Best Baby Gates

Lace up your sneakers. Now that baby is mobile — be it speedy scooting, relentless rolling or curious crawling — you need to be ready to move, and fast! (Typically this is around the 9-month mark — though some babies may begin as early as 6 or 7 months.) But, even supermoms can’t be everywhere all the time, so you need to do some serious baby-proofing around the house to keep your little one safe, and that includes putting up baby gates.

You’ll want to block off the kitchen with its hot stove and sharp knives, any room with a fireplace and the top and bottom of your stairs, to name a few of the most dangerous locations in a typical house.

What to look for in a baby gate

Safety should be your number-one priority when purchasing a baby gate, as improperly installed or manufactured gates can hurt kids and parents. (Think: Kids getting stuck between bars, falling over gates, improperly-mounted gates falling down, etc.) Luckily, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) sets guidelines for manufacturers to help minimize the risks of these products. These voluntary guidelines include:

• Gates must be at least 22 inches high, so tots can’t climb over it.
• Gates should be able to withstand at least 45 pounds of force.
• Openings within the gate are small enough to prevent a child from getting its head or neck stuck
• Have a small enough space between the bottom of the gate and floor so that your child’s head or neck won’t get stuck.

If you’re feeling extra cautious, you can look for a gate that has earned a safety seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), an industry organization that vets the safety and quality of kids’ products like strollers, cribs and bottles. Worth noting: Manufacturers have to proactively apply for the JPMA safety seal, so just because a product doesn't have it doesn't mean it's not safe.

Other factors to consider before purchasing a baby gate:

• Measure. Before shopping, measure your doors and stairwells. If you’re in between sizes, it’s always smart to size up.
• Materials. Just like with baby’s crib, car seat, and all the other gear baby comes into contact with, you’ll want to make sure it has a smooth, non-toxic finish with no sharp pieces that could hurt curious fingers or small pieces that your babe could break off and put in his mouth. Wood, plastic and metal are commonly used to make baby gates.
• Avoid: Old-fashioned accordion-style gates that form a diamond when you open them — little ones' heads can get stuck in there!

Additionally, it’s important to note that baby gates are typically intended for use for kids age 6 months to 2 years. Once your kid is tall enough to climb over or can open the gate himself, you should take the gate down. 

Types of baby gates

There are two main types of baby gates:

• Hardware-mounted gates. Both sides of the gates need to be screwed into your walls, which makes these the only safe pick for the top of the stairs.
• Pressure-mounted gates. These are like tension rods. Because you don’t need to screw them in, you can take them with you when you visit Grandma and Grandpa or go on vacation.

Each of these two main types of baby gates are available in a few different styles:

• Swing through. These have a gate door that swings open.
• Step over. Mom, dad and everyone else will need to climb over these.
• Hybrid. Some gates can function as a swing through or step over.

How we made our picks for the best baby gates

We started by hunting down the most popular baby gates on the market that meet the above-mentioned safety criteria, including What to Expect readers’ favorites, and narrowed down our picks to the ones with the best ratings and reviews. Then we selected gates with important features that are designed to both protect your baby and make your life a little easier.