Conference moira::parenting_v3

    I've never had any problem with the pressure gates (they're on
    child #2), but I'm not using them on any critical areas -- they
    keep baby in the room I'm in and that's about it. 
    
    I don't think I would feel safe with just a pressure gate if I had
    a really dangerous area, like concrete steps, to fence off.  I'd
    get a screw-into-the-door-frame kind.
    
    --bonnie

    We have the Fisher-Price tension gates and I found them great for our 
    use. We did have one archway that was the exact measurement of the 
    maximum expanded width of the gate. Consequently, you really had to 
    make sure that the gate was positioned perfectly straight otherwise 
    one corner wouldn't hold. The Fisher-Price tension gates open with one
    hand but you have to take  the whole gate out of the doorway to get
    through - it isn't one of those ones with the little
    gate-within-the-gate that opens. The doorways we blocked off were to
    the formal livingroom and dining room. We ended up using them outside
    as well to block off the deck stairs to keep our son on the deck. It
    survived rainstorms and looks fine.
    
    Personal things I'd look for.....
    
    	don't have to make holes in your woodwork
    	adjustable width
    	one-handed opening (whether to completely remove or to open the 
    		little gate)
    	sturdy (kids like to pull themselves up on them)
    	washable 
    	rounded edges
    	just high enough for adults to climb over when you're too lazy to 
    		open the gate 
    
    The day someone invents a rigid gate that will fit the dowels of stair
    railing, I'll buy 2!!! We resorted to a sheet across the bottom of the
    stairs because of this but soon little ones figure that they can go
    underneath!! At least the sheet catches them when they tumble back
    down!!!
    
    Andrea

Andy,

We are just pass the gate age for Sam so here's our experience.
We had a pressure gate so that it fits the area sthat we don't
want him to be in. We found that it bacame a hinderence to us as
well. We used it on the kitchen entrance, sliding door (to keep
him from pushing on the screen door mostly) and the stairway up
stairs. We found that we didn't need to block the stairs up since
he usually stays where we are.

We have a sissors type gate at the head of the stair to the
family room. There we are pretty adminent about keeping him up
while we work in the laundry room or at the computer. This gate
is installed so that it can be opened and closed.

We found that the opening gate is better since it's a one handed
operation versus the two handed operation of the pressure gate. I
have noticed that the installed gates are less popular these
days (hence less on the market).

calvin

    
    (I described a non-gate gate method in 63.0, as well.  - bruce)
    

Where do you buy gates?  My guess would be Toys R Us type stores as well as
Target and K-Mart.  But before I drive all over town... any ideas?


Marty    

    Marty, 
    	When we were looking the best prices we found were at, Target,
    K-Mart and Best.  We ended up though getting ours from someone who 
    found one at a garage sale for .50  I think that was the best deal 
    and it looks brand new.  
    FWIW, 
    Malinda

    I guess we were lucky not needing any gates with AJ, but I have had
    experience on this with my FOUR legged kids!  What I did was to buy
    swinging shutter doors half the height of the frame, and stain them to 
    match the woodwork.  You then buy latch type hardware, something like a
    sliding bolt and use that to secure the two doors together.  It really
    doesn't look bad at all, it's a little like having a "french" door, you can
    swing the doors out of the way when not in use, and the way I see it if it
    can survive the weight of a standard poodle's excitement the Certainly it 
    could handle that of a toddler.
    
    The doors can be removed later, yes it leaves screw holes but that's
    why plastic-wood or wood putty was invented!
    
    Lyn
    

    We have stairwells with a banister, and the pressure gate is not
    recommended at the top of stairs.  We bought a gate by NuLine (or
    whoever is the oldest gate manufacturer) for about $40.  We then had
    the problem of how to install the gate.  
    
    The banister on the top of the stairs is a curved, round piece of
    wood, about 5 inches in diameter in its thickest point.  My husband got
    a piece of wood and cut it the length of the banister, minus the fancy
    knob on the top. We planned to attach the wood to the banister in four
    places, using these plastic zip-type ties that don't slip when they are
    connected.  He notched out the wood to hold the ties into place.  He 
    then painted the wood the same color as the banister. (You can buy this
    set-up for about $15 in catalogs.  The ties cost us a buck or so, and
    the rest of the stuff we had hanging around.)  He then attached the
    wood to the banister and the hardware of the gate to the wood.
    
    The banister was directly across from plain old wallboard.  So, he
    inserted mollys (sp?) and the pieces that the gate needed to go into.
    
    We have a kid who delights in leaving the room that we are in and heads
    for the stairs first thing.  So, we definitely needed some type of
    gate.  I like this gate because it swings both ways, so is easy to use.
    You can detach it with one hand, which is essential when carrying Gina.
    Also, the gate can be lifted out of the attached hardware so if we need
    to move  a piece of furniture, get the carpet cleaned, or are having
    an "adult" party, it is easy to remove and put back up.
    
    And to let you know that we aren't just spend-thrifts buying every
    fancy and expensive baby gaget, we use the cardboard boxes from her car
    seats to harness her into the living room so we don't have to run after
    her constantly!
    
    But I'd buy the upstairs gate again.
    
    judy