Child safety gates: extra protection.(Buyers Guide)

Some child safety gates are significantly better than others at staying in place and protecting your child, our new tests show. And expensive doesn't necessarily mean better: We found a CR Best Buy for $35.

Installed in a doorway, staircase, of other opening, a well-made child safety gate can keep a toddler away from hazards such as stairs. There are two basic types of gates: hardware-mounted and pressure-mounted. We tested both.

All offered some level of protection, but our findings underscore the need to shop carefully. A persistent child might be able to dislodge gates listed at the bottom of our Ratings, for example.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Decide where you'll use it. A hardware-mounted gate is the only choice anywhere security is paramount, such as the top of a stairway, because it is harder to dislodge. You drill holes in a door frame of stud behind the wall and attach the gate with brackets and screws.

For less hazardous areas such as between rooms, a portable pressure mounted gate may do the trick. To set one up, you adjust it for the opening. A pressure bar or other locking mechanism wedges the gate in place, leaving no permanent holes, although it may mar the door frame or wall.

Check the construction and width. Avoid gates with horizontal slats; they're an invitation for a child to climb. Gates shouldn't have openings or protrusions at the top edge that might trap your child. Bring width measurements of doors or openings with you when you shop, and try to avoid gates that will need to be at their maximum width to fit; they may wobble.