Installing child safety gates on stairs, posts and balusters

One of the frequent questions we get at The New Parents Guide, is “How do I install a child safety gate on my stairs that have round posts and balusters?” Thankfully there are several products on the market just for this type of problem. The first thing I want to mention is the proper type of gate that should be used for staircases. There are two types of gates; hardware mounted and pressure mounted. Hardware mounted safety gates are actually anchored into the wall or staircase moldings with hardware. Pressure mounted child gates are basically squeezed into an opening by using outward pressure from the gate to the wall. At the bottom of the staircase you can use either hardware mounted gates or pressure mounted gates. But at the top of the stairs you should always use a hardware mounted gate. Pressure mounted gates are not fool-proof. With enough pressure or force you can pop the gate right out of the opening. This is not something you want happening at the top of the stairs.

If you’re installing a pressure mounted gate at the bottom of your stairs and you have round posts you can use one of the products pictured above. The Stairway gate installation kit from Kidco clamps onto the post and then has a straight board on one side so the gate can be attached. The EZ-Fit Safety Gate Adapter from boutkids uses straps to attach a board to a post, which the gate can then be attached to. If you have balusters take a look at the KidCo Gate ‘Y’ Spindle (pictured on left). This ‘Y’ Spindle replaces the round pressure mounting tab so the gate can be pressed into the baluster. The last item is the basic gate installation kit which can be used for areas that don’t have a flat surface such as near the handrail of the stairs. With the proper gate installation your child can be safe from the dangers of the stairs.

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