1. Size of the opening

Always measure the opening you want to fence and make sure the gate can cover the whole opening. If you get a shorter gate, you could be tempted of putting shims on both sides, and this could make the gate weak and dangerous. Always gate a gate that fits firmly in place.

2. The surface on which it will be fix

Most gates need to be fixed on both sides. If you have walls on both sides or if it’s a door frame, most baby gates work fine. But in some situation, you may have no wall, no railing, no banister, and this means you could need a barrier that can be installed with an angle. And in the worst case, you could need a free-standing gate that comes in multiple panels.

3. Traffic

The number of time you will be walking through the gate is very important. If it’s a high traffic area, you need a baby gate with a door that is easy to open and made of robust material. On the other hand, if it’s a low traffic area you can go for the type of gate who don’t have a door and must be entirely removed to pass-through.

4. Danger on the other side

Another significant factor to take into consideration is what’s on the other side of the gate. How much of a danger is it? If it’s a staircase, a balcony or a wood shop, you don’t use the same gate as a broom closet.

The level of danger will be useful to determine if you need hardware or a pressure mounted gate. Also, all-metal gate tends to last longer, than plastic or wood.

5. Temporary or permanent

Most parents will keep their safety gate until their kid is 2 years old. But if you plan on having more than one child, you could end up keeping the gates for 5 or 7 years. If so, I would suggest you choose a sturdy barrier that also fit in your decor.

On the other hand, it’s possible you need a temporary solution. Many grandparents will have a safety gate at home, and they are using it only a couple of time per year.

6. Installation requirement

Before buying a baby gate always check the installation requirements. Especially for hardware mounted gate. But I wouldn’t worry too much because most gates will come with various options and can be adjusted to any surface. Baby gate manufacturers have been doing this for a long time, and they know how unique every home can be.


Having kids mean having to make a lot of decision and anticipating for the future. I remember feeling overwhelmed when I first took a look around the house for things to childproof. At first, it didn’t know where to start, but now I can tell you which steps are more important than the others. I hope my experience will help you make the right decision.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to install your safety gate. Every day a child is going to the hospital after falling down the stairs. Furthermore, safely installing the gate is even more critical. Always follow the manufacturer instructions and use the required materials.

Having a baby gate doesn’t necessarily prevent all accidents, and it won’t replace adult supervision. To help you keep an eye on your little explorer, I suggest you use a baby monitor. The monitor will be helpful when you are trying to accomplish some work around the house while your kid is playing. In my experience, cooking dinner would have been impossible without my baby monitor.

Don’t overthink your decision to install a safety gate.

If there’s a chance of getting severely injured, I mean calling 911 hurt, just put a safety gate.

If you listen to your parental instincts and follow basic common sense, you’ll be able to keep your child safe at home.