Stair gates are used to prevent your child falling down the stairs before she is fully able to walk safely, and also to deny access to certain area of the home, for example the kitchen. Various types are available with different fitting methods, and you can buy them in a range of sizes to fit all kinds of doorways and staircases.

There are several points to bear in mind to make sure safety gates are as effective as possible.

Firstly, you should get into the habit of always keeping stair and safety gates closed, even if your child is asleep or not in the house. Once closing a gate behind you becomes second nature, you’re much less likely to forget to close it when it really needs to be closed.

Next, never climb over a gate when closed. Not only do you risk accident by tripping or otherwise falling, you also risk being seen doing this by your child, who will naturally attempt to copy you. You may also damage the locking mechanism by putting too much weight on it from above.

Always buy a good quality gate, and don’t be tempted to buy a second hand one. Old gates might have worn mechanisms that could fail under pressure, and they might not conform to current safety standards.

Finally, it’s not advisable to fit a pressure mounted gate at the top of the stairs. These gates don’t fit as securely as a screw-mounted gate and so could conceivably give way under weight, such as your child leaning against it. Pressure mounted gates are more suitable for closing access to rooms on the same level, especially given the ease with which they can be moved.