Between the ages of six and nine months, babies tend to have the urge and desire to move independently. This milestone in a little child’s life is exciting for both the parents and the child. It is a terrifying and amazing experience, and this means that your baby has started wanting to explore his surroundings more.
At this point, keeping your baby safe is the only thought you have in your mind because certain places can be dangerous for a baby to have access to. Installing baby gates in your home is a good way of ensuring your baby’s safety while you are there or not, and some of the places you can install include the kitchen, stairs, restroom, and his play area.
However, having this gate installed before your baby desires to explore is also advisable because things might happen quicker than expected once your baby starts moving without adult assistance.
If you have a baby or little kids in your home, you must have baby gates installed in your home because your little kids’ safety should be your top priority. When shopping for the best baby gates for the play area, there are certain features that you need to look out for specifically. These features are; ease of use, safety standards, installation, locking mechanism, to mention but a few.
Before you hit the market to shop for a baby gate, you need to have a basic understanding or information on the types of baby gates available on the market. There are two types of mounting techniques a baby gate would have: the hardware mounted and pressure mounted technique.
Hardware Mounted Baby Gates
Just as the name implies, this type of baby gate requires drilling pieces into a wall or create support for you to drill into. This type of baby gate has more stability, which explains why it is best used for stairways. The hardware-mounted baby gates without a step-over the bar are recommended, as it eliminates the risk of tripping and falling.
Pressure Mounted Baby Gates
These sort of baby gates require the use of tension rods to hold them in place. They do not require drilling or screwing like the hardware-mounted baby gates, so you don’t have to be worried about having holes in your door frames and walls. Misalignment is possible when installing this gate, but you can easily disassemble it for traveling purposes.
Best Baby Gates For Play Area – Buying Guide And Recommendation
The first step you might take when baby-proofing your home might be having a baby gate installed in your home, so you need to have your home’s design in mind before paying for a baby gate. You must install the right type of gate that will stay in place, and the baby gate you want to settle for must have the right safety features to keep your baby protected while playing. Below are some safety tips for baby gates when shopping for the best baby gates for a play area.
Baby Gates Safety Tips
Avoid Climbing Over Gates
Avoid climbing over your baby gate no matter how easy it seems. You stand the risk of getting your leg stuck in between slats, and remember you have a baby watching you. Babies have the attitude of imitating what they see their parents or loved ones doing; watching you climb over a baby gate might compel them to want to give it a try.
Always Keep Baby Gates Closed
The point of having a baby gate installed in your home is to keep your baby safe, so leaving the gate open places your child at risk of wandering off without adult supervision. This is why you must always close your baby gates, and there are baby gates designed with automatic locking and closing mechanism.
Ensure Baby Gates Are Properly Assembled
It will be helpful to get information from the manufacturer’s manual when assembling a baby gate. All baby gates are not the same, and there are baby gates that require special brackets and tools for installation. One last thing you should do is know the right place to have a baby gate installed in your home for your baby’s safety and protection.
Two Baby Gates Are Recommended For Stairways
If you have stairs in your home, it will be wise to install a baby gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. Hardware-mounted baby gates are best suited for the top of stairs, while you can use pressure-mounted baby gates at the bottom of stairs.
Best Baby Gates For Play Area Review
1. Evenflo Versatile Play Space
For parents searching for something versatile their little kids can play in, the Evenflo versatile play space has the right features to be the best option, and what interests parents most about this item is the fact that you can use it outdoors and indoors. It comes with exclusive reversible legs with outdoor stakes that make them perfect for use on lawns, and this right here boasts of an extremely spacious design, which provides babies with a lot of space to play in. It comes with non-scratch and anti-movement legs that will not cause any harm to interior surfaces, and putting this item together is fast, easy, and doesn’t require the use of special tools.
Pros
- It has a safe and fantastic design
- It is built to be sturdy
- This expands easily
Cons
- It comes with sharp edges that make it unsafe for babies to play in
2. Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard
The Regalo adjustable baby gate has a super-wide design that provides babies with a lot of space to play comfortably. Surprisingly, you can convert this baby gate to a panel play yard without requiring special tools. Installing this baby gate and play yard doesn’t involve using any tools either, and parents will find it easy to configure so it can perfectly fit any opening. This baby gate is perfect for wide spaces, hallways, doorways, angled openings, and more, while its all-steel design makes it completely durable and convenient. Its walk-through doors and safety features make it a must-have for families with babies.
Pros
- This baby gate is elementary to use
- It works great for pets
- It has an attractive and versatile design
Cons
- Fingers get stuck easily between gate holes
3. Toddleroo by North States Superyard Baby Play Yard
The Toddleroo brand is one that you can trust to make high-quality baby products, and its baby play yard is perfect for outdoor and indoor use. The Toddleroo baby play yard is the best for parents who want to make their baby’s play area safe, and providing sensory stimulation and comfort are some of the benefits that come with having your little kids play inside the Toddleroo baby play yard.
This is the best solution for homes with large spaces that need to be blocked off for the baby’s safety, and it comes with hardware mounts that makes installing this baby gate fast and easy. Also, this baby play yard gate is durable, expandable, and versatile.
Pros
- This is a sturdy and durable baby play yard
- It has a foldable design
- It allows seeing what your baby does while playing
Cons
- Complaints say this baby gate is dangerous and has a flimsy design.
4. Extra Wide Baby Gates for Doorways Stairs
There are pressure-mounted gates that use tension rods and not screws for installation, so this is the best option for people who do not like drilling holes in their walls. It comes with an automatic closing design, and interestingly, this gate closes and opens from both sides. This expandable gate will perfectly fit several openings, and it is best for parents with kids who love to climb. This gate isn’t just for babies; you can also use it for pets. It is also best suited for keeping your baby’s play area very secure.
Pros
- This gate is wide and sturdy
- It looks well made
- Installation is easy
Cons
- None
5. Summer West End Safety Baby Gate
This is the ideal baby gate for extra-wide openings, and it boasts of a metal frame that makes it completely durable. Its wide door opening makes it easy for parents to open and walk through, while installation does not require the use of drilling equipment. It has an automatic closing feature that closes this door after passing, while its in-built door stoppers ensure this baby gate doesn’t swing open. The security and safety of this baby gate make it one of the best baby gates for play areas, while its handle makes it very easy to use.
Pros
- This baby gate is voted the best baby gate for play area in about twenty years.
- It is very sturdy
- This gate is easy to adjust
Cons
- Its tension bolts don’t extend long enough
Final Thoughts
The purpose of installing a baby gate in your home is to block off some places to prevent your baby from having access to such places. The kitchen, stairs, and convenience are not where you should install a baby gate, but your baby’s play area needs to be secured. You can trust the products discussed in this guide to keep your baby’s play area safe.
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Hey there, it’s Alice Dolton! I’m so happy you’ve stumbled upon my blog, where I share everything about babies, parenting, and family life. As a mom of three, I get the joys and challenges of raising kiddos, and I’m here to help you navigate through it all.– which is basically FAMILY, FOOD, BABIES, and FUN!