How do You Measure a Baby Gate?

You have survived the first six months of parenting, which is a huge feat in itself. The sleepless nights, the feeding, the settling, and the huge amount of adjusting that happens when you welcome this tiny person into your home.

Now comes the fun part – your baby will be on the move before you know it. The world around them is a new place and they just love exploring. When they are young, they test out new objects by putting them in their mouth to get a good feel for them. As you can imagine, this can be quite dangerous depending on what they come across in their travels.

They also have very little concept of danger. Stairs are there to be tackled head on, beds are to be rolled off and bookcases are to climb.

Now is the time to start babyproofing, and the best way you can do that is with baby safety gates.

But how do you measure a baby gate and make sure you get the right size for the right spot?

 

Measuring Baby Safety Gates

1. The first thing you need to do is decide what baby safety gate you are after.

• Pressure-mounted gate: these are gates that use suction cups on either end that are fixed into place through pressure. They have the potential to be moved out of place by a strong-willed toddler or animal.
• Hardware-mounted gate: these gates are screwed into the wall, making them naturally a much safer option. Especially when stairs are involved, as it can’t be knocked out of place.

2. Next, have a look at what style suits your living space.

• Retractable baby gates: these are baby gates that are made of mesh, which completely retracts back into the gate, allowing you to walk through.
• Metal, wood and plastic baby gates: these gates have bars on them with a door that opens and closes to allow you walk in and out. They come in different materials, with metal being the sturdiest.

3. Now you know what type of gate you are after and how you plan on fixing it to the wall, you can start to look at measuring your baby gate.

• Grab a measuring tape and measure the space between a door. If it is at the top and bottom of stairs, make sure you measure both and don’t assume they are the same width.

4. With all these factors in mind, you can head to Perma Child Safety’s Online Gate Selector Tool, which can help you browse all the different types of              gates that can be used in the space and are suitable for your home.

 

Can’t Find The Right Fit?

Not all spaces are created equal, which can sometimes make it hard finding the best baby gate for your needs. Retractable gates only go up to 71 inches wide, so if your space is bigger than this, you will need to consider a different option.

Otherwise you can look into baby gate extensions to help you make up the space. These are often sold individually and can be added to the baby gate you have chosen for your home, to help it fit the right spot.

What About Larger Spaces?

There are many reasons you might be looking for a baby gate that fills up a larger space in your home. Baby gates can be used as playpens to section off a part of your home, or you may be using them to keep an object (think your Christmas tree) out of reach of small children.

If this is the case, then never fear, there are larger gate options out there for you. Once again, measure the space you are trying to cover, and consider whether it is a straight spot, or if it needs to curve around something. Make sure all this is measured before you go on the hunt. Once again, extensions could come in handy to help you get it just right.

When it doubt, never be afraid to ask an expert. Remember, it’s your baby’s safety and it is important that you get it right, so don’t be second guessing yourself along the way.