalls/upright supports....whichever is available. The gate hinges in the middle with a secure latch.

We used 1x4s for the frame - basically put together like a picture frame - with the insert area covered in white vinyl lattice. When it's time to remove this gate, we'll simply need to putty in the holes & paint over them.

You can make the gate as attractive as you wish or as inconspicuous as you'd like. We've used this gate for the past 7+ years (for my daycare), & now use it also for our dogs. It's sturdy enough to keep a 76lb dog at bay! (well, except for when he decides to jump over it...that's what happens when the dog is taller than the baby gate!)

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S.B.

answers from St. Louis on

We had the same problem and couldn't find anything that worked. We just went without one. She learned to get up and down the stairs on her own.

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K.B.

answers from Wichita on

Good Morning K., We have a gate I believe would work for you. It is Regalo. One this page
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7812821
Got to www.Walmart.com then baby, health and safety they have Gates listed.

White painted metal, twist braket padded braces on each corner, can be adjusted. Slide Lift lever to open the gate.
The wideth can be adjusted.

God Bless you
K. Nana of 5
PS Dorks are Fun!!!!

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H.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I had one that swings and can walk through it and it was pretty tall so the kids could not climb over it. I don't know if they make this one anymore but bought it at Toys R Us. You do have to screw eyelets in the wood though but it was very effective.

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