For Busy Parents: Tips on Choosing Child Safety Gates

Limiting one’s choices on the right child safety gate greatly depends on a proper knowledge of the childproofing products, the spaces to be childproofed, the child, and his/her developmental needs.

The first thing to consider is the age and physical features of the child such as his/her height and the size of his/her head. The JPMA has actually stated that they can be used for young children of ages 6 months to 2 years. Also, studies have shown that some children have been strangled with older models when their bodies slipped through the openings. Another is that a child safety gate should always be taller than of the child’s height. There is nothing to be apprehensive about as long as there is proof that a child safety gate follows the standards set by reliable institutions such as the JPMA, ASTM International and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The next thing to ask is where the child safety gate is going to be installed. Potentially dangerous areas such as the top of stairs and fireplaces call for the use of “hardware mounted” child safety gates because they are permanent and stronger. “Pressure mounted” child safety gates are used in less unsafe places such as the bottom of stairs and doorways. They can be easily removed unlike the ones of the “hardware mounted” type. The dimensions and the shape of the gates are determined by the wideness and irregularities of the spaces. A child safety gate is made of wood, metal, or plastic. The appropriate one depends on the room ventilation and temperature conditions. You know what can happen if a plastic or wood gate is installed near the fireplace.

Despite strict standards, aesthetic quality and reasonable pricing need not be sacrificed in choosing a good child safety gate. Reading the product manual, putting it to good use, and frequently checking its appropriateness and function will be beneficial in the long run.

As with how the child safety gate will be used, proper orientation should be given to the members of the household or day care. Pressure mounted safety gates are not the types to survive heavy loads resting on them. Try to discourage people from climbing over them and opening the latches in the presence of the child. As children have porous minds, they’ve also got adventurous hearts. Moreover, the most reliable way to keep children safe is providing enough adult supervision.

A sense of security within a child safety gate does not rely only in parents buying the right one. As long as there is too much or too little of something, the attention of the caregivers included, children are not immune to worrying. This goes hand in hand with the child’s fascination of the world as he/she will do what it takes to trespass his/her limits to explore that world.

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