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BABY GATES. The words alone give you a sense that if you provide a gate, your little toddler will be safe and contained. I certainly agree. On the surface, this is what a baby gate will and should provide. But not all baby gates are created equal.

Let's start with a few word choices that will get you the right equipment. A parent goes into a store and says to the clerk, 'I'm here to buy a baby gate'. Remember, the baby is not going to use the gate, you are. Who knows what they'll get.

Now try this, 'I'm here to buy a gate for myself and my family to use to protect our baby'. You want a gate for an adult. You're the one who has to use it every day. Now you have a shot at getting a gate that allows you, the parent, to use the equipment without stepping over it and cursing it every time you need to pass through it.

I have personally installed over a thousand gates in homes as a business. The one thing I always recommended was to choose the right gate for the job.

Place hard mounted gates at the top of the stairs. I actually prefer this hard mount gate in all areas as long as it is manageable; meaning the opening wasn't so wide it had the gate swing half way across the room.

If you must have the pressure type in your doorways, choose something that takes hand coordination to open. In other words, the foot activated type is not what I would use. Trust me on this. Pressure gate damage can be worse than a gate that has been screwed into the wall.

One company stands out above the rest and that is a company by the name of KidCo. They provide a wide variety of gates for all types of situations from stairs to fireplaces. You can find them in baby stores and online. I recommend doing your homework before you buy.

My all time favorite would be the Safeway steel gate. It is the greatest for features and benefits. It's a hard mount gate that is easy to install. Please follow instructions to the letter. I have installed this gate in a wide range of applications and always had the parent overjoyed with its performance. They also have mounting kits to assist you in your installation if needed.

The other gate I like is the hearth gate for fireplaces. It beats having to create a barrier out of furniture. I've seen parents get very creative when it comes to protecting the baby from danger. Doing it right is much easier.

Now I know I didn't give you dimensions and every detail associated with the KidCo brand of gating, but you can get all that from them. Do it right and take my advice. Put safety products in that a pro would use. It's the only gating I used for my own grandchildren.