If your child is between 9 months and two years old, then chances are that he or she is already fond of crawling, scooting or walking. This is also the time that you keep your child away from dangerous spots like fireplaces and stairways. Child safety gates might prove to be very useful.

Before buying a safety gate for your child, there are some factors that you should consider. First is the baby’s height. It is advisable that you choose the one that is three-fourths the size of your kid. For example, if your child has a height measurement of 24 inches, then get a gate which is 18 inches tall (or even taller).

Then try to consider the unsafe areas in the house where the child is not supposed to play. For staircases, a hinge type gate is an excellent choice. Pressure-mounted gates should not be placed in high risk areas like staircases as these can be pushed by the child’s body weight eventually and it’s something you don’t want to happen.

Also take note of your doorway’s dimensions. Installing a gate that does not exactly fit could pose more problems than solution. If the doorway has limited space and there’s not enough room to swing, then opt for a retractable gate. If you think that you child might accidentally bump his or her head on a hard gate, then choose a soft gate made of nylon and mesh panels.

Once you have purchased child safety gates, test their latches just to make sure that the baby could not open the gate on his or her own.